Rail coach making gets a hand from robots; MCF beats expectations

MCF and its design consultant Ircon have drawn a roadmap to transform the Raebareli unit into the world's largest coach factory

In 2018-19, when Modern Coach Factory (MCF) at Raebareli manufactured about 1,500 rail coaches against a capacity of a mere 1,000, it surprised many. Apart from its human workforce, 44 robots are also being credited for this stupendous success.

Robots are now being used increasingly in the integrated-shell assembly line and robotic bogie-fabrication line. This is part of the plans of MCF and its design consultant, Ircon, to transform the Raebareli unit into the world's largest coach factory.

The Railway Board also wants it to make at least 5,000 coaches annually. The unit may soon see its phase-II expansion, which will increase