GMT Rubber-Metal-Technic - Suspension Systems and Rubber-Metal Anti-Vibration Components

GMT Rubber-Metal-Technic Ltd is a highly respected worldwide market leader in the design, manufacture and supply of anti-vibration and suspension solutions for the railway industry and is IRIS approved..

With over40 years of experience in the industry, GMT offers a comprehensive range of components and complete system solutions for the improvement of safety and ride comfort on rail vehicles. Systems are available for all types of application from trams, light rail and metro to heavy freight locomotives, intercity and very high-speed passenger trains.

Our products include primary suspension springs (typically chevron, axle and conical springs), as well as our established and proven secondary air spring suspension systems.

GMT also manufactures rolling rubber springs, steering rods, resilient wheels, stop buffers, engine mountings, control links, pivot bearings, bushes, rubber and steel springs, couplers and draw gear.

Air spring systems

GMT offers a large range of air springs and can manufacture air springs to meet customers individual requirements. As an approved supplier to numerous major OEM's, GMT has gained a reputation in the industry for providing high quality products, which is imperative for the railway industry.

GMT air springs provide high torsional, horizontal and conical displacements, giving a low frequency ride characteristic for various conditions.

Air springs can be supplied complete with additional secondary rubber springs, which provide suspension in case of air supply defect or leakage.

Chevron axle springs

GMT chevron axle springs are multi-purpose vibration reducing elements. Due to their simple installation and long lifespan, chevron springs are ideal for use in all types of rail vehicles. By selecting the angles of the pairs of chevrons mounted in a V-configuration and the number of interleaves, three different spring stiffnesses can be obtained in the different axes. Selecting the geometric dimensions of the individual rubber layers and the corresponding rubber compounds can also vary the degree of stiffness.

Conical springs

Conical suspension springs are used frequently in rail bogie manufacture. Being vibration isolators and dampers, cone springs allow for relatively large spring displacements and have a progressive load / deflection characteristic. If different degrees of stiffness are required in the X and Y directions, slots can be incorporated into the rubber profile.

Rolling rubber springs

Rolling rubber springs consist of a rubber ring, a tapering metal pin and a metal housing. The metal parts and the rubber ring are not bonded together by vulcanisation but instead are designed to allow the rubber to roll and stiffen with deflection due to the profile of the metals constraining them.

Additional mounting systems

GMT also produce a wide range of additional mounting systems such as buffers, bushes, spherical bearings, control links, steering rods, multi layer rubber springs and pivot bearings.

Entire suspension systems

GMT is an approved supplier for entire suspension systems and specific components with most major worldwide rail manufacturers, confirming GMT as a recognised leader in rail vehicle anti-vibration and suspension technology.

Customer support

GMT’s experience and technical expertise combined with our dedication and innovation ensure we can fulfil our customers’ demands.

A custom-designed solution is often required and, in such cases, we can provide a full design service utilising computer modelling techniques such as finite element analysis and multi-directional vibration analysis to meet our customers’ individual application requirements.

State-of-the-art simulation techniques, combined with physical dynamic testing in our environmental test chambers, are used to provide product validation ensuring GMT products meet design expectations.