Presseberichte

Nightjets of ÖBB: Measuring wheel sets and approval tests

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:

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/10-2022-Presse-Info-Nightjets-PJM-Web2-EN.pdf

Technical article ETR: Smart rail maintenance in the Barelona metro

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

News / Presseberichte - 08/03/2022

PJM awarded the Austrian National Award for Engineering Consulting

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

Project by PJ Messtechnik GmbH: Efficient maintenance of rail maintenance using mobile measuring technology
Client: voestalpine Tracking Solutions Germany GmbH
Detailed information on the Metro Barcelona project: https://pjm.co.at/en/blog/2022/03/28/metro-barcelona-mobile-rail-milling-and-monitoring-project-successfully-completed-by-voestalpine-and-pjm

Photos: With courtesy of BMDW © Silveri Matthias

News / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 05/11/2022

Sales cooperation of Voith and PJM: Product portfolios expanded by WaggonTracker and CargoFlex

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

News / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 04/29/2022

Metro Barcelona: Mobile rail milling and monitoring project successfully completed by voestalpine and PJM

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.

2021-12-09 13_20_50-Mobile Rail Milling & Monitoring at Metro Barcelona@voestalpine_klein

PJM_objective_data_klein@Manuel_Hanschitz

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/

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/2021-07-27_KWO_PR_Kooperation-PJM-vaTSG_FINAL_EN.pdf

General / Presseberichte - 03/28/2022

Europe's reference system: Homologation of automated brake testing system and semi-automatic preparation of rail freight trains

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

Digitaler_Guetertransport_PJM_SBBC_klein

General / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 03/21/2022

Mercitalia and PJM put Europe's smartest freight train on track

Mercitalia Intermodal (Polo Mercitalia – Gruppo FS Italiane) and PJM put the smartest rail freight train on track. Due to a wide range of functionalities, Mercitalia Intermodal benefits from shorter delivery times as well as condition-based maintenance providing concrete and relevant information. All this together results in savings on maintenance and servicing, more safety and greater efficiency. The gamut of functionalities comprises:

Condition-based monitoring in real-time
Multi-diagnosis system for load monitoring, brake analysis and brake system monitoring in real-time (correct function of the brakes in terms of pressure in the main pipe, load and cylinder pressure during stillstand and on the ride, brake energy analysis in order for early detection of defective and overloaded brake systems)
Train dynamic control to identify critical running situations and defects
Determination of running comfort and running safety as well as detection of longitudinal and vertical impacts
Real-time trestle monitoring for reliable and safe detection of the correct setting for trailer transports in the intermodal sector
Automated brake testing system developed by PJM, SBB Cargo and Rail Cargo Group

The integrated in-train communication is capable of transmitting data to the train driver in case of derailment, incorrect braking conditions, brake overloads, hot box warnings, trestle monitoring and any other safety-related and technical relevant problems.

This is the smartest freight train on track, providing many benefits to Mercitalia Intermodal: shorter delivery times, impactful condition-based maintenance and therefore savings on maintenance and repair work, greater safety and more efficiency.

Get all the details on the ultra-smart train including a full list of functionalities in the latest pressrelease:

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/PI_PJM_Mercitalia0222e_Web.pdf

General / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 02/17/2022

Cooperation of Voith and PJM in the spotlight of ACStyria's magazine

The magazine of the mobility cluster ACStyria reports on our cooperation with Voith. The companies focus on developing a system that combines coupler-assisted automatic train inauguration and the safe remote-controlled decoupling of freight cars with an automatic coupler. Get the full story (in German language):

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/ACStyria_Koop_PJM_Voith0122.pdf

General / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 02/07/2022

Technical article in "Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau" on the automatic brake testing system

The "Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau" reports on the completed product development of the automated brake testing system in a detailed technical article. Read more about the technology and the timeline of the pioneering system (in German language):

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/ETR_ABP1221web-1.pdf

General / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 12/15/2021

PJM and Voith develop a system for more efficient rail freight

A collaboration between Austrian company PJM and Voith aims to provide more efficiency and safety for rail freight operations. To this end, the internationally renowned system specialist for rail transport and the Heidenheim-based technology group will work together over the next few years to develop a system that combines coupler-assisted automatic train inauguration and the safe remote-controlled decoupling of freight cars with an automatic coupler.

We bring to the alliance its expertise as a leading developer and supplier of automation solutions for rail freight operations. With the patented monitoring system WaggonTracker, we are also a pioneer of digitalization in this segment. WaggonTracker combines monitoring and automation, offering a robust overall system that provides fleet operators with important real-time information about their freight cars and freight transport. This data can also be used to automate complex processes; for example, WaggonTracker also allows brake tests to be performed automatically. The platform has enabled numerous customers to significantly improve efficiency and achieve substantial cost savings.

For many years now, Voith has also been one of key innovation drivers in the rail technology segment. One example is Voith’s automatic freight coupler CargoFlex. The coupler developed by Voith has already demonstrated many times over that it can improve the competitiveness of freight transport and strengthen the market position of fleet operators. CargoFlex is the second cornerstone of the development alongside WaggonTracker.

For the new project, our two companies will pool their leading-edge capabilities in digitalization, automation and automatic couplers. The objective is to provide customers with a system solution that allows the automated use of the CargoFlex coupler, with a focus on remote-controlled decoupling processes. In combination with the solutions developed by PJM, this is intended to form the basis for highly digitized logistics management.

Alongside the technical challenges, the interoperability of the innovative system solution is a top priority for the development team and the key to marketing it on a broad basis. This is why the two companies aim to jointly manage the development of key components such as safety-related applications, communication tools or protocols. Moreover, it is planned to transfer the system into an industry platform during a subsequent project phase to make it available to other market participants.

Get the full media release:

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/11/2021-11-04_Voith_Media-Release_Cooperation-Voith-PJM_EN.pdf

General / Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 11/04/2021