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In brief
Railway industry material handling brings together a set of constraints rarely found in a single environment: glazed panels weighing up to 80 kg, heavy train seats installed dozens of times per shift, confined spaces inside rail vehicles under active assembly, and an absolute zero tolerance for surface damage on finished components.
Neoditech addresses these demands with two purpose-built solutions: the SCARA manipulator arm (PARTS 50 kg / TITAN 100 kg) and the Mobile Jib Crane (70 kg / 100 kg).
Both are mobile and repositionable without permanent infrastructure: no civil engineering, no floor fixation required, repositioned in minutes between production bays.
Alstom, SNCF, RATP and Satys rely on Neoditech equipment in their railway workshops to protect operators and sustain production output.
When the part cannot afford a single mistake: real constraints in railway workshops
Railway workshops operate under conditions that generic handling solutions simply cannot meet. Glazed panels crack. Finished surfaces scratch. Operators fatigue. In a rail vehicle assembly bay, each of these outcomes carries a cost: a replacement panel, a production delay, a RIDDOR report, or a long-term absence claim. Ergonomic handling in the railway industry is not a comfort measure. It is an operational requirement.
The constraints are specific and non-negotiable: heavy, fragile components, confined working envelopes inside rail vehicles 20 to 25 metres long, repetitive gestures across a full shift, and quality requirements imposed by tier-one clients such as Alstom and SNCF. Equipment designed for this environment must start from these realities, not be adapted to them after the fact.
Zero surface damage on glazed panels and finished components
Train glazed panels and body panels are large, heavy (30 to 80 kg) and unforgiving. A single uncontrolled contact, a slight twist during installation, and the component is unusable. The cost of a replacement glazed panel far exceeds the cost of the right handling equipment. The SCARA manipulator arm, fitted with a custom suction-cup gripper designed by the Neoditech engineering team, delivers a controlled trajectory, a reproducible movement and zero unintended contact with the surface. The operator guides. The arm carries. The component reaches its exact position without effort and without risk.
Eliminate MSDs before the first injury claim
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for 27% of all work-related ill health in Great Britain, with 511,000 workers affected in 2024/25 and 7.1 million working days lost as a result. In railway assembly workshops, the risk gestures are well-identified and repetitive: installing train seats dozens of times per shift, handling heavy glazed panels, picking parts from automated vertical storage in constrained postures. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) explicitly requires rail operators to identify and control long-term health effects from workplace ergonomics, including manual handling risks. MSDs are not managed with training alone. They are eliminated at workstation design stage, by removing the manual load and mechanising the hazardous gesture. That is precisely what the SCARA arm and Mobile Jib Crane deliver.
Equipment that moves to the work, not the other way around
A railway assembly bay is not a fixed production line. Rail vehicles under construction occupy 20 to 25 metres of floor space. Operations take place inside the vehicle, along the assembly platform, and across multiple production bays. Installing a fixed overhead crane or a permanent handling system at every station is neither economically viable nor operationally flexible. Neoditech equipment answers this constraint through native mobility: an autonomous electric wheel base, a pallet-truck-compatible base, or a floor-fixed base for permanent stations. No civil engineering. No external power supply required. The equipment moves to where production needs it, in minutes.
Mobility built into every configuration: three base options for railway workshops
Mobility is not an add-on for Neoditech equipment. It is the starting architecture. Three base configurations are available for both the SCARA arm and the Mobile Jib Crane, matched to the level of flexibility your railway workshop requires.
Electric wheel base (autonomous). The operator moves the equipment independently, without effort, from one assembly bay to the next or along the length of a rail vehicle under construction. The right choice for workshops where workstation layouts change with each rolling stock model or contract.
Pallet-truck-compatible base. An intermediate solution for workshops that already operate a pallet truck. Fast repositioning between production zones, with no additional investment in an onboard motor drive. Practical, cost-effective, immediately deployable.
Floor-fixed base. For permanent stations, such as a glazed panel insertion line running in series: the equipment is anchored, repeatability is maximised, and every cycle follows the same controlled gesture.
All three configurations apply equally to the SCARA manipulator arm and the Mobile Jib Crane. Your production evolves. Your equipment adapts: new rolling stock model, workshop reorganisation, new client contract with different component specifications.
Two solutions for every railway handling operation
Precision or total mobility: the two Neoditech solutions cover the full spectrum of railway assembly handling operations, from fine assembly work inside rail vehicles to goods-in unloading and inter-zone transfers of heavy structural components.
SCARA manipulator arm
SWL up to
100Kg
Glazed panel and window installation, train seat installation on assembly lines, parts picking from AS/RS automated storage
Mobile Jib Crane
SWL up to
100Kg
Picking, deposit and unloading of heavy railway components (bogie sub-assemblies, structural panels, body elements)…
SCARA arm or Mobile Jib Crane: two complementary approaches
| Equipment | SWL | Usage logic | Typical operations | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SCARA manipulator arm (PARTS 50 kg / TITAN 100 kg) |
50 or 100 kg | Precision and finesse: bringing a part to its exact position, working in confined spaces inside railway carriages | Installing glazed panels, fitting train seats, picking parts from an automated storage system, handling components in confined spaces | Compact design, millimetre precision, custom gripper, reproducible motion |
|
Mobile jib crane (70 kg / 100 kg) |
70 or 100 kg | Simple pick and place: lifting, moving and setting down railway parts with a fully mobile solution | Pick, place and unloading of railway parts, feeding assembly workstations, transfers between production areas | Full mobility without infrastructure, 350° rotation, adjustable height 2.5 to 3.8 m, no external power supply required |
Request a free workstation audit
Our account managers visit your workshop, review your zoning and production constraints, and recommend the right configuration.
Three railway applications, three precise answers
Financing your investment: UK funding routes for rail vehicle handling equipment
Investing in ergonomic handling equipment for the railway industry in the UK can be supported through several established routes. Understanding which applies to your organisation is the first step.
HSE improvement notice compliance and capital allowances. When equipment is purchased to address an HSE improvement notice or to prevent work-related ill health, it typically qualifies as plant and machinery under UK tax law. The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) allows businesses to deduct the full cost of qualifying plant and machinery in the year of purchase, up to the current AIA limit. Mechanical handling aids and ergonomic equipment are well-established qualifying categories.
Full expensing for companies. UK companies purchasing new and unused plant and machinery can claim full expensing (100% first-year allowance) in the year of purchase, removing the need to spread the deduction over several years. Handling equipment qualifies under this route where it meets the standard plant and machinery criteria.
Reduced insurance premiums and improved RIDDOR compliance. Fewer MSD claims directly reduce employer liability insurance premiums over time. Demonstrating proactive MSD prevention through mechanised handling also strengthens your RIDDOR compliance position and supports your HSE audit trail.
Healthy Working Lives (Scotland). Scottish employers can access free workplace health and safety advice and support through Healthy Working Lives, including guidance on MSD risk assessment and workstation design. This advisory support can inform the business case for capital investment in handling equipment.
Speak to your tax adviser or finance team to confirm eligibility for your specific investment. Contact us to discuss the equipment specification and lead times.
Why Neoditech?
Why railway manufacturers and operators choose Neoditech
Neoditech is designer and manufacturer of its equipment, in France, since 2007. That distinction matters for railway clients. Alstom, SNCF, RATP and Satys impose strict requirements on precision, traceability and surface quality: requirements that only a manufacturer controlling the full design and production chain can consistently meet.
The custom gripper is designed in-house by the Neoditech engineering team, adapted to your specific component geometry and operation, documented and delivered with the equipment. Neoditech teams work on site with minimum disruption to your production schedule, adapt to your workshop constraints and provide complete technical documentation for your quality audits.
What you get, concretely:
Free on-site workstation analysis, no commitment required, to qualify your need before any purchasing decision
Custom gripper designed by the Neoditech engineering team for your specific component and operation
Manufacturing in France, controlled lead times, single point of contact from design to delivery
Installation in a few hours, operator training on site on the same day
CE marking, full compliance with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, complete technical documentation supplied
What our solutions do not cover
Direct answers on the limits of our range.
Loads exceeding 100 kg for the SCARA TITAN. Beyond 100 kg, the ERGO360° ergonomic positioner (up to 200 kg) or a dedicated lifting system is better dimensioned for your application.
Loads exceeding 100 kg for the Mobile Jib Crane 100. An overhead crane or powered hoist is more appropriate for loads above this threshold.
Full automation without an operator. Neoditech equipment keeps the operator at the centre of the process: guiding, positioning and controlling. For fully autonomous lines with no human intervention, a robotics integrator is better suited.
Long-distance transfers. For movements of several tens of metres between production zones, the Mobile Order Picker, a conveyor system or an AGV is better dimensioned than the Mobile Jib Crane.
Scratch-free and crack-free glazed panel installation depends on three simultaneous conditions: eliminating manual load-bearing, controlling the trajectory throughout the movement, and managing contact with the glazed surface at every point. The SCARA manipulator arm with a custom suction-cup gripper meets all three. The operator guides the panel without bearing its weight. The arm’s articulated architecture controls the trajectory. The suction-cup gripper distributes pressure uniformly across the glazed surface with no hard contact points. The result: zero cracks, zero scratches, the same reproducible gesture at every cycle, regardless of operator fatigue level or shift duration.
The decision follows the nature of the operation. Choose the SCARA arm when the operation requires positioning precision: glazed panel installation, train seat fitting, picking from AS/RS automated storage, or working inside the confined envelope of a rail vehicle under assembly. Its compact articulated architecture reaches spaces where a jib crane cannot manoeuvre. Choose the Mobile Jib Crane when the operation is a pick, deposit or transfer of heavy components between zones, without millimetre precision constraints. Its total mobility and absence of infrastructure requirements make it the right tool for goods-in unloading, inter-zone transfers and assembly station supply. The two solutions are complementary and frequently coexist in the same railway workshop.
Yes. That is one of the core advantages of the SCARA architecture over conventional lifting solutions. The SCARA arm is compact, articulated and mobile: it enters a rail vehicle through doors or side openings, manoeuvres within the constrained interior space and positions the component with precision. The autonomous electric wheel base allows the complete unit to be moved along the length of the vehicle without effort. No ceiling infrastructure, no wall fixings, no floor preparation required. The equipment adapts to the vehicle. Not the other way around.
Neoditech equipment is classified as assisted handling equipment, not as welded railway vehicle structures or quality management systems. It is therefore not subject to EN 15085 (railway vehicle welding certification) or ISO 22163 (IRIS railway quality management system). It is, however, fully compliant with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and carries CE marking, satisfying the work equipment safety requirements imposed by tier-one railway clients including Alstom, SNCF and RATP. Complete technical documentation is supplied with every unit to support your quality audits and client traceability requirements.
Several routes are available to UK railway manufacturers and operators. Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) allows businesses to deduct the full cost of qualifying plant and machinery, including mechanical handling aids, in the year of purchase. Full expensing is available for UK companies purchasing new and unused qualifying equipment, providing a 100% first-year deduction. Where equipment is purchased in response to an HSE improvement notice or to address a documented MSD risk, it strengthens your compliance position and supports the business case for capital allowance treatment. In Scotland, Healthy Working Lives provides free advisory support on MSD risk assessment and workstation design. Consult your tax adviser to confirm eligibility for your specific investment and circumstances.
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Conclusion:
take action!
Stop absorbing the cost of manual handling in your railway workshop!
Your operators handle glazed panels, install train seats in constrained positions, and pick components from automated storage, shift after shift. Every unassisted gesture is an MSD in preparation and a surface-damage risk on a costly component. The right handling equipment eliminates both risks simultaneously, without slowing production and without requiring permanent infrastructure.
Neoditech: your partner for railway industry material handling
Since 2007, Neoditech designs and manufactures handling equipment in France. Our solutions pair ergonomics with production performance: protecting your operators does not come at the cost of your throughput, and sustaining your throughput does not come at the cost of your operators. Present in France and across Europe, we work in the workshops of the leading names in railway manufacturing and operations. Protect your operators. Sustain your production rates.
We design solutions that combine ergonomics and productivity. Our equipment enables manufacturers to improve operator safety while optimizing their production processes. Neoditech is also :
Customers supported in France and Europe
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Manipulators sold in France and elsewhere
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Useful sources
HSE: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics, Great Britain 2024/25: official UK data on MSD prevalence, 511,000 workers affected, 27% of all work-related ill health.
HSE: Musculoskeletal disorders statistics report (PDF): detailed breakdown of MSD cases by industry and type.
Office of Rail and Road (ORR): Human Factors and Ergonomics: ORR guidance on integrating ergonomics into railway system design and operations.
RSSB: Managing musculoskeletal health in the rail industry, case study Southeastern: practical rail-sector MSD management case study from the Rail Safety and Standards Board.
GOV.UK: Capital allowances for plant and machinery: official UK guidance on Annual Investment Allowance and full expensing for qualifying equipment.
Healthy Working Lives (Scotland): free workplace health and safety advisory service for Scottish employers, including MSD risk assessment support.