The NEWSLETTER
Winter 2013
FOCAL BHT ANICELL
By Mike Street, COO FOCAL
FOCAL is a Micro SME
based in the West Midlands. It is a Hi-Tec
consulting firm working on such diverse
projects as brown field infrastructure projects,
UK-China-UK rail shuttle, Surface and
Underground rail freight, Rail/Road Logistic
Hubs, Ro-Ro pallet systems, commercial
exploitation of Space Station Solar technology,
anti-microbial coating products, nano fibre
recyclable composite material to replace
carbon fibre, and several others that are still
confidential.
In this article FOCAL wish to present the new
Back Haul Trolley System that allows revenue
to be gained from back hauls for road, rail and
shipping operators. The BHT uses the new
EU project backed Nancore material - a nano
fibre recyclable composite material designed
to replace carbon fibre. This will be described
in the second part of the article.
BACK HAUL TROLLEY
The ‘BHT I’, (left of picture 1200 x 1000) is
specifically designed to fit European standard
pallets and industry wide Folding Logistics
Containers - The BHT II, (right of picture,
2500 x 2100) is designed to carry larger freight
such as engine racks and whole vehicles on
the in-bound leg of the journey.
In 2003 JLR (then part of Ford) were seeking
innovation/cost down in their supply chain and
the BHT trolley was specifically developed to
provide it. There was no appropriate means of
loading empty out-bound finished vehicle rail
wagons; trains return to the automotive
manufacturing plants empty, 24 wagons at a
time.
FOCAL have designed and patented their BHT
for the carriage of engines, transmissions and
other in-bound components on the return (inbound) journey. Thus the auto OEMs will have
an opportunity to reduce their current logistic
costs. The prize is large - currently there is
the equivalent of over 10,000 lorry movements
pa which move on bi-level rail wagon. All
these could be a back haul on the same rail
wagons. The BHT allows any palleted parts or
stillages (which fits within the BHT 2.5mx2.1m
Page 1
THE SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS LIMITED
SMMT, 71 GREAT PETER STREET, LONDON SW1P 2BN
T +44 (0)20 7235 7000
The NEWSLETTER
Winter 2013
foot print) to be loaded onto any surface that is
used to deliver a car.
The BHT is also very factory friendly.
Individual BHTs can be manually pushed line
side. The BHT is unique in that it can be
towed in rakes of up to 17 Trolleys, as
opposed to the 3 Trolley rakes which are
standard in every automotive assembly plant.
The BHT system was deliberately designed to
provide minimum change in the automotive
OEM operation. It was designed to use the
standard Linde or Maxim electric tow truck
used in most automotive OEM plants.
The composite & steel design uses existing
and new technology to improve upon the
standard steel trolley used in the sector. The
BHT provides easy handling in transit and
added convenience and safety in the
assembly plant.
Page 2
The BHT design consists of recycled
composites and rubber combined with a foam
- the bi-product of an EU funded FP7 NMP
programme Project 2008-2012, the detail are
available from FOCAL.
THE SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS LIMITED
SMMT, 71 GREAT PETER STREET, LONDON SW1P 2BN
T +44 (0)20 7235 7000
The NEWSLETTER
Winter 2013
Autorailcar loading
Like the standard trolley (dollies) BHT can be
stacked. Unlike the standard steel trolley with
its protruding coupling bar (an accident waiting
to happen), the BHT Trolley coupling retracts
inside the Trolley Chassis boxed section when
it is disengaged from the tow truck.
BHT is available now for further details please
call FOCAL on 0845 557 8082 or 0777 1910
302
ANICELL
ANICELL was created in an EU funded FP7
Programme that developed a new material to
replace the reliance on Balsawood and PVC
composites. This was the collaborative work
of several European Universities and tested at
the University of Coventry.
Another of the BHT’s new innovations is a
cable operated deadman’s drum brake which
engages when the trolleys begin to descend
either a slope or a ramp. This is especially
important when the BHT is being towed into a
bi-level rail wagon normally used for cars.
Page 3
AniCell can be used either as structural panels
or as the core of sandwich panels and,
depending on the additives and/or the cellular
structure type, it can fulfill different types of
requirements and be used for different
applications and/or configurations.
THE SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS LIMITED
SMMT, 71 GREAT PETER STREET, LONDON SW1P 2BN
T +44 (0)20 7235 7000
The NEWSLETTER
Winter 2013



AniCell cores and panels are based
on a readily available and economic
polymer such as polypropylene
The multifunctionality of AniCell
products makes them potential
substitutes for current products in
many applications
AniCell FR and AniCell PFR can be
produced in a density range between
250 and 300 kg/m3
The new FP7 NMP 2008-2012 Programme
funded Nancore Material is being considered
by overseas OEM’s.
The difference between the conventional
compression molding process and the ICM
route lies in the pressure applied to the
material during the foaming step. It is possible
to generate low density materials without
crosslinking the polymeric matrix, so they are
fully recyclable by conventional processes.
The ICM route allows the use of a wide variety
of fillers, (from nanoparticles to conventional
microsized fillers) and up to medium-high
contents, (up to 40%). The ICM route and
halogen free flame retardant technology
combine to generate a new class of lightweight
fire resistant cores and panels.
Details on ANICELL are available from FOCAL
on 0845 557 8082 or 0771 910 302
This publication contains general information and,
although SMMT endeavours to ensure that the content is
accurate and up-to-date at the date of publication, no
representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as
to its accuracy or completeness and therefore the
information in this publication should not be relied upon.
Readers should always seek appropriate advice from a
suitably qualified expert before taking, or refraining from
taking, any action. The contents of this publication should
not be construed as advice or guidance and SMMT
disclaims liability for any loss, howsoever caused, arising
directly or indirectly from reliance on the information in this
publication.
AniCell’s principle properties are:
 They exhibit excellent specific
stiffness and strength due to their
anisotropic cellular structure
 Some of the materials commonly used
for the applications in which AniCell
could be an option, are polyurethane
foams or crosslinked PVC foams
 AniCell cores and structural panels
can be used as thermal insulators due
to their low thermal conductivity.
 The open cell version of AniCell,
AniCell OC, can be used as vibration
dampener or as acoustic absorber
material
 AniCell FR offers fire resistance using
halogen free technology
 AniCell is an economically viable
alternative to more commonly used
products
 AnicCell products present clear
advantages in cost, performance and
sustainability over the currently used
PU and PVC foams
Page 4
THE SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS LIMITED
SMMT, 71 GREAT PETER STREET, LONDON SW1P 2BN
T +44 (0)20 7235 7000