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New 80ft InnoWaggon Sggns: PJM carried out overall accreditation tests
When it comes to further development or new concepts, rail logistics specialist Innofreight is an important address. Recently, the wagon fleet was expanded by a one-piece 80ft InnoWaggon Sggn. Less wagon weight but more train load were the requirements to make rail transport even more economical and efficient for Innofreight customers. For the overall approval, the company relied on PJM expertise. The various tests were evaluated in several stages:
- Fatigue strength: The strength tests were carried out by the PJM engineering experts according to EN 12663. Another task of the engineering team was to optimize the strength. The static tests were carried out by means of a mobile pressure frame at the site of MFL Liezen. The buffing impact tests took place mainly in St. Michael, not far from Innofreight's headquarters.
- Brakes: The static and dynamic tests according to TSI WAG:2020 were also carried out in the St. Michael area. The uncoupling tests were carried out with various loading conditions.
- Acoustics: The acoustic measurements according to TSI NOI 2014/1204/EU were used to determine pass-by noise, rail roughness and track decay rate.
This project included two novelties:
- Uncoupling device: For the first time, a new device developed by PJM was used for the suspension tests. The new component has proven itself very well since it is lighter, smaller and easier to operate.
- Solar energy: The measuring instruments were supplied with energy by means of a solar panel. The panel can be set up in just a few steps and provides sufficient power for the measurement tests in good weather.
Get the full medie release:
https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/PI-Innofreight-PJM-03-2023-Web-EN.pdf
Lecture at International Railway Vehicle Conference in Dresden
A fixture among railway experts is the 1.5-yearly International Rail Vehicle Conference in Dresden (Internationale Schienenfahrzeug-Tagung). This year, PJM and voestalpine Track Solutions Germany GmbH also provided first-hand know-how. In the conference section wheel / rail, an insight into "rail maintenance based on smart measurements" was presented. The innovative approach of using mobile measuring technology to measure the rails and tracks of entire trams and underground trains in a short time was awarded the state prize.
The Rail Vehicle Conference was organised by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Dresden University of Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Transport Sciences "Friedrich List" at the Dresden University of Technology and DVV Media Group GmbH | Eurailpress Hamburg. Around 500 participants discussed innovations in the railway industry in a beautiful setting on the Elbe.
This year's programme (in German language): https://www.eurailpress.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Tagungsprogramm2023_v2.pdf
Digital freight train by SBB Cargo: Pilot project was launched
SBB Cargo is a pioneer in the automation of rail transport. Now an international consortium has launched the pilot train "DAC+". On board is the automatic brake test from PJM, among many other features provided by international consortium partners.
The consortium's goal is to advance automation and digitalisation in rail freight transport and thus, among other things, single-person operation. The centrepiece is the recently launched digital pilot train "DAC+".
More on this in the media info released by SBB Cargo:
https://news.sbb.ch/medien/artikel/116233/digital-freight-train-swiss-pilot-project-launched
Dynamic tests, instrumented wheel-sets and simulation for Rhaetian Rail
Projects always take our measurement technology team to particularly beautiful places. This was also the case recently in Switzerland. The Rhaetian Railway makes railway hearts beat faster. The track is one of the most beautiful in the world, and the Bernina and Albula lines are even UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to the picturesque landscape, the technical requirements are fascinating. Typical for the metre gauge track are curves up to 45 m radius and gradients up to 70 ‰. The Allegra multiple-unit train made by Stadler AG, which is used on this line in various vehicle configurations, is perfectly tailored to these high line requirements. In order to test the running characteristics of different train compositions under special operating conditions, PJM was commissioned with running tests.
The project was carried out in several parts by the experienced system specialist from Austria:
- In the preliminary stage, the wheel-rail forces as well as occurring buffer forces were determined by simulations. In this way, critical conditions or constellations could be resolved computationally. Another advantage is that this keeps the metrological effort to a minimum.
- Instrumented wheel sets, accelerators, transducers as well as measuring buffers were prepared in the usual way at the company's location in Graz and then installed on the test vehicle at the RhB main workshop in Landquart.
- The measurement campaign was carried out on the track between Poschiavo and Alp Grüm. In real operation, the running behaviour was tested under increased operating forces. The test runs took place in November 2022. The data analysis and report were recently completed.
Further information in the media release: https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/PI-PJM-Rhaetian-Rail-Web-02-2023-EN.pdf
Solar-energy for our measurement devices
Which solutions are the best? If they are environmentally friendly, easy to handle and reliable. For several months now, a solar panel has been part of our testing facility team's equipment and supplies our measuring devices with solar energy. The panel can be set up in just a few steps, and a rechargeable battery guarantees a continuous supply even during tests and measurements lasting several hours.
Achieving climate neutrality depends on both large-scale measures and small steps. In the expansion of environmentally friendly rail transport, our digital overall system WaggonTracker is an essential contribution to modernising and making rail freight transport more attractive. In everyday life, we try to make our world a little more environmentally friendly with small contributions.
A good start into a "projekt-rich" year
We have started into a project-rich year. Our laboratory team is currently working on new instrumented wheel sets. The engineering experts validate existing vehicles and optimise new vehicle designs using simulation and FE calculation. The test centre team is constantly on the road for vehicle tests. Our production team is constantly engaged in the production of our digital WaggonTracker technology. The projects of railway companies and vehicle manufacturers are carried out in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland and Ireland, among others.
New video: Automated brake test in operation
Automated brake testing is a crucial technology when it comes to modernising rail transport. The most important advantages are obvious:
- The time saved on a 500 m long freight train is close to 40 minutes
- Realisation of one-person operation
- Faster turnaround times due to faster handling
Check out how the automated brake test works in operational use in our brand-new short clip.
Styrian Export Award 2022 for PJM
PJM was awarded the Styrian Export Prize. Our digital technology for efficient rail freight transport convinced the jury of experts, who included criteria such as degree of innovation, market potential, sustainability and local value creation in their assessment.
The award ceremony at the Aiola Castle was the highlight of the Styrian Export Day, which was organised by the ICS (Internationalisation Centre Styria). The awards in the three categories (small, medium and large enterprises) were presented by, among others, Barbara Eibinger-Miedl (member of the Styrian government), Josef Herk (President of WKO Styria) and Jürgen Roth (Supervisory Board Chairman of ICS).
This is already the 4th award for PJM this year. A strong signal for PJM's innovative strength, but also for the importance of modern, efficient and competitive rail freight transport.
Credit: Foto Fischer
Mobile calibration test rig for instrumented wheelsets
Precision is the top priority in metrology, and calibration is a crucial factor. To ensure measurement reliability even for projects on site, PJM has developed a mobile calibration test stand. The advantages:
- After reprofiling the measuring wheel sets, recalibration can be performed on site.
- The new type of test stand enables unprecedented performance.
- The test stand is easy to transport and is therefore ideally suited for worldwide use.
The mobile calibration test stand has already proven its worth during the first "field test" and was used in a project for the Rhaetian Railway. Thus we can react quickly and flexibly to customer requirements even under challenging conditions.
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