pantograph - PJM EN

Summer Brings Reinforcements

This year, once again, we’re pleased to welcome a total of 10 interns from schools and universities in Graz, Weiz, and Vienna during July and August. Over the coming weeks, they’ll gain valuable hands-on experience and get to know our day-to-day work.

For us, an internship is more than just a look behind the scenes: It’s an opportunity to nurture young talent, share our experience, and at the same time gain new ideas and fresh perspectives.

We look forward to spending time together, gaining exciting insights, and exchanging ideas with our up-and-coming talent.

A warm welcome to our interns in July - it’s great to have you here!

From left to right: Lana, Jonas, Jakob, Felix, Florian, Dominik, and Valerie

General - 07/21/2026

Double anniversary at InnoTrans 2026: PJM presents pioneering railway technology in Berlin

A very special trade fair year lies ahead: From September 22 to 25, 2026, InnoTrans will open its doors in Berlin. The leading international trade fair for transport technology is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year – and the PJM Group is celebrating as well, looking back proudly on 20 years of innovation history.

Around 3,000 international exhibitors from 60 nations are expected to attend. PJM will showcase its railway system solutions, which are in use worldwide. Meet our experts on site:

PJ Messtechnik
Accredited testing center & engineering
PJ Monitoring
Digital rail freight transport
PJ Motion
Approval & requirements management
RCC
Accredited conformity assessment body

Where to find us:

When: September 22 to 25, 2026
Where: Messe Berlin, CityCube, Hall A, Booth 220

We look forward to your visit!

Photo: AdobeStock

panoramic view at central berlin while sunset

General - 07/16/2026

The PJM Group Celebrates Milestone Anniversary: 20 Years of Global System Solutions for Rail Transport

What began two decades ago as a specialized engineering office in Austria has evolved into an established player in the international railway industry. With around 90 employees and a clear commitment to being "100% Made in Austria," the PJM Group currently implements complex rail projects in over 30 countries across six continents. The secret to its success lies in the seamless interplay of testing/measurement technology, engineering, digitalization & automation, approval, and certification - all driven by several specialized companies.

The Foundation: Precision, Simulation, and Approval

The cornerstone was laid in 2006 with the founding of PJ Messtechnik GmbH. As an accredited testing body, it covers seven specialized testing areas, ranging from vehicle dynamics and brake testing to fatigue strength and aerodynamics. Furthermore, PJ Messtechnik is the only testing facility for rail vehicles in Austria accredited in the fields of aerodynamics and pantographs. To efficiently complement real-world test runs, the company relies on high-end engineering and complex multi-body simulations (MBS).

RCC Railway Competence and Certification GmbH, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, acts as an accredited conformity assessment body. It takes on key roles such as Notified Body (NoBo), Designated Body (DeBo), and Assessment Body (AsBo) to minimize bureaucratic hurdles for clients.

PJ Motion GmbH rounds off this business unit by serving as the central point of contact for managing and coordinating complex authorization and approval processes.

Innovation in Freight Transport: The "Smart Train”

With the spin-off of PJ Monitoring GmbH, the group successfully transitioned into a manufacturing enterprise focused on digitalization and automation. Its WaggonTracker system brings intelligence to rail freight transport: featuring automated brake testing, continuous brake monitoring, real-time load weight monitoring, and derailment diagnosis, it makes rail transport safer, more efficient, and ready to tackle the ongoing shortage of skilled labor.

Targeted Expansion and New Specializations

To respond even more flexibly to specific market demands, the group has continuously expanded its capabilities in recent years. For instance, recent startups like EMC Rail Services GmbH ensure the faultless operation of electronic components through EMC testing (Electromagnetic Compatibility). Meanwhile, Infratrack Solutions GmbH operates a test track independent of the public network for comprehensive system tests, and PJM Swiss GmbH provides local, on-site support for the entire portfolio in the Swiss market.

Award-Winning Innovation from Austria

Whether high-speed trains in France or infrastructure projects in the Baltics - PJM is now active in over half of all European nations and worldwide. Despite this global reach, research, development, production, and administration remain fully centralized in Austria. This innovative strength has already been recognized at the highest level, winning awards such as the 2024 Innovation Prize and the 2023 Austrian State Prize for Digitalization.

General / News - 07/06/2026

Plenty going on around the PJM headquarters: Smart City Graz hosts neighborhood festival

It is a district whose development the PJM Group has witnessed and shaped from the very beginning as one of its first settlers: Smart City Graz. On Friday, May 22, the up-and-coming neighborhood will host a community festival starting at 12:30 PM.

The area surrounding the PJM headquarters – located between the Helmut-List-Halle, the Nikolaus-Harnoncourt-Park, and the prominent Science Tower – will transform into a vibrant festival and meeting zone.

What once began as a former industrial site has evolved into a state-of-the-art future hub for innovative residential, office, and commercial spaces. For rail specialist PJM, this dynamic location in the heart of Graz's innovation powerhouse has always provided the ideal conditions for technological growth and global system solutions.

Further information about the neighborhood festival (in German):
https://stadtlaborgraz.at/de/2026/04/smartcity-stadtteilfest-2026/

General - 05/19/2026

INFRATRACK at the USTP St. Pölten Career Fair

On March 20th, our joint venture INFRATRACK, together with our partner BOOM Software, was represented as one of 42 exhibitors at the railway industry career fair at USTP (University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten).

The event provided an ideal platform to connect with around 180 students, graduates, and prospective students. A look at current industry trends underlines the importance of this exchange: the railway sector is a key driver of the mobility transition and is growing steadily—leading to a correspondingly high demand for well-trained specialists.

At its site in Mellach near Graz, INFRATRACK has transformed a former industrial siding into a modern test and innovation center for railway technologies. Maintaining a direct line to the next generation of talent is particularly valuable to us, as the specialized degree programs in Railway Technology and the digital focus at St. Pölten UAS train exactly the experts we need for the projects of the future.

Photo caption: Martin Joch (CEO INFRATRACK, left) in discussion with employees from the INFRATRACK joint venture partner, BOOM Software.

General - 04/14/2026

PJM inspires tinking kids at the FRida & freD Children’s Museum

PJ Messtechnik is part of the new exhibition "tinking kids and young masterminds" at the Graz children's museum FRida & freD. As part of the "powered by Die Industrie" project, the exhibition makes science and technology a hands-on experience for children.

Various stations invite young visitors to discover and experiment. Using sensors from PJ Messtechnik, children learn how forces such as pressure, weight, or movement are converted into digital signals – the exact same technology used in highly complex test runs with trains.

View short clip

General - 04/10/2026

PJM on the European Stage: Review of Dresden and Warsaw

Over the past few weeks, PJM showcased its expertise in simulation, measurement technology, and digitalisation at two high-profile industry events.

Rolling Stock Conference in Dresden, March 4 – 6
Our experts Matthias Zelinka and Peter Ablasser presented innovative approaches to optimising pantograph-catenary interaction. By leveraging the synergy between EN-compliant simulations and precise measurements, PJM demonstrated how the efficiency and safety of approval tests for modern rolling stock can be significantly enhanced.

European Rolling Stock Summit in Warsaw, March 16 – 17
CEO Günter Petschnig participated in the opening panel discussion on the status of digitalisation in rail freight. The key message: Market-ready technologies for faster, more cost-efficient, and highly available rail freight transport are ready for deployment – now is the time for large-scale implementation.

General - 04/07/2026

Strategic Exchange on the Future of Rail

In Graz, Martin Joch (CEO of PJ Messtechnik) recently met with Andreas Matthä (CEO of ÖBB) and Andreas Schaller (CEO of Boom Software).

The discussions focused on automation and digitalisation as key levers for addressing the shortage of skilled workers and ensuring more efficient, safer rail freight transport.

Another central topic was the INFRATRACK Solutions project: since autumn 2025, the site of the Mellach power plant has been successfully used as a modern test environment for rolling stock. This "Green Project" highlights the innovative strength of Styria as a business location and the sustainable use of existing infrastructure for the mobility of tomorrow.

Photo from left to right: Martin Joch (CEO PJ Messtechnik), Andreas Matthä (CEO ÖBB), Andreas Schaller (BOOM Software)

Martin_Joch_Andreas_Matthä_Andreas_Schaller

General - 04/01/2026

PJM in "Eisenbahn-Ingenieur" Magazine: The Future of Vehicle Development

In the current issue of the trade journal Eisenbahn-Ingenieur (EI), February 2026, a technical article examines the increasing complexity in the development and maintenance of rolling stock. Authors Marius Müller (Specialist in Calculation, Fatigue Strength, and Welding Technology) and Wolfgang Konrad (Head of Calculation) from PJ Messtechnik demonstrate how to use interdisciplinary approaches to bring vehicles to the tracks safely and efficiently for a service life of 30 years or more.

Article Highlights:

Interdisciplinary Integration: The traditional authorization process according to the fourth railway package is significantly accelerated through the close integration of railway approvals management, calculation, simulation, design, and measurement technology. PJM operates as an accredited testing laboratory according to EN ISO/IEC 17025.

Focus on Welding Technology: A key success factor is the integration of welding design as early as the conceptual phase. PJM provides welding consultancy according to EN 15085-2, approval, and engineering from a single source, which massively reduces project effort for manufacturers.

Modern Verification Methods: In addition to the classic nominal stress approach, PJM increasingly relies on the notch stress concept. This allows for better utilization of structural reserves and ensures the reliable realization of the intended 30-year service life.

Practical Example – Bogie: PJM recently proved the efficiency of this approach during the development of a bogie frame, completed in early 2025. Through the cooperation of all departments, the goals of weight reduction and full robotic weldability were achieved within an ambitious two-year timeline.

Holistic Support: PJM supports customers throughout the entire life cycle—from the initial concept and authorization to maintenance and repair.

Certified Quality: Alongside accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17025 and welding certification according to EN 15085-2 for calculation and design, PJM’s membership in NAFEMS underscores the high standards for the validity and quality of its simulation processes.

The Experts' Conclusion: The tasks for engineering firms are becoming increasingly extensive. Only through motivated teams covering all areas—from simulation to final approval—can the complex requirements for modern rolling stock be met today.

General - 03/16/2026

High-profile visit to PJM: Exchange with Josef Doppelbauer

We recently had the honor of welcoming Josef Doppelbauer—one of the most influential figures in the European railway world—to our offices in Graz.

As the long-standing Executive Director of the European Railway Agency (ERA, 2015–2024), he has been instrumental in driving forward the Fourth Railway Package and the harmonization of the European rail area. The exchange was correspondingly exciting: topics ranged from innovations and safety in freight transport to the testing and approval of rail vehicles and the current situation of European rail transport.

A particular highlight was the visit to the connecting railway in Mellach, where INFRATRACK is currently implementing Austria's unique test and innovation center for railway technologies on a former industrial track.

Photo 01 from left to right: Alexander Schimanofsky (CEO RCC), Christoph Lorenzutti (COO PJ Monitoring), Josef Doppelbauer (former Executive Director ERA) and Martin Joch (CEO PJ Messtechnik)

Photo 02 from left to right: Martin Joch (CEO PJ Messtechnik), Andreas Schaller (CEO BOOM Software), and Josef Doppelbauer (former Executive Director ERA)

General - 03/03/2026