Metro Magazine

SEP-OCT 2014

Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904

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WE Stand Behind Our Product So You Can Stand Safely Under Yours Offering the latest innovations in mobile lifting technology, SEFAC lifts come in capacities of 12,000lbs and 18,000lbs per column/48,000lbs and 72,000lbs set of four. With more than 30 years manufacturing mobile lifts we have proven that our lifts are built tough and to the highest quality. See for yourself at sefac.com. sefac@sefac.com 1-800-826-3486 ext. 105 www.sefac.com 124 < m ETRO m AGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 metro-magazine.com supplier spotlight now we're working with Bombardier on a functional test to show that essentially the whole thing will hold together once you start loading the handrails with people." Bombardier expects to begin deliver- ing the frst 10 pilot railcars with the Ben- tech fittings next year, with BART plan- ning on purchasing 1,000 railcars over the next 10 years. rail," Benninghof explains. "Up until the last few years, the size and thickness of the tubing was all done by calculation, and through our work with the university, we found those calculations to be extreme- ly conservative. Our tests found that you only need half the wall thickness of the handrail material versus the calculations that were being conducted, and Bombar- dier was really happy with that because it allowed them to save 50 percent on the cost of materials." Bentech is also developing new fttings for the Oakland, Calif.-based Bay Area Rapid Transit District's (BART) new "railcars of the future" being developed by Bombardier. Bentech acquired a 3-D pro- totyping machine to create new fittings for the railcars. "BART didn't want to go with their old design. They wanted something more functional than what they had previous- ly," Benninghoff says. "They are look- ing to have these newly designed hand- rails performance and load-tested. Right To do that work, Bentech developed a series of tests with the University of Pennsylvania's Mechanical Testing Lab. Bentech and the university also worked together to develop load testing for the ac- tual handrail materials Bombardier was developing for the railcars. "[Industry standards] determined the handrail has to withstand 300 pounds of load force at the mid-point of the hand- Bentech's work with NYCT on its driver protection doors led to pilot programs, as well as production and retroftting of buses for several agencies, including the Milwaukee County Transit System. Company Info: BENTECH Year Founded: 1985 as a division of The Philadelphia Pipe Bending Co. Employees: 42 (combined) President: Jeffrey R. Fox Location: Philadelphia Services Summary: Handrail assemblies, luggage racks and overhead parcel racks, driver's protection doors, modesty panels, windscreen and bike rack assemblies, passenger impact protecting safety tubing, passenger assist strap hangers and more.

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