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"I am writing to express my appreciation … for the professional and partnership approach taken to the project" - Open full testimonial [pdf, 166KB]
Fleet
Mechanical engineering – Fleet Services design, fabrication and engineering projects
RFS’s Fleet Services division designs and develops world-standard specialist equipment. These contribute to safety in road construction and maintenance, make complex and specialist operations possible and provide advanced solutions in traffic control and traffic management.
Lane-switching trailer
The trailer-mounted lane changer operates on Sydney’s M5 motorway and General Holmes Drive (which services Sydney’s airport). The unit has been redesigned recently (2010) after 10 years of virtually fault-free operation by the previous model. The upgrade was to eliminate OHS hazards – machine noise and the operator working on foot in traffic.
The trailer moves a “Klemmfix” proprietary rubber barrier for morning peak hour to allow a 5:3 tidal flow lane configuration, assisting city-bound traffic flow. The trailer moves the barrier back for the afternoon peak.
- A new, quieter, power pack coupled with a smoother design achieved significant noise reduction.
- The new design angles the leading edge more sharply at the pick up of the barrier and reduces the angle during switch-over. This in turn minimises the need for the operators to get out of the vehicle during the tidal-flow set-up and replacement.
Linemarker Mark-8
Linemarker Mark-8
Two Mark-8 Linemarkers went into service in September 2009. This is the third in the series of fully truck mounted linemarkers that began with the Mark-6... More >>
Snow blower clearing the Alpine Way, Snowy Mountains
Snow blowers
Overseas readers may be surprised to learn that Australia – famous for its sunshine – has snowfields. In fact our state of New South Wales has a good share of Earth’s range of climates: from the subtropics of our north to the Mediterranean conditions of our south coast, the arid zone of the West and the alpine conditions of our Snowy Mountains.
One of RFS’s many routine maintenance tasks is to keep the roads to the snowfields clear for tourists and locals. Fleet Services supported the specification, and purchase of the snow blowers and now maintains them.
Truck mounted attenuators (TMAs)
TMAs are a significant safety innovation, protecting road maintenance workers in high speed traffic conditions. The TMA is deployed ahead of the workers on the roadside providing a vital buffer between the work area and the traffic. The attenuator absorbs the impact of any vehicle crashing into it – sparing the lives of motorists as well as roadworkers.
The attenuator can deploy in motion and also carries advanced traffic control messaging. Fleet Services purchased the attenuators and engineered fitting them to trucks in accordance with specifications.
A range of TMAs are available for hire.
Road brooms, extremely robust and durable design
Road brooms
In 2009, Fleet Services workshops designed and built seven road brooms for Road Services’ use – mainly during resealing activities.
The brooms are used to clean road surfaces before and after resealing. They are a robust broom that outperforms other proprietary products in reliability and durability in this harsh environment.
Our road brooms are available for purchase.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge gantry, used a work platform for lead-paint removal
Gantry working platforms at Sydney Harbour Bridge
RFS’s Sydney Harbour Bridge maintenance crew is engaged in a long-range program of lead-paint replacement on the bridge. Fleet Services assisted the maintenance crew to upgrade the access gantries. This improved efficiency and improved safety for these elevated work areas. Fleet Services project-managed design and construction of the gantry and is now carrying out periodic inspections for all gantries to ensure their continued safe operation.
The Sackville ferry putting to sea from Port Macquarie for its journey to the Hawkesbury
Ferries
RFS Fleet Services operates and maintains twelve vehicle-carrying ferries operating in NSW. We have expertise in the operation, maintenance and construction of vehicular ferries – with four ferries constructed and put in service over the past six years. Staff are well trained and experienced covering all the trades – metal fabrication, shipwrights, diesel mechanics and a painter to cover all aspects of work. All of these tradesmen have been trained in-house with many winning awards during their apprenticeship. Our maintenance inspection system is supported by industry naval architects to ensure that the vessels meet all appropriate standards.
The Sackville ferry during construction
Right: The Sackville ferry in service on the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney