We have packed our highlights of 2024 into a PJM review 2024. 1 year in 1 minute to look back on.
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
Partnership with GATX Rail Europe
GATX Rail Europe is pleased to announce its new partnership with PJ Monitoring (PJM), a respected player in the rail solutions industry. This collaboration, finalized during a recent workshop in Graz, is a strategic move to diversify and enhance our telematics sensor offerings. Through this partnership, GATX aims to provide our customers with greater capabilities to strengthen their rail operations in three areas.
1. Complementing Existing Telematics Solutions & Sensors
GATX will be introducing a new range of sensors that will enhance its current sensor portfolio. These additions are designed to optimize efficiency and safety. These enhancements will provide a new level of automation in rail logistics.
Johannes Friess, Head of Fleet Management at GATX Rail Europe, said, “We are known for our high-quality, modern railcar fleet and are now expanding our sensor portfolio with easy access to state-of-the-art sensor technology, paving the way for the next level of railway transport automation.”
2. Enhanced Overload Protection
With the new Eanos & Eamnos railcars, GATX offers the option of using the overload protection sensors from PJM. This technology has been tried and tested on various wagon types over the years, demonstrating its effectiveness. The commitment is to increase its implementation and extend its usage to optimize the safety and efficiency of rail freight transport.
3. Innovative Automatic Brake Testing
In collaboration with PJM, GATX is also actively offering railcars with automatic brake test system equipment. This holds immense potential for our customers, giving them the means to significantly streamline their operations by saving time during brake tests. GATX Rail Europe views this initiative as more than just a singular solution; it represents a cross-sectoral development that has the potential to positively influence the entire railway market.
Günter Petschnig, Managing Director at PJM, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with the railcar experts at GATX Rail Europe on digitialization and automation solutions such as the brake testing and the load monitoring, because together we can increase the safety and efficiency of railway transports.”
Video on load monitoring system
Text provided by GATX Europe, photo by Markus Lang
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.
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.
1-year anniversary of PJ Motion
The youngest company in the PJM Group can look back positively on its first financial year. Due to the very good order situation, three more colleagues have joined the company. Approval issues with functional safety and retrofitting of rail vehicles are particularly in demand.
The founding team of Thomas Hofer, Markus Fankhauser, Lorenz Kochan and Joachim Wagner summarize the first review of the past 12 months in an interview: Short clip
Styrian Future Conference 2024: PJM takes part as innovation award winner
Companies and scientific institutions from Styria are coming together this year under the motto of cooperation. The Future Day is a platform for new ideas, knowledge exchange and future-shaping projects. The “Future Day” is organized by SFG, the Province of Styria and JR.
PJM has been invited as a winner of the Innovation Award 2024 and will put the spotlight on its unique automatic brake test. It is the first and only approved system that automates a complex, manual process. The brake testing system is already in use at SBB Cargo and on board of several pilot trains in Europe.
Automated rail freight transport is crucial in order to become more attractive, competitive, faster and safer and to cushion the demographic-related shortage of skilled labor. The focus is also shifting to environmentally friendly rail transport in order to achieve the climate targets that have been set.
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
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
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.
Video: Dynamic tests of ČD's passenger coaches
PJM played an important metrological role in the new Viaggio Comfort passenger coaches, which will enrich the fleet of Czech Railways České dráhy and were developed and manufactured by Siemens Mobility.
PJM carried out test runs on the entire Austrian railway network, including high-speed trains on the Westbahn line, in the Alpine terrain in Tyrol and on the Semmering Railway (UNSECO World Heritage Site). The driving behaviour and brakes were tested at 230 km/h or in extremely wintry conditions in the snow.
PJM was also commissioned with the development and production of the measuring wheelsets.
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