testing facility - Page 2

New 80ft InnoWaggon Sggns: PJM carried out overall accreditation tests

When it comes to further development or new concepts, rail logistics specialist Innofreight is an important address. Recently, the wagon fleet was expanded by a one-piece 80ft InnoWaggon Sggn. Less wagon weight but more train load were the requirements to make rail transport even more economical and efficient for Innofreight customers. For the overall approval, the company relied on PJM expertise. The various tests were evaluated in several stages:

Fatigue strength: The strength tests were carried out by the PJM engineering experts according to EN 12663. Another task of the engineering team was to optimize the strength. The static tests were carried out by means of a mobile pressure frame at the site of MFL Liezen. The buffing impact tests took place mainly in St. Michael, not far from Innofreight's headquarters.
Brakes: The static and dynamic tests according to TSI WAG:2020 were also carried out in the St. Michael area. The uncoupling tests were carried out with various loading conditions.
Acoustics: The acoustic measurements according to TSI NOI 2014/1204/EU were used to determine pass-by noise, rail roughness and track decay rate.

This project included two novelties:

Uncoupling device: For the first time, a new device developed by PJM was used for the suspension tests. The new component has proven itself very well since it is lighter, smaller and easier to operate.
Solar energy: The measuring instruments were supplied with energy by means of a solar panel. The panel can be set up in just a few steps and provides sufficient power for the measurement tests in good weather.

Get the full medie release:

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/PI-Innofreight-PJM-03-2023-Web-EN.pdf

News - 03/16/2023

Solar-energy for our measurement devices

Which solutions are the best? If they are environmentally friendly, easy to handle and reliable. For several months now, a solar panel has been part of our testing facility team's equipment and supplies our measuring devices with solar energy. The panel can be set up in just a few steps, and a rechargeable battery guarantees a continuous supply even during tests and measurements lasting several hours.

Achieving climate neutrality depends on both large-scale measures and small steps. In the expansion of environmentally friendly rail transport, our digital overall system WaggonTracker is an essential contribution to modernising and making rail freight transport more attractive. In everyday life, we try to make our world a little more environmentally friendly with small contributions.

News / Waggon Tracker - 01/23/2023

Mobile calibration test rig for instrumented wheelsets

Precision is the top priority in metrology, and calibration is a crucial factor. To ensure measurement reliability even for projects on site, PJM has developed a mobile calibration test stand. The advantages:

After reprofiling the measuring wheel sets, recalibration can be performed on site.
The new type of test stand enables unprecedented performance.
The test stand is easy to transport and is therefore ideally suited for worldwide use.

The mobile calibration test stand has already proven its worth during the first "field test" and was used in a project for the Rhaetian Railway. Thus we can react quickly and flexibly to customer requirements even under challenging conditions.

General / News - 11/10/2022

Nightjets of ÖBB: Measuring wheel sets and approval tests

In future, a total of 33 Nightjets of the new Viaggio Next Level generation from Siemens Mobility will ensure comfortable and at the same time climate-friendly travel in Central Europe. For the approval of the newly developed passenger coaches, PJM is on board as an accredited test center according to ISO/IEC 17025. The Austrian system specialist was commissioned for the overall approval in cooperation with ÖBB. The contract specifically includes the instrumented wheel sets as well as the approval tests in the areas of running behavior, fatigue strength, acoustics and aerodynamics.

6 instrumented wheel sets were developed and manufactured in Graz and then installed in the test vehicle at the ÖBB plant in Vienna. The test runs started in autumn 2021. The test train is in use throughout the entire Austrian rail network. To evaluate derailment safety, the first approval tests started in the field of running behavior, after which the bogies were upgraded for the test runs in the area fatigue strength. Finally, high-speed measurements follow for the aerodynamics area. The acoustic tests will complete the approval tests. "For an extensive project like this, it is above all our metrology expertise and experience in bringing together all specialist areas that prove their worth. Our flexibility and routine, which we have gained from our numerous international projects, are also essential. Due to the weather, there are always changes in procedures, for example during test runs in winter on the Arlberg at 1,000 m above sea level," explains Martin Joch, CEO of PJM. "A good collaboration with the project partners is also immensely important in large-scale projects. The cooperation with ÖBB's measurement group is excellent."

Get more in the media release:

https://pjm.co.at/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/10-2022-Presse-Info-Nightjets-PJM-Web2-EN.pdf

News / Presseberichte - 10/06/2022

New loading scheme: 25 % more transportation capacity

As an overall logistics provider, Innofreight develops innovative solutions and thus optimises rail freight transport. One of the latest innovations is the further development of the double wagon IW 90 ft Gigawood to transport log wood and timber. In order to realise new rail freight concepts, Innofreight counts on the engineering and testing expertise of PJM.

Due to the adapted loading scheme of the vehicle, the carrying capacity was increased by 25 %. Thus, more capacity also results in more competitiveness to shift goods traffic from road to rail.

General - 08/26/2021

Creating & shaping future: A video Portrait of PJM

Why is measurement technology fascinating? What sort of tests are performed for vehicles approvals? Digital rail freight - what's the meaning of the term? What's the connex of measurement technology and safety? Which exciting job profiles does measurement technology include? Get all answers on these and many more in our company's video portrait which recently was broadcasted in the Styrian news magazine by ORF. The video is part of the serial "Zukunftsmacher" (future creators). Watch it out!

Credit: With courtesy of Die Industrie / IV Steiermark / ORF Steiermark

Presseberichte / Waggon Tracker - 06/16/2021

200 km/h on the Westbahn: Vehicle tests applying a digital measuring system

The private railway WESTBahn is operating in 2-hours-cycles from Vienna via Linz to Salzburg. The fleet consists of double deck trains of the type KISS by Stadler Rail. Henceforth, parts of the fleet will be operated by DB. For the extended approval of Germany, PJM was in charge of the type tests in the field of brakes and acoustics. "The test runs were successfully performed in a very short time frame", says Martin Joch. The three main factors for this were:

Due to a limited timetable, the "Corona weeks" in March were ideal to perform the test runs.
To a great extent, the measurement chain was digitalised. The advantages of a digital measurement system are the reduced cabling efforts and a much higher interference resistance. Within a short period, our team had implemented a measuring system comprising 200 sensors.
The many years' experience and great committment of our measurement team.

The static tets, dynamic brake tests and tests of the wheel slide protection system were performed under varying conditions, such as differing conditions of the track and varying speed ranging from 80 to the maximum of 200 km/h.

News - 07/28/2020

Magazine ETR reports on the vehicle tests of S-Bahn Berlin

The German special interest magazine ETR report on the PJM tests of approval of the suburban rail in Berlin (S-Bahn Berlin). Despite of the tough schedule and the comprehensive measurements, PJM finished the project in time - due to the highly experienced team and a many years expertise in analysing complex data.

Get the full story (in German language).

Credit: Claudio Schwarz/Unsplash

Download PDF

Presseberichte - 06/22/2020

S-Bahn Berlin: PJM finished approval tests of new suburbal trainset

The suburban fleet of S-Bahn in Berlin will be modernised from 2021 on. 382 new vehicles will provide more comfort, light and safety. 2015, the consortium Siemens Mobility GmbH and Stadler Pankow GmbH started to develop a new trainset "DB 483 and 484". For these new trainsets, PJM was in charge of the approval tests in the fields of fatigue strength, structural requirements of railway vehicle bodies and torsional vibrations of the wheelsets. A complex projekt like this reqires a many years' experience of worldwide projects of an accredited testing facility.

These figures show the complexity of this project:

Periods of test runs: 10 weeks
Generated data from the test runs: 2 terabytes
30 telemetry channels and 400 measurement channels

News - 05/14/2020

PJM at the Railway Forum in Berlin

From Graz to Berlin: At the Railway Forum Berlin, PJM presented latest international projects and its innovative portfolio. On the shared booth of AC Styria, 10 companies had a showed high-tech solutions.

Digital rail freight cargo and the many years experience of overall solutions were in the spotlight of PJM.

Get more on the Styrian railway industry (press release of the AC Styria in German language):

https://www.acstyria.com/news/steirische-bahnindustrie-sorgt-auf-groesster-branchenmesse-in-berlin-fuer-aufsehen/