COST CUTTING AND INDIGENISATION

1. Interchangeability of Components of AM-12 types or similar type Pantograph: Based on meeting on interchangeability of component of Pantograph of AM-12 or similar type held at ELS/HWH and ELS/Kanpur, Railways have been advised vide this office letter No. EL/2.2.1 dated 30.03.2007 for using the components of the pantographs interchangeably. Technical Circular No. RDSO/2007/EL/TC/0094, (Rev. 0)dated 08.06.2007, identifying the equivalent part no./drawing no has been circulated to Railways stipulating AOH/IOH/POH kits of these pantographs. 2. Development of pantograph for Electric Locomotive:

The assessment of M/s. Concept Engineers, Kolkata has been carried out by RDSO and based on the results of assessment report, M/s. Concept Engineers, Kolkata has been advised to submit the detailed design of the proposed Pantograph against CLWs educational purchase order No. 31/2006/2551/16070 dated 19.10.2006 vide this office letter No. EL/2.2.1/Concept dated 19.04.2007. 3. Interchangeability of Vertical Cable Head Termination System in 25 KV AC EMU/MEMU:

ICF vide their letters No. EL/I/AC EMU dt. 9.03.07 & 26.03.07 raised the issue of supply of CHT assembly with turret by M/s safe System, New Delhi. The Turret is presently being supplied by the EMU transformer manufacturers. A meeting was organized at RDSO on 24.04.07 in which RDSO, ICF, BHEL, M/s. Safe System & M/s. Elastimold India participated and it was resolved that the bushing flange of existing turret supplied by BHEL along with transformer will be modified so that it suits with both type of bushings making them interchangeable. BHEL have agreed that they will cut-in modified turret after checking their stock position and cut-in date will be advised to RDSO and ICF.

4. Development of Snubber Capacitor for Auxiliary Converter as part of obsolescence management:

After extensive field trials, Snubber Capacitor type GT1818-202 (Norfolk/UK make) has been approved vide letter No. EL/11.5.5/2 dtd. 27.04.2007 for use on Auxiliary Converter of 3phase locomotive in place of Snubber Capacitor type TPC/AVX FPX66P0504J/FPGE6P0504J (Thompson make), which is on verge of becoming obsolete.

5. Indigenous armature main & commutating pole punchings:

CLW proposal for 100% switchover to indigenous material for Armature main punching & commutating pole punching was studied and examined by RDSO and clearance was given to CLW vide RDSO letter No. EL/3.2.172 dt. 10/05/2007 for 30% traction motor armatures to be manufactured using indigenous material for armature main punching and commutating pole punching and balance 70% are to be manufactured using OEM/imported material. The performance of traction motor manufactured using indigenous material for Armature main & commutating pole punching will be monitored and if found satisfactory it will be reviewed later.

6. Approval of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICS): RDSOs approval for use of eight types of ASICs indigenously developed by M/s. Semi Conductor Complex Limited, Chandigarh has been communicated to M/s. Bombardier Transportation India Limited, Vadodara vide letter No. EL/11.5.5/3/ASIC dtd. 20.06.2007. These ASICs are used on twelve different types of Cards (PCBs) of the Power Converter, Auxiliary Converter & Control Electronics of 3-phase locomotives and were so far being imported from a single source in Europe. Use of indigenous ASICs will result in saving of foreign exchange apart from reduction on dependence on European sources. 7. Indigenous material for stampings of Armature main punching & commutating pole punching: The proposal of CLW for 100% switchover to indigenous material for Armature main punching & commutating pole referred by CLW and Railway Board was examined by RDSO. The armatures manufactured using indigenous material for stampings manufactured by M/s Thyssen Krupp, Nasik and M/s SAIL, Rourkela for armature main punching were put into service recently and not much service experience has been gained. a. Moreover, this being a vital item for satisfactory performance of Hitachi Traction motor, gradual introduction of indigenous stampings will be desirable to avoid severe repercussion on reliability/availability of locos in the event of pre-mature failure of Traction motors on larger fleet of locos. b. This issue was discussed with Railway Board and after considering all the aspects, it has been decided to permit 30% traction motor armatures to be manufactured using indigenous material for armature main punching and commutating pole punching and balance 70% are to be manufactured using OEM/imported material. RDSO has advised CLW vide letter no. EL/3.2.172 dt. 20/6/2007 to implement the above decision of Board. Regular monitoring of the performance vis--vis imported material will be done by CLW, Railways & RDSO.

8. Indigenous manufacture/development of Ganz type N-32 Tap changer

Railway Board vide letter No. 2005/Dev.Cell/IML4/1 dated 6.12.2005 have approved indigenous development of N-32 Tap changer for conventional electric locos to RDSO specification. Accordingly, a draft specification No.ELRS/SPEC/GR/0039 (Rev0) for N-32 Tap changer for Ganz type has been sent to Rly. Board vide this office letter No.EL/3.2.30.1 dated 16.12.05. Railway Board has placed an order for 80 nos. on M/s AAL, Noida for localization of the Ganz make tap changer. The type test plan has been approved and the firm is likely to offer the prototype unit for type test during August, 2007.