ProTecht, described as “the rail industry’s first mobile, autonomous tank car cleaning system,” is now available across the U.S. and Canada through Marmon Rail brands UTLX in the United States and Procor in Canada.
“Tank car cleaning is one of the rail industry’s most hazardous and time-intensive operations,” Marmon Rail said. “Whether for repairs or change of service, every tank car must be cleaned—a process that traditionally requires human entry into confined spaces containing hazardous residues. This manual approach is one of the most dangerous aspects of tank car maintenance. ProTecht represents a major technological breakthrough in tank car cleaning. This proprietary mobile cleaning system revolutionizes tank car maintenance with safer, more sustainable and highly efficient on-site cleaning.
The patent-pending ProTecht system, Marmon Rail noted, “is compatible with all tank car types, regardless of ownership or manufacturer. Designed specifically for industrial railyard environments, it eliminates the need for confined space entry and features three specialized cleaning modes tailored to the commodity being handled:
- “Water Filtration System – Efficient cleaning for light residues.
- “Steam Injection System – Precision cleaning for midgrade commodities.
- “Automated Cannon System – High-impact cleaning for hardened residues.”
ProTecht’s closed-loop system filters and reuses water and detergent, “significantly reducing waste, extending operational uptime and minimizing environmental impact,” Marmon Rail added. “By eliminating the need for costly freight moves and out-of-service delays, ProTecht helps fleet owners accelerate turnaround and improve asset utilization.”
“Seeing firsthand the risks of traditional cleaning methods inspired me to develop a safer alternative,” said Evan Ingram, Operations Manager at Marmon Rail. “Our mobile, autonomous system eliminates the need for operators to enter hazardous environments.” Ingram, inventor of ProTecht, spent four years developing, testing, and patenting the technology.
“If it ships in a tank car, ProTecht can clean it,” said Jay McGill, President Repair Services, On-Site & Mobile. “Marmon Rail has long been the industry leader in railcar repair and maintenance. ProTecht builds on that legacy with a cutting-edge system that is safe, sustainable, versatile, and purpose-built for on-site deployment. It is a major leap forward in modernizing tank car cleaning for today’s rail industry.”
