Lubrication solutions for reliable, low-noise door systems
Door systems in rail vehicles must withstand thousands of opening and closing cycles every day. At the same time, frost, moisture, dust, and cleaning agents have a constant effect on seals and moving components.
GLEITMO PFG 4022 has been specifically developed to reliably meet these demanding requirements and is officially approved for use in railway door systems by IFE.
Challenges with door seals in railway traffic
Door seals and door systems are important safety components of modern rail vehicles. Adverse operating conditions can permanently affect their function.
Typical challenges include:
- High switching frequencies and mechanical stress
- Fluctuating temperatures ranging from extreme cold to heat
- Moisture, icing, and cleaning agents
- Requirements for compatibility with different elastomere components
- Long maintenance intervals and limited accessibility
Without sufficient lubrication, increased friction, material changes, and higher operating forces may occur. The result: increased noise development, higher maintenance requirements and reduced fleet availability.
The solution: GLEITMO PFG 4022
GLEITMO PFG 4022 has been specifically developed to meet the demanding requirements of door systems and seals in railway vehicles.
Your benefits at a glance
- Reliable lubrication at extreme temperatures: Consistent lubrication performance from –40 °C to +150 °C, and up to +180 °C for short periods.
- High material compatibility: Excellent compatibility with different elastomere components reduces the risk of material damage.
- Resistance to moisture and cleaning agents: Suitable for applications involving cleaning agents, water, and other aggressive media.
- Reduced friction and lower noise levels: Supports smooth operation and improves passenger comfort.
- Longer maintenance intervals: Helps reduce maintenance costs and unplanned downtime.
Applications for GLEITMO PFG 4022:
- Door seals in rail vehicles
- Door mechanisms and enclosed assemblies
- Systems with limited maintenance access
- Applications with extreme temperature and weather conditions
Benefits for your operations:
Greater efficiency. Fewer outages. Lower lifecycle costs.
- Increased operational reliability
- Fewer unplanned downtimes
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Optimized fleet availability
Questions and answers about lubricating door seals
Door seals in railway vehicles are exposed to significant mechanical and environmental stress in daily operation. Frequent door cycles, temperature fluctuations, as well as moisture, dust and cleaning agents continuously affect the materials.
Proper lubrication reduces friction, protects the seals against wear and supports reliable long-term operation of door systems. As a result, operating forces remain stable, noise is reduced and overall fleet availability is improved.
Without appropriate lubrication, increased friction and material degradation can occur. This results in noticeable functional limitations during operation.
Typical effects include:
- increasing operating forces
- material wear
- loss of sealing performance
- higher noise levels
- door malfunctions or unplanned failures
As a result, fleet availability decreases while maintenance efforts increase.
The use of specialty lubricants plays a key role in extending maintenance intervals.
By reducing friction and providing effective protection against environmental influences, the functionality of door seals remains stable over a longer period. At the same time, wear is minimized, which reduces the need for relubrication.
The result is lower maintenance effort, fewer unplanned repairs and higher vehicle availability in operation.
During operation, door seals are exposed to moisture and low temperatures. Under freezing conditions, moisture on the seal surfaces can turn into ice.
Without suitable lubrication, adhesion between the seal and the contact surface increases further. In combination, this can lead to seals freezing in place or doors becoming difficult to operate.
Specialty lubricants reduce this friction and provide water‑repellent properties, ensuring reliable door operation even at low temperatures.
IFE approval confirms that a lubricant meets the specific requirements for use in railway door systems.
The approval process includes testing material compatibility, temperature resistance and performance under real operating conditions. This involves a consistent coefficient of friction, compatibility with various elastomer materials and resistance to environmental influences.
For operators and maintenance teams, IFE approval provides additional assurance: the lubricant is suitable for safety‑relevant door systems and supports reliable performance under demanding conditions.
How about your challenges?
Let us know how we can support you with your lubricant challenges in rail traffic.
Ralf Schlösser (Business Development Manager Railway EMEA) will be happy to advise you on the comprehensive lubricant solutions from FUCHS.