Year of Production: 1986
Avantgarde’s Refurbishment: 2024

This project is one of the many successfully delivered by Avantgarde over the years. It stands out for the complexity of the tasks and the outstanding engineering and technological results achieved thanks to the expertise of our highly skilled technicians. All work was carried out in-house, across the various departments of Avantgarde’s railway workshop in Modugno (BA), Puglia – Italy.

Avantgarde completed the full refurbishment of the SMD80, a highly specialized track-laying machine, bringing this 1986 model into a fully upgraded railway vehicle. With 39 years of service behind it, we brought this machine back to life — combining high performance, safety, and cutting-edge technology.

Following a detailed visual inspection, the machine was found to require extensive work on its hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical systems — all of which were carried out in-house at Avantgarde’s workshop with the craftsmanship of our skilled experts.

A tailor-made track-laying system was engineered and mounted, significantly enhancing the machine’s precision and efficiency in track installation.

The CAT diesel engines on both the main unit and the gantry were fully overhauled, as were all the railway bogies, with wheel replacement to ensure stability and durability. The hydraulic and pneumatic systems were completely refurbished, with the integration of additional cooling systems to meet the demands of tropical climates.

The electrical and electronic systems were totally upgraded including safety devices.

At the customer’s request, Avantgarde also performed several major upgrades including the Gantry enhancements with new safety features and access systems.

The machine was finally repainted in RAL 1004 yellow, updated with safety pictograms, ensuring visibility and compliance with international safety regulations.

Thanks to Avantgarde’s comprehensive intervention, the SMD80 is now fully restored, modernized, and ready to perform track-laying operations.