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.
Export Award 2022 goes to PJM: The digitization platform WaggonTracker with the application of automatic brake testing convinced the jury of experts
The most successful exporters are brought to the stage every year. The export award, which honors innovation, market potential and export quota, among other things, was presented on June 27th. PJM was awarded gold in the Information & Consulting category. The deciding factor was the overall digital system WaggonTracker, which makes automated rail transport a reality. This includes automated brake testing for freight trains. The automated system is the first in Europe to be fully developed and to receive a positive review. "The challenge was to automate a safety-relevant process. We saw the realization of our brake test system through to the last required document. The reward for our many years of development work is the successful market entry," says CEO Martin Joch.
The 2022 Export Award was presented in five categories at a ceremony in Vienna's Museumsquartier. Despite the global lockdowns and restrictions caused by the Corona pandemic, many Austrian companies were also successful in exporting their goods and services internationally in the previous year. "These companies are drivers of growth, jobs and prosperity in Austria. Every second job in Austria depends directly or indirectly on the export success of these companies. Every year, the Export Award honors companies for their special export achievements," emphasizes WKÖ President Harald Mahrer.
"Austrian companies are role models and pioneers - especially in the field of environmental technology. They are innovative and in many cases also world market leaders in their field," Kühnel emphasized the special achievements of domestic companies.
"Our winners this year demonstrate how digitalization is being used as a means of shaping a sustainable future. This innovative strength of Austrian companies is increasingly being recognized on the global market," said deputy chairman of the federal division Martin Heimhilcher, congratulating the winners.
Quellen:
Credit: © FRANK HELMRICH PHOTOGRAPHIE
Already the 3rd award for PJM in this year
The export price is already the 3rd honor in this year for PJM. Last week in Utrecht (NL) the RailTech Innovation Award (audience award category) was presented to PJM. The Automatic Brake Test was also awarded. In May, a metrology project for Barcelona Metro was awarded the State Prize for Engineering Consulting.
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
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:
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
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
The completed automated brake test is a milestone for digital rail freight transport. The product development is completed. Without any doubt, the automated brake testing of rail freight wagons is one of the most important processes to make rail freight transport efficient and modern. “The serial operation is imminent. The system is now available and brings immediate, concrete effects for railway companies and a general impact for rail freight transport by gaining attractiveness”, says CEO Günter Petschnig.
The automated brake test system was put on track years ago: Since spring 2018, the first pilot train has been in operational testing. Since March 2019, 105 wagons equipped with the digital system have been running in Switzerland. SBB Cargo leads the operational integration. Further nearly wagons haven been equipped with the automated system since April 2019. The brake testing system was designed and developed by PJM. The validation is expected to be finalised and the system is supposed to go into series production by the end of this year.
Get the full presse release including details on the solution and its steps to a complete system:
10 minutes instead of 40: This crucial time saving is no longer just a future vision but reality. The automatic brake test has been in operation on rail freight trains by SBB Cargo. By the end of the tests, 1 million km will have been run. Regarding the development of the automatic brake test, crucial know-how comes from PJM. Get more about the status quo of the “one-person-operated-train” by SBB Cargo and the automatic brake test developed by SBB Cargo, PJM and Rail Cargo Austria in the latest issue of the German special interest magazine PJM.
https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/PriMa_ABP_SBBC0720.pdf
The German special interest magazine "bahn manager" regularly interviews experts of railway business. On the Alpine Rail Forum in Vienna, Günter Petschnig gave an insight into the innovative project on automated brake tests (in German language).
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