Major Rail Manufacturer Goes Digital With Real-Time Classification App

Reducing Errors Through Digital Identification

Digital tools are increasingly embedded in heavy industry workflows. At EVRAZ, Russia’s largest rail producer, a new application is designed to simplify day-to-day operations for employees and customers of EVRAZ ZSMK – the company’s West Siberian Metallurgical Plant.

EVRAZ manufactures a wide range of high-performance rail products. These include DT350VS400 rails designed for high-speed traffic of up to 400 km per hour, described by the company as having no global analogues, as well as DT350NN rails engineered for low-temperature reliability and R65-type DT400IK rails with enhanced wear resistance and contact fatigue strength. The new digital application enables users to determine a rail’s category instantly after entering marking data from its surface.

The system replaces paper catalogs and minimizes the risk of misidentifying products supplied to the railway sector. Once the markings are entered, users can instantly access data on thermal strengthening methods, hardness class and intended use. The app is available to employees of OAO Rossiyskie zheleznye dorogi – RZD (Russian Railways), as well as to railway operating, maintenance and construction organizations. It runs on smartphones, tablets and computers and is currently deployed across Russia’s railway network.

Higher Transparency Across the Supply Chain

Developing and implementing digital tools like this supports broader digitalization efforts across critical production and logistics chains. By reducing reliance on manual reference materials, the application lowers the impact of human error during product selection and identification. The platform also saves time and resources during routine railway operations and strengthens coordination between manufacturer and customer. Digitalization in metallurgy has accelerated over the past several years, driving process optimization, higher efficiency and improved operational safety.

Metallurgical companies are moving along the path of import substitution by developing their own technologies. Following this approach will allow businesses not only to strengthen their competitiveness, but also to identify new opportunities to expand extraction and production

Alexander Yudin

Managing Director – Head of Client Relations for Metallurgy and Mining, Sberbank

In 2025, EVRAZ ZSMK expanded its capabilities in railway solutions by obtaining a conformity certificate for new R71-type DT350 rails designed for heavy-haul traffic. These rails increase network capacity and support infrastructure reliability as freight volumes grow.

The launch of the EVRAZ ZSMK application reflects a broader global push toward industrial digitalization. Other enterprises are introducing comparable services. For example, the Sveza Group uses a BPM platform to optimize customer processes in the timber industry, aligning with trends toward digitized client engagement. Across Europe and Asia, digital classifiers and mobile applications are becoming standard tools to improve efficiency in metallurgy and logistics.

EVRAZ positions the rail classification solution not as a marketing initiative but as a structural shift toward digital interaction between manufacturer and customer. By reducing misidentification risks during rail operation and maintenance, the application increases transparency and traceability throughout the lifecycle of the product.

According to EVRAZ, demand for the application emerged from the scale of Russia’s railway network and the breadth of the company’s product portfolio. If the service continues to evolve and see broad adoption, it could strengthen the company’s competitive position. EVRAZ is currently the leading rail producer in Russia and the CIS, and the digital platform has the potential to become an export-ready product.