Since 2022, Honrock Railway Transportation Equipment Co., Ltd. has delivered 340 sets of high-performance cylinder locks (HK302 Series) to the new commuter trains operating on the Bioceanic Line, owned by Chile's National Railway Company (EFE). This delivery was achieved through strategic cooperation channels, either directly or indirectly, supporting the upgrade of a core rail passenger system in the heart of the South American Andes.

I. Project Background

Line Significance: The Bioceanic Line is the main trunk railway traversing central and southern Chile. It connects core cities like Santiago and Concepción with mining areas in the Andes Mountains, handling over 45,000 daily commuters. It fulfills dual national functions: energy transportation and public mobility.

Rolling Stock Upgrade Requirements: EFE initiated a project for 80 new double-deck commuter trains (including standard carriages, accessible carriages, driver cabs, and equipment compartments). The locks were required to withstand the harsh Andean mountain environment: high altitude, intense UV radiation, drastic diurnal temperature fluctuations (-15°C to +45°C), and volcanic ash erosion.

Stringent Standards: Design and manufacturing simultaneously complied with Chilean (NCh), European Union (EN), and international railway standards (ISO/TS 22163). The locks were mandated to maintain zero-failure operation under extreme temperature variations and high-frequency vibration.

II. Pain Point Analysis & Solutions

Structural Failure of Locks in Extreme Environments

✅ Pain Points:

60°C diurnal temperature swings causing thermal expansion/contraction, risking deformation and jamming of precision lock cylinder components.

Volcanic ash particle ingress accelerating mechanical wear and compromising locking reliability.

Intense UV radiation causing polymer components to become brittle, reducing service life.

✅ Solutions: Triple Extreme Pressure Resistance Design:

▶ Lock cylinder forged integrally from 304 stainless steel, tested via -40°C freeze / +120°C heat cycling.

▶ Stainless steel spring structure + drive shaft, increasing wear resistance index by 300%.

▶ Dust-proof structure (IP67 certified), blocking particle ingress.

Operational Efficiency Bottlenecks in High-Frequency Usage Scenarios

✅ Pain Points:

Train doors opened/closed over 2,000 times daily; traditional locks had a lifespan under 18 months.

High costs for preventative maintenance due to dispersed mountain stations.

✅ Solutions: Million-Cycle Durability System:

▶ Tungsten steel bolt combined with reinforced nylon gear set, friction coefficient ≤0.08.

▶ Self-compensating lubrication module enabling 100,000 open/close cycles maintenance-free (3x industry standard).

III. Product Delivery Overview

A total of 340 sets of HK302 cylinder locks were delivered for this project.

Core Application Scenarios:

Main door locking system for passenger compartments.

Safety locks for driver cab equipment compartments.

Redundant locking points for emergency escape doors.

Products passed 30 accelerated aging tests at the Chilean National Railway Laboratory, complying with the NCh 2820 anti-vibration standard.

IV. Project Highlights & Collaborative Value

Deep Customization: Optimized lock torque parameters and actuation force based on Andean mountain operational data.

Technology Integration: Compliant with European mechanical strength standard BS EN 1303:2015 and Chilean fire safety certification.

Agile Delivery: Completed from sample environmental testing to first batch mass production within 28 days.

V. Conclusion

Honrock Railway Transportation Equipment Co., Ltd. has deeply participated in Chile's strategic rail upgrade through the delivery of 340 HK302 cylinder locks. This project demonstrates our full-chain technological capabilities in extreme temperature adaptability, anti-particle erosion design, and ultra-long-life architecture. We will continue empowering high-altitude rail transit networks in South America, providing foundational technical assurance for "zero-intervention maintenance" throughout the entire train lifecycle.