Superior results with PROMOTECH’s track systems

Choosing the right track system is never about a single parameter. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Workpiece geometry, welding position, curvature, minimum bend radius, travel length, mounting surface, and tractor or carriage compatibility work together in real‑world conditions. To ensure not only smoother operation, but also safer and more efficient work, all these factors should be considered as a whole.

Welding and cutting operations can vary significantly. To meet the diverse demands of today’s industrial sectors PROMOTECH offers the wide range of welding and cutting:

• carriages: RAIL TITAN 2, RAIL TUG, RAIL BULL,
• 4-wheel tractors: LIZARD, SCORPIO Battery, Mini SPIDER Battery,
• the whole family of GECKO tractors: standard GECKO, 42V, HS High Speed and GECKO Battery 2,
• and the whole family of DRAGON cutting and bevelling tractors: standard DRAGON, 42V, HS High Speed and DRAGON Battery.

When the track system is properly matched to the tractor/carriage in use and the application, it ensures greater control over positioning accuracy and process stability—delivering more efficient and reliable workflow.

That’s why PROMOTECH offers few types of track systems:

• Rigid Track
• Semi-Flexible Track
• Hi-Flex Track
• Ring Track
• 36mm Flexible Track
• 160mm Flexible Track
• V-tracks

To make the right choice, use the checklist below. When selecting a track system, consider all of the following aspects together—the best solution is the one that meets all of these criteria simultaneously.

Keep the track, no matter the application

Let’s start by defining the application. Within PROMOTECH’s wide range of welding and cutting tractors and carriages, users can easily select a model that best matches their specific application requirements.

While PROMOTECH tractors and carriages are generally capable of both welding and cutting, the DRAGON family of tractors is designed specifically for cutting applications. This makes them the optimal and most cost‑effective choice for users whose main focus is cutting rather than welding.

DRAGON / DRAGON Battery / 42V / HS are engineered for oxy-fuel or plasma cutting and bevelling on flat workpieces, both ferrous and non-ferrous surfaces. They move in horizontal position (PB, PA) directly on the workpiece or along a dedicated V-tracks engineered specifically for this series.

DRAGON cutting tractor is available in 4 variants: standard, 42V, HS (High Speed) and Battery and uses a dedicated to it V-track system. Other PROMOTECH tractors are compatible with most track types. Keep reading to find out which track works with which tractor.

Read more about DRAGON family of tractors >>

Tractor / Carriage and Track Compatibility

Ensuring compatibility between the tractor or carriage and track prevents setup errors and protects your equipment. Each type of track is dedicated to a specific group of machines, and cannot be used interchangeably.

Which machine goes with which track?

• RAIL TITAN 2 – rigid, semi-flexible, Hi-Flex and ring tracks
• RAIL TUG – rigid, semi-flexible, Hi-Flex and ring tracks
• RAIL BULL – rigid and semi-flexible tracks
• GECKO tractors’ family – 36 mm or 160 mm wide flexible track
• SCORPIO Battery – 36 mm or 160 mm wide flexible track
• LIZARD -36 mm wide flexible track
• DRAGON tractors’ family – dedicated V-tracks

PROMOTECH portable 4-wheel welding tractors can operate with a guide track, with a flexible track, or without any track at all, offering flexible options for welding automation. While the GECKO family of tractors and the SCORPIO Battery are compatible with both 36 mm and 160 mm wide flexible tracks, the LIZARD welding tractor is designed to operate exclusively with the 36 mm wide flexible track.

Check our article to explore when the use of flexible tracks with 4-wheeled tractors is particularly beneficial >>

Welding or Cutting Positions

Selecting the appropriate track system should also take into account the welding or cutting position, as well as the level of stability required for safe operation.

For horizontal applications, where gravity does not act against the system, users can select any track from the PROMOTECH portfolio, as standard mounting solutions are sufficient. It should be noted that V-tracks used with DRAGON tractors are designed exclusively for horizontal positions (PB, PA) and flat workpieces.

In out of position applications—such as vertical or overhead welding—the forces acting on the tractor or carriage increase significantly. Tracks and mounting systems must withstand downward pull and torque, especially during starts, stops, and direction changes. In these cases, rigid tracks with magnetic or vacuum mounting systems are essential for stable operation.

Workpiece Geometry: flat, curved, or irregular

Whenever a project involves curved, round, or irregular shapes—such as tanks, pipes, or pressure vessels—greater flexibility is essential. PROMOTECH offers a range of track solutions specifically designed for circumferential and curved applications. Ring tracks, Hi‑Flex tracks, and semi‑flexible tracks are engineered to support rail carriages on curved surfaces, while flexible tracks are designed for tractors operating on wheels.

• Flat surface, straight lines → Rigid, V-track or semi-flexible tracks
• Gently curved surface → Semi-flexible or flexible tracks
• Tight curvature (e.g. tanks, pipes) → Hi-Flex or ring tracks
• Complete circumference welding → Ring tracks
• Irregular shapes → Hi-Flex or 36mm or 160mm wide flexible track

Minimum bend radius

Another important factor is the required radius. Keeping the correct bending radius ensures consistent travel speed and a welding angle, both of which are crucial for high-quality results. Some applications require tight curves, while other are more forgiving. Each PROMOTECH flexible track is designed with a specific minimum bending limit — exceeding it can compromise stability, affect torch movement, or even damage the track itself.

Knowing the required minimum bend radius will help choose the right option:

• Ring: OD from 200 mm to 3000 mm
• Hi-Flex: min. OD 1500 mm, min. ID 3400 mm
• Semi-Flexible: min. radius 5000 mm
• 36 mm Flexible Track: min. radius 1000 mm
• 160 mm Flexible Track: min. radius 1250 mm
• V-track: not bendable
• Rigid: not bendable

The length of weld travel path

PROMOTECH’s tracks are modular and joinable, allowing for unlimited run lengths. However, the size of individual segments varies from 1.52 m to 2 metres.

Selecting the right length helps streamline installation, especially in tight spaces:

• Rigid: 2 m
• Semi-flexible track: 2 m
• Hi-Flex: 1.52 m
• 36 mm wide flexible track: 1.85 m
• 160 mm wide flexible track: 1.88 m
• V-track: 1.8 m

Mounting Surface Material

It is also important to consider how the track is mounted to the work surface, as the choice between magnetic and vacuum mounting directly affects stability, travel accuracy, and safe operation – particularly in demanding welding positions or on non standard materials. Track selection should always be evaluated together with the mounting method required for the given surface material.

On ferromagnetic materials such as carbon steel, tracks can be fixed using magnetic units or a vacuum system. However, when working on stainless steel, aluminium, or other non ferrous surfaces, where magnetic adhesion is not possible, vacuum mounting is required.

PROMOTECH’s vacuum track system is compatible with all PROMOTECH tracks, except the 36 mm wide flexible track. For this case, the alternative solution is the 160 mm wide flexible track. Although vacuum units are primarily intended for non ferrous surfaces, in fact they can also operate effectively on ferromagnetic materials, providing the flexibility to work on different surfaces without the need to change equipment.

The Right Choice, Made Simple

Factors such as the geometry of the workpiece, welding position (flat, vertical, or circumferential), required curvature, material type, and the tractor or carriage in use all play a role in determining the optimal track configuration.

Wide portfolio of PROMOTECH carriages, tractors and track systems, enables users to configure a solution precisely matched to their task—whether it’s flat plate cutting, vertical welding, or full circumferential work on pipes and tanks—confident that the right track will always lead to the right result.

Few useful tips – check if you know the answer

1. Is there a single “best” track system for every job?

Answer: No—there is no one-size-fits-all. The right choice depends on multiple factors considered together: workpiece geometry, welding position, curvature and minimum bend radius, travel length, mounting surface, and tractor or carriage compatibility.

2. What track system is recommended for vertical/overhead (out-of-position) applications?

Answer: In out-of-position welding (e.g., vertical or overhead), the forces acting on the tractor or carriage increase significantly, requiring the system to resist downward pull and torque. In such cases, rigid tracks with magnetic or vacuum mounting systems are best suited to ensure stable operation.

3. Are the PROMOTECH tracks modular, do that the travel length can be extended?

Answer: Yes. PROMOTECH tracks are modular and joinable, allowing unlimited run lengths, while segment size depends on track type – ranging from 1.52 m (Hi‑Flex) up to 2 m (rigid and semi‑flexible tracks).

4. Is vacuum mounting system compatible with every track?

Answer: The PROMOTECH vacuum track system is compatible with all tracks except the 36 mm wide flexible track—and for that case the 160 mm wide flexible track is the alternative solution.

• On ferromagnetic materials (e.g., carbon steel) you can use magnetic units or a vacuum system.
• On non-ferrous materials (e.g., stainless steel, aluminium), where magnetic adhesion isn’t possible, vacuum mounting is required.

5. Which tracks can be used with PROMOTECH 4-wheel tractors?

Answer: PROMOTECH offers two options dedicated to rail free tractors: 36 mm wide flexible track and 160 mm wide flexible track. While GECKO, GECKO Battery 2, and SCORPIO Battery can be used with both 36 mm wide flexible track and 160 mm wide flexible track, LIZARD is compatible solely with 36 mm wide flexible track.

6. Which track systems can be used for full circumferential pipe welding?

Answer: When it comes to the circumferential pipe welding, ring tracks are the most dedicated solution for external (OD) applications only. Ring tracks are designed specifically for full outer diameter welding and are not suitable for internal (ID) welding. Hi‑Flex and semi‑flexible tracks, on the other hand, can be used depending on the pipe diameter and required curvature and are suitable for both outer (OD) and inner (ID) welding.

Flexible tracks (36 mm and 160 mm wide), designed exclusively for 4‑wheeled tractors, also support both OD and ID applications, offering additional versatility for irregular or less rigid setups.

7. Can V-track be used with any other tractor than PROMOTECH DRAGON cutting and bevelling tractor?

Answer: No. V-tracks are dedicated to the family of DRAGON tractors and they can be used solely with DRAGON, in its 4 variants: standard DRAGON, 42V, HS (High Speed) and DRAGON Battery.

8. Are V-tracks suitable for vertical or out-of-position work?

Answer: No. V-tracks used with DRAGON tractors are designed exclusively for horizontal positions (PB, PA) and flat workpieces.

9. How can you tell by its appearance whether it’s a rigid or a semi‑flex track?

Answer: Rigid track and semi-flexible track look simmilar and both of them can be used with the same rail carriages: RAIL TITAN 2, RAIL BULL and RAIL TUG. However, the difference lies in their construction and is best seen in the cross‑section.

In the cross‑section of the rigid track, you can see four reinforcing ribs – one on each side and two in the centre – which provide higher stability. The semi‑flex track has only two ribs, located on the outer sides. Take a look at the photos below – first shows the rigid track, the other one – semi-flexible track.

Rigid track with four reinforcing ribs visible in the cross section:

Semi-flexible track with two reinforcing ribs visible in the cross section (on the left and right side):

Check the wide range of PROMOTECH cutting and welding carriages and tractors >>