PJM tested MPV®-VentuS® of WINDHOFF

WINDHOFF relied on PJM's experience and expertise to test an innovative, modular multi-purpose vehicle within a short time frame.

The German specialist for rail vehicles, railway and shunting technology has developed the next generation of a multi-purpose vehicle. WINDHOFF Bahn- und Anlagentechnik GmbH had commissioned the Austrian system specialist PJM to carry out the test runs for approval on the German rail network. As an accredited test center in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, PJM carried out vehicle tests in the areas of braking and running characteristics as well as static tests to determine derailment safety and wheelset torsional vibrations.

MPV®-VentuS® is a modular system that can be used to create a wide variety of vehicle configurations. The range of working modules includes various cranes, platforms, contact wire pusher, but also containers or contact wire measuring systems. The power system also has a modular design so that adjustments can be made very easily over the course of the vehicle's service life and, for example, a vehicle that is currently diesel-electric with a generator and electric motor can be converted to all-electric at a later date. The MPV®-VentuS® vehicle family is designed on the basis of DIN EN 14033 and auhtorized with the European TSI homologation. The MPV®-VentuS® type GAF, which was tested together with PJM in Austria last year, is a track maintenance vehicle for Deutsche Bahn (DB). The vehicle was officially presented at InnoTrans 2024, and in February 2025 Windhoff and DB received authorisation to place the MPV VenuS GAF modular ancillary vehicle on the market. The vehicle is approved on the basis of the European TSI from the 4th railway package.

 ‘It is important to us, to complete our customers’ projects just in time and successfully. For WINDHOFF too, we were able to carry out the vehicle tests and analyses within a short time frame,’ says Martin Joch, CEO of PJ Messtechnik GmbH.

Press release

PJM_Windhoff @Manuel Hanschitz-klein
PJM Tests for Windhoff @Karl Heinz Ferk-klein

Even more team power: PJM continues its organic growth

In January we welcomed 3 new colleagues and last year we increased our team power with 10 new employees. PJM has thus continued its organic growth. ‘We have expanded in all areas. Our headquarters and technical facilities have been expanded and our teams have been strengthened in all specialized disciplines, namely in measurement and testing technology, digital rail freight transport, PJ Motion and RCC,’ summarise Martin Joch and Günter Petschnig. There are still many ideas and concrete plans for the future. However, the focus will continue to be on growing steadily, but in manageable steps.

PJM Team-klein

FutureConvent: Measurement technology for young enthusiasts

What is the FutureConvent about? Companies show young people attending a technical college what sustainable topics they are working on. Higher technical colleges combine specialised technical training with a school-leaving certificate. The conference programme was rounded off with lectures and workshops. The young people were given an insight into the technologies of today and the future.

PJM was at the FutureConvent for the first time and presented smart rail monitoring using laser technology. The students were also able to flex their muscles: The force transducer was used to measure arm strength.

Photos: Christian Husar and PJM

New test area: PJM accredited for pantograph

PJM has expanded its scope as an accredited test center in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 and now also tests the dynamic interaction between pantograph and overhead contact line. In addition to measurements in accordance with EN 50317, the accreditation also includes simulations in accordance with EN 50318, making PJM the only company in Austria with accreditation for the specialist area of pantographs.

Over the past two years, the Austrian system specialist has invested in the infrastructure of the new department. The pantograph test rig for calibrating the measuring system - as well as the technical equipment for other areas - has been set up at the company's site in Graz. Extensive tests in the wind tunnel have proven that the measuring system is non-reactive. With the existing measuring equipment, tests can be carried out with up to two measuring pantographs, which means that multiple-unit operations can also be realised. The requirements for the interaction between pantographs and the overhead contact line system of the new service jet for ÖBB had been tested in summer (as announced in the media release: https://pjm.co.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PI-PJM-Servicejet-6-2024-DE-Web2.pdf). In the coming weeks, the measurement technology team will be testing another rail vehicle in single and multiple-unit operations.

‘Due to decarbonisation, the focus will be on electric rail vehicles in the future. With its corresponding expertise and infrastructure, PJM is ideally positioned for the new specialist area,’ says Martin Joch, CEO of PJ Messtechnik GmbH. With the new specialist area, PJM offers several advantages for clients, such as the efficient sequence of the various tests for rail vehicles. The expertise in the area of simulations offers particular added value: ‘Simulations significantly minimise the testing effort for multiple tractions. Theoretical calculations allow the large number of variants to be reduced to relevant train combinations, which are then tested in dynamic track tests. This saves valuable time and reduces costs,’ says Martin Joch.

Get more details in the media release

PJM-Pantograph-klein

InnoTrans 2024: For the first time, PJM is presented with 4 companies

PJM will be presenting itself four times at this year's industry highlight. PJ Messtechnik, PJ Monitoring, PJ Motion and RCC will be represented with their areas of expertise.

With these 4 business areas, PJM is now a strong partner throughout the entire life cycle of a rail vehicle and can take on all tasks relating to the authorization of rail vehicles. The range of services includes consulting from the initial idea and authorization management by PJ Motion, engineering and vehicle testing by PJ Messtechnik, and the portfolio as an accredited inspection body by RCC. The portfolio is supplemented by digital applications for goods trains such as automatic brake testing or the most comprehensive smart train functions currently available in the freight wagon sector. ‘Through organic, sustainable growth and the consistent expansion of infrastructure and specialist areas, PJM has firmly established in the rail industry. This is reflected, among other things, in the fact that larger project volumes are being commissioned in the area of vehicle testing and engineering,’ says Martin Joch, CEO of PJ Messtechnik.

The automatic brake testing and smart train functionalities provided by PJ Monitoring are attractive applications in the freight wagon sector: ‘Our brake testing system is of great interest to large rail transport companies, smaller private railways and also wagon keepers, as it solves several key problems. Train preparation is shortened and the shortage of skilled labor as well as increasing costs due to higher personnel expenses and inflation are significantly cushioned. The system saves time and money and creates efficiency - all of which is urgently needed in rail transport,’ says Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJ Monitoring.

PJ Motion is the youngest company in the PJM group, but has already established itself as a renowned partner after just one year, particularly in authorization management. ‘The focus of our projects is clearly on authorization management. Our expertise in the 4th railway package is in hight demand because we can reduce complexity and provide objective decision-making support in terms of technical and economic challenges,’ says Thomas Hofer, CEO of PJ Motion.

PJM at InnoTrans: City Cube/ Hall A / 220

The automatic brake test and the WaggonTracker system will also be showcased on various freight wagons in the outdoor area:

  • TATRAVAGÓNKA a.s., T4 / 60
    Load Monitoring System: TransAnt GmbH, T8 / 60
    WaggonTracker system: Erciyas Rail Raylı Ulaşım Araçları San. A.Ş: T2 / 17
PJM-Innotrans-2024

PJ Messtechnik

  • Accredited test center ISO/IEC 17025 including the test areas running behavior, fatigue strength, brakes, acoustics, aerodynamics, pantograph (new test area)
  • Engineering / design CAD, calculation FEM, simulation MBS / certification AAR WABL Committee
  • Development & series production of instrumented wheelsets
  • Autonomous measuring systems for rail vehicles and infrastructure

PJ Monitoring

  • Digital rail freight transport
  • Digital overall system WaggonTracker
  • Automatic brake testing & load weight monitoring
  • Smart freight train & Europe's most intelligent goods train

PJ Motion GmbH

  • Authorisation management according to the 4th railway package
  • Project management / technical project management
  • Bid and tendering support
  • Feasibility studies
  • ECM implementation
  • Asset management 

RCC Railway Competence & Certification GmbH

  • Notified body interoperability (Notified Body) NB 2697
  • Independent assessment body (Assessment Body) AT/35/0122/0400
  • Designated body Austria (Designated Body) ID 2021-0.881.187
  • ECM certification body EIN: AT/30/0421/0001
  •  

PJM group showcasing at InnoTrans 2024

The "International Trade Fair for Transport Technology" is the industry get-together of the year. PJM will  be showcasing innovations, solutions and technologies from our accredited test centre, measurement technology, digital rail freight transport, authorisation and project management and conformity assessment. We look forward to seeing you in Berlin!

  • 24-27 September 2024
  • Halle A / Stand 220
  • ExpoCenter City, Berlin

Facts & figures on InnoTrans 

  • Around 2,800 exhibitors from 56 countries
  • 200,000 m² of exhibition space
  • Around 138,000 visitors are expected

InnoTrans

PJM-Innotrans-2024

New service jet from Stadler for ÖBB: Dynamic tests and instrumented wheelsets

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.

Video dynamic tests

Media release

PJM-Servicejet-Team-klein
PJM-Servicejet2kleinPJM-Servicejet3klein

Expanding headquarters: New hall for instrumented wheelsets

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

  • Mobile test rig for measuring wheelsets for all track gauges and calibration during test runs on site
  • Premises for the parallel production of 12 instrumented wheel sets
  • Indoor crane and two electric forklifts
  • ESD-protected working environment
  • Air-conditioned room (for consistently ideal conditions, for example when attaching strain gauges)
  • Dynamic test rig for end-of-line testing of instrumented wheel sets
  • Fine balancing in accordance with ISO13260 limits

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:

  • All processes and project steps relating to measuring wheelsets are handled by PJM in-house and from a single source
  • This also results in short throughput times
  • Calculation, design, production, calibration and balancing
  • Powerful telemetry system: Thanks to the extensive equipment, 12 measuring wheelsets can be operated simultaneously
  • PJM offers solutions for every application and every wheel geometry (not just standard solutions)

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/PI-PJM-Messradsatzhalle-5-2024-EN-Web.pdf

PJM_Halle_LKH-010_klein
PJM_Neue_Halle-045-2klein

1 year in 1 minute: The PJM review 2023

Our teams worked on 90 projects, we grew and fully automated a process for the first time in the history of rail transport. A short video portrait of our numerous activities this year.

Be up to date with our periodical newsletter

PJ Messtechnik GmbH
PJ Monitoring GmbH

Waagner-Biro-Straße 125
8020 Graz
Austria

Tel.: +43 316 228454
Fax: +43 316 228454-15
[email protected]

© 2025 PJ Messtechnik, PJ Monitoring. All rights reserved

WordPress Cookie Plugin by Real Cookie Banner