History of Pandrol

Oscar Max Bernuth founds the Elastic Rail Spike Corporation Inc to sell spike fastenings in North and South America. Within 3 years, four million rail spikes are manufactured in Pittsburgh Steel Mills for the New York Central Railroad.

Elastic Rail Spike Company forms to distribute elastic spikes for timber sleepers in the UK, quickly becoming a global exporter. A plant is built in Worksop a few years later, and this business would eventually change its name to Pandrol in 1972.

The uniquely shaped spring PR clip is patented by Norwegian railways engineer, Per Pande Rolfsen, with his name eventually inspiring the name Pandrol. Within a decade, this PR clip is adopted as the standard system for countries including the UK and South Africa.

The Nabla fastening is developed by our fastenings team in Douai, quickly becoming the standard system for tramway networks across Europe in the form of Nabla Tram, with Nabla Evolution offering high electrical insulation and lateral force absorption for concrete sleepers in ballasted track.

The e-Clip fastening is created by our team in Addlestone, with its value-engineered design reducing the weight of clips by 40% whilst improving performance further, spurring immediate adoption across the market.

We open the world's largest purpose-designed fastenings testing laboratory in Worksop.

Railtech welding is introduced in Australia known as the ‘Boutet Process’ on Hamersley Iron mines.

Pandrol introduce the Rigid Catenary System, which quickly becomes the most widely used system in tunnels, thanks to their lower maintenance costs.

Patrick Bommard in Raismes invents the One-Shot Crucible, bringing major improvements to the quality of aluminothermic welding, with large scale production and global distribution beginning four years later.

The Vortok Coil is invented - a fast and simple solution for repairing loose screw spikes. Pandrol acquire Vortok a couple of years later, bringing a range of unique rail track maintenance, rail signalling, and rail stressing solutions into the portfolio.

In response to contractors needing a captive rail fastening system which could be delivered pre-attached to the sleeper, Fastclip FC is launched also bringing automated installation using clipping machines. The system quickly becomes the preferred system in many countries, with record installation rates being achieved for both new track projects and track renewals, leading to Pandrol winning The Queen’s Award.

Popular US welding equipment manufacturer Matweld are acquired and become part of the Pandrol family, bringing a range of on-track tools for welders.

Pandrol develop the Vanguard system, which isolates the track from the underlying structures to mitigate noise and vibration. The first installation takes place a few years later on the London Underground and becomes the system of choice for underground and metro systems around the world.

We are awarded the Alstom Innovation Award in Safety for the Vortok Safety Barrier system.

The world’s fastest track is constructed using our welding and fastenings. The high-speed record is set at 574.8 km/h on LGV Est.

Pandrol acquire Rosenqvist, adding a diverse range of automated clipping machines and excavator modifications to the portfolio.

We win the largest single railway contract in the world to supply 2,000 km of Fastclip FC in Saudi Arabia.

We win The Queen’s Award for enterprise innovation for our Vortok Stressing Roller.

Rosenqvist design the EQ Axle system, which bears the weight of excavators and larger vehicles alike, making transportation along track much easier and safer.

Pandrol acquire CDM Track, known for their resilient systems designed using re-purposed rubber.

The Pandrol Connect app modernises aluminothermic welding through digital traceability and provides on-track support for welders.

The decision is made to unite the strengths of our businesses within the rail division under a single brand, Pandrol.

We win the Rail Business Award for technical innovation for the RE Fastening System, a solution for retrofitting e-Clip lines.

Pandrol launches i+weld, a breakthrough range of semi-automated welding solutions unveiled at InnoTrans. By combining automation, data and ergonomics, i+weld redefines aluminothermic welding and goes on to win a prestigious ERCI Innovation Award.

The Pandrol Excellence System (PES) is introduced across the organisation. Inspired by world-class operational excellence principles, PES strengthens safety, quality, continuous improvement and employee engagement, helping create a more agile, sustainable and customer-focused business.

Pandrol's Florence Tramway project is recognised through UNESCO's World Engineering Day programme. Using innovative vibration mitigation systems made with recyclable materials, the project helps protect one of the world's most important historic urban environments while supporting sustainable public transport.