Rail and transit systems, whether freight, passenger, metro, or heavy haul, depend on the seamless operation of rotating equipment to maintain safety, scheduling, and profitability. From diesel-electric locomotives to trackside compressors and transit HVAC systems, the alignment of rotating shafts is critical to performance.
Hamar Laser’s X-Series™ Laser Shaft Alignment Systems are engineered to ensure high-precision shaft alignment in rail depots, service centers, manufacturing facilities, and field maintenance sites. These systems reduce maintenance time, improve fleet uptime, and help extend the life of mission-critical components like motors, gearboxes, generators, fans, and pumps.
Problem: A metropolitan transit agency was experiencing recurring HVAC motor failures and downtime due to misaligned couplings across its electric train fleet. Technicians were using straightedges and dial indicators, with limited visibility into angular misalignment.
Solution: The agency implemented the X-660 X-Series™ Laser Shaft Alignment System, using its Easy-Guide™ software to perform precise alignments during scheduled maintenance windows.
Reduced alignment time by
65%
per HVAC unit
Improved mean time between failure (MTBF) for motors and seals
Increased system uptime by
12%
across 200+ cars
Generated alignment reports for maintenance records and QA
Significantly reduced vibration levels, improving passenger comfort
With its user-friendly software, rugged wireless heads, and superior accuracy, X-Series™ gives transportation maintenance teams the ability to align shafts quickly and with confidence, even under tight timelines and demanding conditions. Whether you’re performing routine maintenance in a depot or rebuilding drive units at a central facility, precision alignment is now faster, easier, and more reliable than ever.
In the high-stakes world of rail and transit, where safety, reliability, and uptime are non-negotiable, Hamar Laser’s X-Series™ delivers unmatched alignment performance. It reduces unplanned downtime, extends component life, lowers maintenance costs, and helps keep your rolling stock, and your operations, on track.
Assumptions for this example: You have a 480 volt motor drawing 40 amps and operating 8400 hours/year. The Power Factor is .85. Electricity costs $0.06/kWhr. Also assume that the amp draw is measured before and after the alignment and it is found that there is a 1 amp difference.
kW =V* A*PF*1.732/1000
kW =480V* 1A*.85*1.732/1000
kW =.706 = power savings
Savings ($) = operating hours * kW savings * kW cost
Savings ($) = 8400 * .706 * $0.06/kWhr
Savings ($) = 8400 * .706 * $0.06/kWhr
Savings ($) = 355.82
If your plant has 80 similar motors, and if only half of them had the same amount of savings, it would total $355.82 * .5 = $14,232!
The coupling icons next to the data displays show the direction of the misalignment at the coupling and update as you move or shim the motor! You can also zoom in on the coupling to show them in the live display area of the screen.
