WORKMASTER® has the Railcar Gate Opener you need to eliminate the safety and productivity problems with the dangerous, dirty, and slow job of unloading railcars. We offer the industry's most complete line of Openers for hopper bottom railcars. Based on factors such as number of cars loaded, unloading site conditions including available utilities (compressed air pressure and volume, 3-phase power, etc), site security, and budget, a Customer can choose between a number of wheeled-cart, beam-mount, and portable Gate Openers available in pneumatic, electric, or manual power.
WORKMASTER®Hopper Car Gate Openers (our GOs) allow a single operator to open or close hopper car gates in a fraction of the time required with manual tools. With the right railcar gate opener, even solidly jammed railcar gates, the kind that put several workers into overtime, or cause railcars to be shunted to alternate tracks, are easily and quickly opened. The torque output of WORKMASTER® Gate Openers vary from 1,000 ft-lbs to a whopping 13,000 ft-lbs and operate at speeds from 8-RPM to 1400-RPM for easy, fast, and safe opening of any traveling gate. With productivity gains like these, it's no wonder every company that has ever tried a WORKMASTER® Hopper Car Gate Opener has purchased -- at least -- one.
WORKMASTER® Hopper Car Gate Openers (GOs) are engineered and manufactured to provide dependable, long-term service. Construction materials are chosen for their strength and durability. All Gate Openers are made from either high quality low carbon steel or high tensile aluminum alloys. Drive fittings and extensions are made from 4140 tool steel. Steel components are laser cut, and welded by AWS certified welders to meet AWS and ANSI Standards. Finishing operations include precision machining, Grade 8 fastened joints, and protective coatings such as powder coat, plating, black oxidizing or acrylic enamel paint.
As you'll see, every one of our Gate Openers can make the job safer and easier. So how do you decide which model is best for your unloading site? Is it the fastest and most powerful (and also the most expensive), or is it the more manual (and also the least expensive) model? Your decision should be based on criteria such as: (1) the condition and consistency of the railcars you process (old and poorly maintained railcars mean more GO power is needed, and varying height capstans mean more height adjustability); (2) the quantity of railcars you process on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis (more gates mean more GO speed is needed); (3) the condition and location of unloading site (remote sites, or sites with uneven terrain can mean more GO automation, while tight quarters could mean more GO manual operation); (4) the budget (GOs range in price from ≈ $1,000 to ≈ $18,000 – but don't let price be the primary determinant, our financing and leasing programs can usually solve the budget problem). Finally, if you'd like our help in selecting the best GO for your site, give us a call. With over 3,000 GOs in use, we're sure our 30-years of experience will help you select the Gate Opener that best meets your needs.
An air-powered Gate Opener on a wheeled-cart with pneumatic controlled pivot wheels (to follow a traveling gate or moving train), and manual height adjustment (capstan heights vary based on railcar model or laden). The compact, ergonomically designed A8-PW generates an operator controllable speed of 100 to 1400-RPM, and a no-torque-reaction (no stabilizing outriggers, or cumbersome, oversized frames), self-regulating (no more –or less – power than is required to open the gate), power output of 1,000 to 13,000 ft-lbs to open gates in the easy to extremely-difficult range in seconds. It is the top-selling Gate Opener in the world because it is fast, powerful, safe, easy-to-use, and ruggedly built.
