News and developments
We develop and build our technology from our workshop in Sheffield, UK. Innovation is the foundation of our business. We’ll be using this page to keep you updated on exciting new developments.
May 2026
UK Rail
2026
Squeezing as much friction measurement tech as possible onto our UK Rail stand was a good reminder of how far we’ve developed our tribometers recently!
Great to visit with some of the Rivelin Rail team making this happen, William Bainbridge, Mostafa Hegazi and Baybutt behind the camera/eyeing up a new workshop driving simulator
Operational friction testing of low adhesion mitigation methods
RSSB Report
Results presented at the Network Rail National Autumn Review, Seasonal Challenge Communication Group, Freight Braking ARG and Adhesion Research Group.
This is the beginning of a more data-driven approach to friction management strategies. For further information or future work please get in touch.
Over £80 million pounds per year is spent on rail cleaning.
Despite this, very little information is known about performance. ‘Trial and error’ is used alongside ‘one size fits all’ cleaning strategies.
Ben conducted 11 days of friction measurements over 6 different locations, to determine the performance analysis of four different types of friction management products including water jetting, traction gels, and chemical cleaners.
Benefits to railway operation of friction measurements include:
Understanding of cleaning performance under different contamination, environmental and traffic conditions
Optimisation of cleaning strategy including location, speed or power and application intervals
Understanding of potential adhesion risks when using products and recommended mitigations
Friction ‘library; or database to compare against for future operational and investigative measurements
Read the results of that work here.
Leaf layer formation and measurements
Our tribometer has been included in Rail Safety and Standards board protocols for formation and measurement of low adhesion conditions using leaf layers.
We can offer this to test or optimise railhead treatments, as a consultancy service.
GPS
Our latest firmware update introduces GPS, for geolocated results which can be fed into data libraries and adhesion models
Gauge corner
Just around the corner!
We’ve been working on this for a while. In other tribometer technology the wheel is not always perpendicular to the rail surface which introduces creepage errors.
Our new system is designed for accurate, repeatable measurements in all rail positions.
Friction measurement trolley
Continuous, geolocated friction measurements?
It’s going to be a gamechanger!
