Railroads replace millions of wood crossties each year because they are experiencing an acceleration of wood tie deterioration and tie replacement. Several factors have contributed to the railroads¡¯ need to replace ties. The following factors, together with the growing sensitivity to the use of toxics preservatives, have created a high interest in TieTek™ ties:

• Increasing rail traffic
• Faster train speeds
• Heavier loads per car
• Less availability of old growth
  hardwood trees

As an alternative to wood ties, TieTek™ ties meet the minimum performance requirements as outlined by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA). The performance requirements established by AREMA are based on Class I freight applications, considered to be the most demanding.

A major factor in the choice of railroads¡¯ use of TieTek™ ties is that the ties have been rigorously tested with successful results by the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) at the Federal Railroad Administration¡¯s Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. (Please visit Our Product for specific test results and additional technical information.)

TieTek™ tie performance has been proven to show:

• Strength in compression
• Strength in building
• Impact toughness
• Abrasion resistance
• Spike or screw holding power
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion
• Low electrical conductivity
• Resistance to moisture, fungus and insects
• Long life-cycle

Edward Kohake, former Senior Manager Methods & Research of the Union Pacific Railroad, states, "One of the major differences between these (TieTek™) ties and the mixed hardwood ties that were installed at the same time is the plate cutting. While the mixed hardwood tie is showing up to ¼" plate cutting, the composite (TieTek™) tie shows no indication of any plate penetration into the tie whatsoever. Also, there is no indication of any backing out of either the cut spike or lag screw."