load monitoring

3 countries, 3 stages, 1 mission: PJM showcases its expertise at top mobility events in the DACH region

Three countries, three stages, one mission: PJM showcases its expertise at top mobility events in the DACH region

Within just nine days, the PJM Group was represented at three specialist events relating to the mobility of the future - an impressive sign of the company's commitment and expertise in an increasingly changing sector. From Graz to Cologne to Basel, PJM presented its solutions and visions for efficient and sustainable rail transport - with an international audience and a strong industry presence.

Kick-off in Graz: Contact30 - Anniversary meets innovation

On 8 May, the event journey began at the ‘Contact30 Mobility Congress’ in Graz, the anniversary congress of the ACstyria mobility cluster, which celebrated its 30th anniversary. Around 700 guests from business, science and politics came together to discuss future mobility issues. PJM was part of the large exhibition with 86 companies of the ACstyria network and presented an impressive cross-section of its expertise in the field of rail systems. In addition, CEO Martin Joch of PJ Messtechnik GmbH joined a panel discussion and gave an outlook to future developments.

Digital focus in Cologne: The Rise of IoT & Big Data in Rail

The journey continued seamlessly to Cologne for the specialist conference ‘The Rise of IoT & Big Data in Rail’ on 14 and 15 May. Hundreds of visitors from all over Europe took part in the event, which was all about the digital transformation of the rail industry. The focus was on issues such as how to improve the ravailability of rail operations, increase efficiency, optimise capacity and significantly reduce maintenance costs. At its own stand, PJM presented its pioneering WaggonTracker solution, which enables real-time brake analysis and monitoring, trestle monitoring, derailment diagnostics (IDDS) paired with in-train communication, load weight monitoring and automatic brake testing, among other things.

Visions of the future in Basel: Bahn25

Just one day later, on 16 May, PJM was represented at the renowned ‘Bahn25 Congress’ in Basel - the international summit on the freight transport of the future. Megatrends, innovation steps and strategies for the rail freight transport of the future were discussed with international trade visitors. The focus: a panel discussion with Alexander Muhm (Head of Freight Transport SBB Cargo), Ansgar Brockmeyer (S&M Deputy Group CEO Stadler Rail Management AG) and CEO Günter Petschnig with insights and impulses for rail freight in the next decade.

Conclusion: A strong presence for a strong future

With this extraordinary series of events, the PJM Group has impressively demonstrated its role as a forward-looking player in the rail industry. Three countries, three platforms, one clear signal: PJM is actively shaping the future of rail transport - innovatively, internationally and with full energy.

And the journey continues ...

Full of impressions, PJM is already looking ahead to the next stop: tranport logistic 2025 in Munich, the world's leading trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management, is the next highlight on the agenda from 2 to 5 June. Experts from the industry will once again come together there to discuss the mobility of tomorrow. PJM will once again be there with fresh ideas, technological excellence and clear messages - ready to continue the dialogue and help shape the future of rail.

Tatravagónka and PJM cooperate on digital train functions

Tatravagónka, the leading freight wagon manufacturer in Europe, is integrating PJM's digital freight train functions and automated applications into its equipment range. Hence, the efficiency-enhancing monitoring and automation features are now available ex works for wagon purchasers.

Due to its extensive wagon portfolio, the Slovakian manufacturer is the largest in Europe. Wagon types for the transport of all types of products are developed and manufactured in several plants in Slovakia, including tank and bulk goods wagons, flat wagons, intermodal wagons and steel coil transport wagons. In order to make the benefits of automation and digitalization available to the sector in an efficient way, Tatravagónka is now offering the functionalities of the overall digital system WaggonTracker. The monitoring features include real-time brake analysis and brake system monitoring, real-time kingpin monitoring, IDDS derailment diagnostics paired with real-time in-train communication (direct communication with the train driver), load weight monitoring and automatic brake testing. The majority of the functions are offered exclusively by PJM, the Automatic Brake Test is the European reference system, with broad support from railway undertakings and wagon keepers. The technical applications create a number of essential benefits: lower costs, higher availability of the goods train, faster train preparation and, above all, greater safety. By ordering ex works, the PJM system is optimally integrated into the freight wagons and delivered to the customer.

‘Tatravagónka and our overall digital system complement each other perfectly: as a leading manufacturer, Tatravagónka is constantly developing innovations and optimizations. Our monitoring system, automatic brake testing and load weight monitoring are unique functions that make rail transport safer and optimize it in terms of efficiency, availability and cost-effectiveness. For wagon keepers and railway undertakings, the step towards digital train functions and the associated benefits is very simple. Tatravagónka hands over the required equipment ex works,’ says Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJ Monitoring GmbH. ‘This partnership ensures that the rail freight transport sector receives an advanced, reliable and future-proof overall solution’, says Günter Petschnig

In addition to Tatravagónka, leading wagon hire companies also offer intelligent train functions from PJM in their equipment portfolio: VTG, TRANSWAGGON and GATX equip wagons with automatic brake testing, load weight monitoring or other monitoring functions according to customer requirements.

Check out further information in the press release

General / Waggon Tracker - 04/09/2025

Timber loading made easy: video on automated load monitoring

Loading ‘difficult’ materials such as wood, gravel, bulk goods or scrap is always a challenge for hauliers and shippers, as it is not possible to load by volume. The weight of timber can change by up to 50% - depending on the weather conditions. Overloaded or asymmetrically loaded freight wagons cost valuable time and money, e.g. due to the queuing at infrastructure points, higher repair costs due to increased wear and tear, etc.
With real-time load weight monitoring, the loading capacity is utilised in the best possible way and overloading is avoided. Signal lamps directly on the wagon provide real-time information about the loading status so that the loader can take corrective action. The advantages of the load monitoring system? Greater efficiency, faster loading, lower costs and more safety for environmentally friendly rail transport.

Video on load monitoring system

General / Waggon Tracker - 10/22/2024

Railway Gazette provides an in-depth article on smart train technology

The international railway magazine Railway Gazette analyses the digitalisation of goods trains in Europe and takes a detailed look at our smart goods train concept. Get the in-depth article on the development steps and benefits of intelligent freight trains.

Get the full article in July's issue of Railway Gazette

2024-08-07 08_28_51-RailwayGazette-Smart-Train-07-2024

General / Waggon Tracker - 08/07/2024

TRANSWAGGON includes automatic brake testing and digital monitoring as equipment option

Together with PJM, the TRANSWAGGON Group is making a key contribution to the automation and digitalization of rail freight transport in Europe. Wagon rental customers save time and increase safety in operation by equipping their wagons with automatic brake testing. Many other digital monitoring features are available for TRANSWAGGON customers. In addition, the energy self-sufficient and powerful WaggonTracker system can be expanded with customer-specific systems. The integration of automatic brake testing and monitoring functions into the TRANSWAGGON Group's equipment portfolio is a logical step.

"The automatic brake test saves time and increases safety during operation. It eliminates the need for a time-consuming walk around the entire train. Train preparation can therefore be carried out more quickly and safely," says Bertram Wieloch, CTO and member of the TRANSWAGGON Group's Executive Board.

This is not the first cooperation between the TRANSWAGGON Group and the Austrian system specialist PJM. In the past, around 500 wagons were equipped with the so called LoadMonitor, an automatic load weight monitoring system, on behalf of Mercer Holz. The system analyses the load weight during the loading process and visually indicates the maximum load capacity. Since then, one of Europe's largest timber logistics companies has benefited from a better capacity utilization, avoids overloading thanks to the precise data and appreciates completely paperless documentation.

Media release

Photo: With courtesy of TRANSWAGGON Group

General / Waggon Tracker - 03/20/2024

FS Logistics Business Unit continues fleet upgrade with PJM’s smart train portfolio

Combining transport efficiency with safety is an important requirement for Mercitalia Intermodal in daily intermodal transport. The Italian wagon operator has therefore been focusing on digital monitoring functionalities and automated processes for several years. The transformation of the existing fleet into Smart Train freight wagons is being systematically implemented. This year, at least another 180 wagons will be modernized, while around 200 wagons - mainly of the T3000 type - have been upgraded in the past two years. Mercitalia Intermodal began upgrading its freight wagon fleet back in 2017.

The benefits of the Smart Train functions are far-reaching: shorter delivery times thanks to automated processes in the track environment, predictive maintenance logic and condition-based maintenance models reduce costs while increasing reliability, efficiency and the general safety of rail transport.

Media release

General / Waggon Tracker - 02/16/2024

2nd award for the "Smart Train" from Mercitalia Intermodal

The smartest goods train in Europe has been honoured for the second time. Following the Austrian Mobility Award 2023, which was presented to Günter Petschnig and Christoph Lorenzutti in Vienna in September, Mercitalia Intermodal - Polo Logistica Group FS was honoured as "Logistico dell'Anno 2023" in Italy. The goods train is equipped with a wide range of monitoring and automation functions based on PJM's WaggonTracker system. Congratulations!

Details & all functions of Europes most intelligent goods train

Artikel Auszeichnung (in italienischer Sprache)

General / Waggon Tracker - 12/05/2023

Automated load monitoring system for DB Cargo

DB Cargo optimises the loading process of bulk cargo and equips 100 EAOS wagons with PJM's automatic load weight monitoring system. The WaggonTracker Load Monitoring System determines and displays relevant data in real time, in particular weight, overload, asymmetric loading and free capacity. Optionally, the loads on wheel discs, wheelsets and bogies can also be determined. The real-time results are displayed in the web portal or - depending on customer specifications – the results are visualised directly on the wagon by means of signal lamps. In the DB Cargo application, the automated system fulfils several parameters:

Control of the weighing data provided by customers
Avoiding of overloading
Avoiding time-consuming weighing carried out manually
Best possible utilisation and optimal utilisation of transports
Increased safety, as overloading of individual components is excluded

"Automatic load weight monitoring does optimise operations. By using sensors in future, the automated process will reduce the time required by determining the load weight, including its distribution," says Michael Wolkow, Head of Procurement, Equipment and Technology at DB Cargo AG.

Get more in the media release

General / Waggon Tracker - 09/05/2023

Hot off the press: Flyers on WagonTracker, automatic brake test and load monitoring

The most important information, functionalities and the many advantages compactly summarised in two flyers.

Download flyer WaggonTracker system (incl. automated brake test)

Download flyer load monitoring system

Folder-PJM-Waggontracker-8S-EN-2023_00001klein

Waggon Tracker - 06/13/2023

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