In-keeping with our tradition of success through customer-focused innovations, we are happy to announce the successful verdict and performance report of one of the most valued innovations in our history – The Polyurethane Constant Contact Side Bearing [PU-CCSB].
A CCSB is an energy-absorbing device that provides stability to railway vehicles and minimizes wheel flange impact on rails by controlling the swaying motion of railcars.
The Polyurethane CCSB was first introduced in 2004, replacing Rubber-Metal Bonded CCSB, enhancing product life from 6-9 months to over 6 years & reducing failure rate from 22.34 % to 2.47 %. This resulted in a lifetime benefit of INR 19,110 per freight wagon to the Indian Railways [IR].
As of January 2016, this translates to a Cumulative Benefit of more than INR 600 Crores [i.e. Approx. USD 100 Million] to the customer. This figure is based on actual field data available with the Research, Designs, and Standardisation Organisation [R.D.S.O.] and the Ministry of Railways and was released in January 2016 after repeated investigations and verification by competent authorities.
Introduction of the PU-CCSB – a new and patented technology – in the early 2000’s did not come without its challenges. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle”. The PU-CCSB was an innovation that disturbed the status quo of the industry and faced strong opposition. Several competitors tried to derail the original patented product made with High Performance Polyurethane & technology from M/s Chemtura Corporation, USA by trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to introduce inferior quality copies made with non-standard materials and non-proven designs.
In May 2011, the same competition alleged that IR impulsively replaced the standard Metal-Bonded CCSBs with the more expensive PU-CCSB, thereby causing a loss of Rs. 69 crores to IR during the period 2004 to 2010. The allegations were investigated meticulously by the Railway Vigilance Organization as well as by the Central Bureau of Investigations. The results of the investigations, which lasted for more than 3 years, were compiled in a detailed investigation report and were submitted for review to the Court of the Special Judge, Patiala House, New Delhi.
After detailed perusal and verification of the investigation report by the court – a process that took more than 18 months – the Honorable Court finally pronounced their verdict in January 2016 conclusively holding all allegations baseless and all accused innocent. The court has clearly ruled that no wrongful loss has been caused to the Indian Railway by the introduction of PU-CCSB. On the contrary, after detailed study of data from investigation report, the court has explicitly stated in their order that the adoption of the PU-CCSB has resulted in NET SAVINGS to IR of Rs. 19,110 per freight wagon, which translates to a Cumulative Benefit of more than INR 600 Crores to IR thus far.
This long-awaited verdict of the court is valued by all at Prag and reinforces our belief in justice and the old adage by George Washington, “Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains to bring it to light.”
#RedemptionAtLast #TruthUltimatelyPrevails #The600CroreAntiScam