Rail Profile Grinder Market Size, Share, Growth, Forecast 2030

Rail Profile Grinder Industry Prospective:

The global Rail Profile Grinder Market size was worth around USD 592 million in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around USD 958 million by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 6.2% between 2023 and 2030.

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The report analyzes the global rail profile grinder market’s drivers, restraints/challenges, and the effect they have on the demands during the projection period. In addition, the report explores emerging opportunities in the rail profile grinder industry.

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Overview

A rail profile grinder is used for grinding off the leftover metallic material from rail joints after aluminothermic or arc welding to provide the correct profile on the top and both sides of the rail head. Moreover, these rail profile grinders are also employed to smooth grind damaged surfaces and side trimming. The rail profile grinder grinds the top and sides of the rail to the original profile. Furthermore, rail profile grinders can be based on petrol engines, diesel engines, electric engines, and hydraulic engines. Electric engine-based rail profile grinders are preferred in tunnel operations, as the use of combustion engines is generally not permitted there. In addition, various firms across the globe have developed battery-based electric rail profile grinders. A battery-based profile grinder is a sustainable technology, as it performs tasks without polluting the environment.

Key Insights

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global rail profile grinder market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 6.2% over the forecast period (2023-2030).
• In terms of revenue, the global Rail Profile Grinder Market size was valued at around USD 592 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 958 million, by 2030.
• The global rail profile grinder market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the growing investment for rail network expansion, across the globe.
• Based on engine type segmentation, combustion was predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2022.
• Based on rail type segmentation, standard rail was the leading rail type in 2022.
• Based on end-user industry segmentation, passenger & freight transportation was the leading revenue-generating end-user industry in 2022.
• On the basis of region, Asia Pacific was the leading revenue generator in 2022.

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Rail Profile Grinder Market: Growth Drivers

Expanding rail network to drive market growth during the forecast period.

The global rail profile grinder market is projected to grow owing to the rising investment in the construction of new rail networks. Various countries, across the globe, are laying rail tracks in order to support their growing economy. The demand for transportation is rising fast, thereby, the rail network is likely to play an important role with sustainable and low-cost options. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), rail is among the most energy-efficient modes of transportation for freight and passengers. High-speed rail is expected to serve as an alternative to short-distance air transport, whereas conventional and freight rail can accompany other transport modes to offer efficient mobility. In recent years, urban and high-speed rail infrastructures have grown quickly, creating the foundation for low emission & convenient transportation within and in between cities. Some of the key countries with the longest rail network are the United States, China, Russia, India, and Canada, among others.

With about 60 thousand kilometers of line, high-speed rail networks have been built in more than 20 nations. As per International Energy Agency (IEA), China's railway network accounted for around 155?thousand kilometers by the end of 2022, out of which 42?thousand kilometers were for high-speed railways. The largest high-speed rail system in China is likely to reach 50 thousand kilometers by 2025. The global operating metro network accounted for more than 21 thousand kilometers. Further, as per Invest India, around 5,243 kilometers of track length was built in FY2022-23, registering a growth rate of around 80.2% compared to 2,909 kilometers of track length addition during FY2021-22. All such factors are expected to drive the rail profile grinder market’s growth in the coming years.

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Restraints

High initial cost of adoption to restrict market expansion

Rail profile grinder is an expensive technological product, thereby, the cost factor is expected to somehow hinder the growth of the rail profile grinder industry. In a rail profile grinder, the strong metal alloy frame of the hand-held rail profile grinder is supported by rollers and flanges that equip the frame and grip the rail head to ensure a flawless guide in any position. The major cost component in any hand-held rail profile grinder is its engine, which is based on combustion, electric, or hydraulic engine technologies. The price of the engine depends on its power capacity and functionality. In addition, the price of the rail profile grinder directly relates to its precision and workability.

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Opportunities

Development of battery-powered rail profile grinder to provide growth opportunities

Battery-powered rail profile grinder is projected to capture significant market share in the coming years. These rail profile grinders are environment-friendly in nature. The equipment ensures reduced noise emissions and no polluting gas emissions during operation. Thereby, it can be used in enclosed environments such as tunnels & underground networks and is also preferred in urban areas. Battery-powered rail profile grinders can be used in railroad switches and for grinding grooved rails and crane rails. Companies such as Geismar, Pandrol, and ROBEL Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH have already started offering a wide range of battery-powered rail profile grinders. Considering its feature and accessibility in wide working environments, the development and adoption of battery-powered rail profile grinders are expected to act as an opportunity for the rail profile grinder market’s growth.

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Challenges

Complexity of track maintenance to challenge market cap growth

Railway track maintenance is a complex and expensive process. Rail tracks are also located in remote areas and are subject to extreme weather conditions. All throughout the world, the effects of climate change can be experienced. Climate change is having a severe effect on the existing rail infrastructure, from persistent snowfall to unfavorable temperatures. Despite these challenges, the railway operator or maintenance firm inspects tracks. Companies that work with moving machinery must have plans and preparations for routine maintenance procedures.

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Segmentation

The global Rail Profile Grinder Market is segmented based on engine type, rail type, end-user industry, and region.

Based on engine type, the global market segments are Combustion (Petrol/Gasoline and Diesel), Electric, and Hydraulic. Currently, the global market is dominated by combustion, however, there is a significant increase in the adoption rate amongst electric and hydraulic types. Internal combustion rail profile grinder is a rail grinding tool for polishing surface damage, welded joints, and side trimming of the rails. Combustion engine-based rail profile grinder offers a wide range of advantages such as high operation efficiency, easy & convenient operation, good grinding quality, and others. These grinders are well suited for maintaining rail tracks, especially in remote areas. The engines are generally offered in 2-stroke (petrol) and 4-stroke (petrol & diesel) formats.

Based on rail type, the rail profile grinder industry is segmented into standard rail, head-hardened rail, heavy haul rail, tongue rail, and crane rail. The standard rail segment dominated the market share in 2022. Standard rail is the most commonly used rail type, with a gauge of 1,435 millimeters (mm). It is widely employed for passengers and light freight transportation.

Based on the end-user industry, the global market segments are passenger & freight transportation, mining, construction, and other end-user industries. Currently, the rail profile grinder industry is dominated by the passenger & freight transportation segment. Europe is targeting modernization in passenger & freight networks. Further, as per International Energy Agency (IEA), India has aimed to surge rail transportation from around 36% in 2022 to 45% by 2030, thereby, dropping transportation by less efficient internal combustion road vehicles.

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Report Scope

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific to lead the market during the forecast period

The global rail profile grinder market growth is expected to be driven by Asia Pacific, during the forecast period. According to the Union Internationale des Chemins de fer (UIC), an international union of railways, Asia Pacific accounted for around 33% of the overall global railway network. Moreover, countries such as Australia, China, India, and others have wide mining rail networks, at the mining sites. In Australia, Rio Tinto has made considerable investments in the rail networks, most notably with the addition of 166 kilometers (km) of track in the Pilbara mining area in August 2022. Then after, the network has a total length of more than 1,800 km, making it the longest rail network in the area run by a single company.

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As of Invest India, the Indian Railways have around 126,366 km of track length in total. In March 2022, India released National Rail Plan (NRP) Vision (2030) to create a future-ready railway system by 2030. Under this plan, the Indian Railway will identify new dedicated freight corridors and new high-speed rail corridors. The completion of 58 supercritical projects, totaling 3,750 km in length, and 68 critical projects, totaling 6,913 km in length have been identified by 2024.

Rail Profile Grinder Market: Competitive Analysis

The global rail profile grinder market is dominated by players like:

• FCS srl
• Geismar
• Goldschmidt Holding GmbH
• Harsco Corporation
• Jinzhou Tiegong Railway Maintenance Machinery Co., Ltd
• Kennards Hire
• Konepaja Mankinen Oy
• Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.
• Noor Engineering Works
• Pandrol (Groupe Delachaux)
• Pouget rail
• Racine Railroad
• ROBEL Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
• Safetrack Baavhammar AB
• Shandong China Coal Industrial & Mining Supplies Group Co., Ltd
• Shenyang Lubang Railway Maintenance Machinery Co., Ltd.
• SPENO International SA
• STANLEY Infrastructure
• Xiangyang Lianjie Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd 

The global Rail profile grinder market is segmented as follows:

By Engine Type

• Combustion
  • Petrol/Gasoline
  • Diesel
• Electric
• Hydraulic

By Rail Type

• Standard Rail
• Head Hardened Rail
• Heavy Haul Rail
• Tongue Rail
• Crane Rail

By End-user Industry

• Passenger & Freight Transportation
• Mining
• Construction
• Other End-user Industries

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa