The youngest company in the PJM Group can look back positively on its first financial year. Due to the very good order situation, three more colleagues have joined the company. Approval issues with functional safety and retrofitting of rail vehicles are particularly in demand.
The founding team of Thomas Hofer, Markus Fankhauser, Lorenz Kochan and Joachim Wagner summarize the first review of the past 12 months in an interview: Short clip
ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG has procured a new fleet of rescue trains with 18 new service jets from Stadler. The low-emission and multifunctional vehicles will be in operation throughout Austria, travelling at speeds of up to 160 km/h. PJM was commissioned as an accredited test center in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 for the test runs. The dynamic tests are being carried out in co-operation with the ÖBB mechanical measurement group. PJM was also responsible for the production and development of the instrumented wheelsets. The vehicle tests for the areas of running behavior, brakes, acoustics and pantographs will take place throughout Austria and are expected to be completed in autumn 2024. For unrestricted track access in Austria, the test runs were carried out in test zone 5c, for vehicle authorization for radius curves down to 100 meters. "The instrumented wheelsets were specially developed and manufactured for these specifications in very tight curves. Our wheelsets have proven themselves in the dynamic tests," says Martin Joch, CEO of PJ Messtechnik GmbH.
The new generation of service jets required some innovations in the test runs. "Due to the new standards, these demanding tests were carried out on the ÖBB network for the first time. The results of the test runs are extremely precise and reliable and form a solid basis for evaluating the rail vehicle," says test manager Roman Schmid, ÖBB Produktion GmbH.
The instrumented wheelset expertise is made up of several elements that PJM combines with each other. PJM perfectly matches measurement technology, experience as an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited test centre, engineering expertise and 10 years of experience in the development and production of measuring wheelsets.
PJM has now also raised its infrastructure and technical equipment to a new level. The new part of the building has been equipped with a comprehensive range of equipment to ensure the highest levels of precision, stability and standard in metrological terms. In addition, the expanded infrastructure will enable even faster throughput times and project processing in future. The equipment includes, among other things
‘The dovetailing of theory with practical testing experience is a great added value for our customers,’ says Martin Joch. He continues: ‘The instrumented wheelset infrastructure guarantees the highest measurement quality for every phase and every requirement. In combination with our specialised knowledge in engineering and our many years of experience in dynamic testing, we offer vehicle manufacturers a considerable portfolio of knowledge and services.’
This makes PJM a strong partner in the field of measuring wheelsets:
https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/PI-PJM-Messradsatzhalle-5-2024-EN-Web.pdf
The first journey of the new generation of ÖBB Nightjets is coming soon: from 10 December, the new Generation Viaggio Next Level night coaches will be in service in Austria and Germany. Rail passengers look forward to a wide range of comfort categories and technical innovations.
PJM was commissioned with the overall approval in cooperation with ÖBB. As an accredited test laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025, the Austrian system specialist was in charge of the design and production of the measuring wheelsets as well as for the approval tests in the areas of running behavior, fatigue strength, acoustics and aerodynamics.
The aerodynamic vehicle tests were performed at speeds of over 200 km/h. In the course of these measurements, compliance with the permissible aerodynamic stresses was checked on the train platform, on the open track and in tunnels. The required boundary conditions in Austria can currently only be realised on the Westbahn line, which is why the test runs took place between Vienna and Linz.
Eco-friendly travelling comfort "Made in Austria"
Austria's railway expertise is reflected in the modern night trains. With the new Nightjets, ÖBB is expanding its role as market leader in the European night train business: Siemens Mobility was responsible for the development, the carriages were manufactured in Vienna and the bogies and wheelsets come from Graz. PJM carried out the approval tests and the measuring wheelsets were designed and manufactured in the headquarters of Graz.
Media release of ÖBB (in German language)
In future, a total of 33 Nightjets of the new Viaggio Next Level generation from Siemens Mobility will ensure comfortable and at the same time climate-friendly travel in Central Europe. For the approval of the newly developed passenger coaches, PJM is on board as an accredited test center according to ISO/IEC 17025. The Austrian system specialist was commissioned for the overall approval in cooperation with ÖBB. The contract specifically includes the instrumented wheel sets as well as the approval tests in the areas of running behavior, fatigue strength, acoustics and aerodynamics.
6 instrumented wheel sets were developed and manufactured in Graz and then installed in the test vehicle at the ÖBB plant in Vienna. The test runs started in autumn 2021. The test train is in use throughout the entire Austrian rail network. To evaluate derailment safety, the first approval tests started in the field of running behavior, after which the bogies were upgraded for the test runs in the area fatigue strength. Finally, high-speed measurements follow for the aerodynamics area. The acoustic tests will complete the approval tests. "For an extensive project like this, it is above all our metrology expertise and experience in bringing together all specialist areas that prove their worth. Our flexibility and routine, which we have gained from our numerous international projects, are also essential. Due to the weather, there are always changes in procedures, for example during test runs in winter on the Arlberg at 1,000 m above sea level," explains Martin Joch, CEO of PJM. "A good collaboration with the project partners is also immensely important in large-scale projects. The cooperation with ÖBB's measurement group is excellent."
Get more in the media release:
The ideal summer reading: The technical article published by the renowned railway magazine ETR and produced by experts on the subject of milling technology from voestalpine Track Solutions Germany GmbH and from our measurement technology team. The new and unique concept involves network-wide recording of the rail condition with the aid of state-of-the-art sensor technology. Subsequently, targeted rail milling work is carried out on tracks and switches. The project was awarded the Austrian State Prize for Engineering Consulting in the spring.
Get the full article (in German language): https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/ETR_Schieneninstandhaltung_Barcelona_voestalpine_PJM0322Web.pdf
PJM was awarded the Austrian National Award for Engineering Consulting 2021 on May, 11th. The submitted project convinced the 13 experts of the expert jury chaired by DI Dr. Peter Holzer.
A new technical procedure was developed, which was applied among others for the Barcelona metro, with which the rails and tracks of city railways and underground trains can be measured smartly and digitally in a short time. For this, mobile measuring technology is used that is installed on an existing vehicle - instead of conventional measuring trains. These cannot be used for urban railways due to the smaller clearance gauge profiles. "The jury is unanimously convinced that the attractiveness of inner-city public transport can be increased with this technology, because the availability, safety and comfort of passengers is significantly increased", states the jury.
"What a great award! The expert jury looked at our solution in detail and asked well-founded questions. The State Prize is a wonderful confirmation of our daily striving for reliable solutions and innovative concepts. A big thank you also to our client voestalpine Tracking Solutions Germany GmbH," says Martin Joch, CEO of PJM.
About the State Prize
The State Prize for Consulting has been awarded by the Ministry of Economics since 1990, since 2010 alternately for "Engineering Consulting" (organiser: Austrian Consultants Association - ACA) and for "Management Consulting and Information Technology".
The awarded project
Photos: With courtesy of BMDW © Silveri Matthias
The worldwide operating technology group Voith, headquartered in Heidenheim, and the Austrian systems specialist for rail transport PJM are bundling their expertise in rail freight transport and becoming sales partners. With immediate effect, the digital WaggonTracker platform will complement the Voith Group's product portfolio and sales network. The two companies are thus expanding their development cooperation in the field of digitized logistics management, announced in the fall of 2021, to include a sales partnership. "PJM's solution is since a decade and with multiple thousands of installations the technical benchmark at the market, Voith is thus very happy to have such a product in our sales portfolio", Matheus Habets, Vice President Product Management Digitalization Mobility. "Innovation and automation drive rail freight forward, which is urgently needed for climate policy. We are proud to have Voith as an innovative partner with profound industry knowledge and a global sales and service network", Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJM.
The WaggonTracker system is a globally unique digital overall system that combines monitoring and automation. Among other things, the system is the basis of automated brake testing, which is an essential element in the modernization of rail freight transport. PJM's automated brake testing system was recently positively evaluated as the first reference system in Europe and is already undergoing extensive operational trials. Voith is one of the leading manufacturers of coupler systems. The CargoFlex automatic freight coupler, which has been successfully used on hundreds of freight wagons for years, is just one of numerous innovations. The proven innovations WaggonTracker and CargoFlex complement each other ideally as an overall system solution for digital and automated freight transport. The automatic freight coupling leads to a higher competitiveness of rail freight transport, due to, among other things, faster shunting processes and train formation, increased work safety, shorter transport times and a higher driving speed.
Get the full press release: https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/2022-04-PI-Voith-PJM-Vertriebskooperation-E-1.pdf
The unique service portfolio „efficient rail maintenance in three steps” was presented by voestalpine Railway Systems and PJM only last summer. Recently, the first project was successfully completed. Measuring sensors were installed on an existing vehicle of Metro Barcelona, hence the rail measuring was performed automatically. Within a short time, numerous parameters were determined continuously on all metro lines, such as e.g. the quality of the transverse and longitudinal rail profile, the track gauge, and the vertical rail wear. The generated data was digitized and visualized in the form of a network condition report.
Targeted rail maintenance actions were planned, based on the rail measurement results. Subsequently, rails of over 50km of track, including for the first time turnouts, were efficiently milled by voestalpine Track Solutions Germany using its high-performance rail milling technology. After this process, the rails in track and turnouts were restored to an almost as-new condition. The focus lied on eliminating so-called corrugation on the rail running surface. As a result, unwanted noise emissions during subway operation were significantly reduced and travel comfort for passengers was increased. After completing the milling works, a second measurement campaign was carried out in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of rail milling as well as to provide objective evidence of the improved condition.
What are the benefits for the operator of Metro Barcelona? Objective condition data enables efficient and targeted action planning for rail maintenance. In combination with mobile rail milling, identified rail damage can immediately and sustainably be maintained and restored. This reduces unwanted noise emissions, increases travel comfort, and extends the rail service life.
Martin Joch, CEO of PJM, summarizes: “The use of smart measurement technology and the integrated approach to determine rail condition in combination with maintenance measures, enables the operator to significantly increase efficiency in the operation of the infrastructure. Simultaneously, the risk of unplanned maintenance work at short notice is drastically reduced.”
Johannes Wundersamer, Vice President Sales of voestalpine Track Solutions Germany, a subsidiary of voestalpine Railway Systems, says: „With our milling service, operational rail damage in track and turnouts can sustainably be restored. In order to plan this maintenance measure efficiently, it is very important to have the best possible knowledge of the rail condition in advance. With our combined services, including rail measurement technology, we offer an all-round carefree package for our customers.”
Further information & project video:
https://www.voestalpine.com/railway-systems/en/company/news/mobile-rail-milling-at-metro-barcelona/
PJM's innovation automated brake testing has been evaluated by TÜV and positively approved without further conditions. Hence, it is the first system in Europe meeting all technical and formal criteria and already undergoing widespread operational testing. The system for automatic checking of the wagons’ brakes and semi-automated train preparation is in use on more than 200 SBB Cargo freight wagons and 18 DB Cargo wagons as part of the AmaBPro project. Thanks to its design, it is also possible to expand the brake testing system to include future, safety-relevant applications and automated processes: "Due to the modular concept, our system can be connected with the future DAC with reasonable effort. Whichever European standard will be implemented in 2030, our system will be compatible. Thus, the urgently needed automated brake testing can be rolled out now and not just at the end of the decade," says Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJM.
Learn more in the latest pressrelease:
https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/03-3022PI-PJM-ABP-E-Web.pdf
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