Innovation-Driven Growth: PJM is Evolving Digital Rail Freight and its Company
PJ Monitoring, the specialist for digital rail freight within the PJM group, has steadily expanded the smart train functionalities. Due to the growing business segment, the team has grown and the office space has been enlarged. In line with PJM’s philosophy, the growth has been achieved organically and in strategically forward-looking steps. Capacities have been expanded primarily in the areas of hardware and software development, project management, quality assurance and production.
Additional office space has been created in the immediate vicinity of the PJM site for the now approximately 40 employees. Since early summer, the PJM team has had another two offices.
‘We have expanded the company and our technology for digital train functions step by step. Our WaggonTracker system has evolved from a track and trace system to a digital overall system. The system has been integrated into the fleet equipment of leading rail transport companies, as well as into the equipment portfolio of wagon lessors and Europe’s largest freight wagon manufacturer, Tatravagónka. Also further pilot trains have been equipped in the last months. In addition, the automatic brake test has also proven itself in European projects for testing the DAC, as has its compatibility with other applications,” explains Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJ Monitoring GmbH.
‘From the very beginning, our premise has been to prepare for growth in a forward-looking manner. In this way, we have always been well equipped in terms of personnel and infrastructure to be a reliable and consistent partner for our customers and to continuously develop our technology,’ Günter Petschnig says.
Digital train functions were also continuously expanded. Due to its autonomous power supply via wheel hub generator and its scalable design, a wide range of functionalities have been integrated into the digital overall system WaggonTracker. Starting with general monitoring, the WaggonTracker system has been developed to a unique, comprehensive system providing a solution for every customer problem or use case. Various of the smart train functionalities were developed with rail freight operators such as SBB Cargo (Automated Brake Test) or FS LogistiX (e.g. trestle monitoring, brake system monitoring). The gamut of functionalities includes:
Freight train stand still
- Automated brake test (operational brake test)
- Partly automated train preparation
- Wagon order
- Load monitoring “optimal” load, asymmetric / overload protection, on-vehicle visualisation
- Impact monitoring (lateral, vertical)
- Free-fall alert (waggon is lifted during loading process)
- Brake system monitoring (correct technical functioning)
- Handbrake status monitoring
- Trestle / kingpin status monitoring and notification (intermodal traffic)
- Cargo goods and theft monitoring incl. door alerts
Train operation
- Brake system monitoring (correct functioning)
- Brake release check and notification (operational)
- Brake status of last wagon
- Diagnosis of faulty braking wagons during operation (adjust pressure)
- Derailment diagnosis
- Trestle / king-pin status change alert (intermodal traffic)
- Running dynamics (safety, stability)
- Flat spot diagnosis
- Axle box temperature monitoring & hot axle box warning
Upcoming
- Bearing monitoring
- Coupler monitoring
- Automatic / remote controlled de-coupling
- Train integrity
Unique features and a future-fit technology create key advantages
Another crucial functionality is the direct communication between wagons and train-driver in real-time. The unique in-train communication was designed to ensure highest availability via an encrypted, secure connection. Like all other functionalities, the in-train communication is fully integrated and provides open interfaces.
Smart freight trains deliver numerous benefits. Generally speaking, digital rail freight increases profitability, efficiency, availability, safety and transport quality. Furthermore, PJM’s solution is future-proof and flexible, since it is compatible with any standard couplers, DAC solutions and customer-specific applications.
Due to the number of impressive features, the proven solution convinced leading rail freight logistics providers. The leading European railcar lessors VTG, GATX and TRANSWAGGON have included the digital train functions in their equipment portfolio as well as Tatravagónka. The renown wagon manufacturer equips wagons ex-works.
Further information: https://pjm.co.at/en/iot/
Full specialist package: PJ Motion’s experts are the first choice for supporting the integration of Automated Brake Test
The railway experts of PJ Motion are specialised in requirements management and authorisation management according to the 4th railway package. Due to their many years’ experience, they are the perfect partner in all phases of authorization process. Like PJ Monitoring specialists, they know the railway system and rail freight transport down to the smallest detail.
In terms of integrating the Automatic Brake Test (ABT)into the vehicle, their support services include:
Managing the ABT integration at vehicle level
a. Creation of concept & system definition, significance analysis and definition of the authorization case according to (EU) 2018/545
b. Creation and regulation of verification of all determined and applying requirements
c. Commissioning and coordination of the conformity and/or risk assessment bodies depending on the applicable authorisation case of point a.
d. Commissioning and coordination of accredited testing bodies depending on the required verification of point b.
e. Support in the creation of ERADIS and ERATV entries, preparation of the technical dossier for OSS upload, supervision of the OSS assessment process
f. Support in the creation of declarations of conformity for vehicle authorisation for placing on the market in accordance with (EU) 2018/545 for series modifications
Managing the ABT integration at operational level
a. Creation of the concept & system definition, significance analysis and evaluation of the supplement to the safety management system (SMS) of the railway undertakings concerned
b. Creation and control of the verification of all determined and applicable requirements
c. Commissioning and control of conformity and/or risk assessment bodies depending on the applicable authorisation case in a.
d. Assumption of the role of Validating and verifying in accordance with EN50126
e. Support and consulting on cyber security issues for the exchange of necessary data between railway undertakings and ABT
Managing the ABT integration into the maintenance system / ECM
a. Preparation and implementation of the necessary training courses at ECM 1-4 for the operation of vehicles with ABT
b. Preparation and implementation of the amended vehicle documentation in the vehicle file at the maintenance development function ECM2
c. Preparation and definition of requirements for a maintenance workshop for fleet management function ECM3
d. Support in the preparation and implementation of the necessary measures in the maintenance execution function ECM4 for vehicles with ABT
Further information on PJ Motion: https://www.pjmotion.at/en
PJ Messtechnik expands the test areas and founds a new company
Together with the renowned German EMC specialist Rörden, PJM has founded EMC Rail Services. The partnership allows two testing laboratories to combine their service portfolios and pool expertise and resources, thus creating a clear advantage for customers. The focus is on the Austrian market as well as the neighbouring countries to the south and east. The new company’s testing services include:
• Radiated electromagnetic disturbances
• Radio protection
• Human exposure
• Compatibility with track circuits
• Compatibility with axle counters / sensors
Already established test areas include running characteristics, strength, brakes, acoustics, aerodynamics and pantograph – in the latter area it is the only test centre in Austria. In addition, PJM has many years of experience in engineering, developing and manufacturing instrumented wheelsets and worldwide testing of a wide variety of rail vehicles.
PJM at a glance
PJM is an internationally renowned systems specialist for rail transport and has successfully implemented projects in 30 countries on 6 continents. PJM was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Graz. Around 90 employees ensure ‘100% Made in Austria’: R&D, hardware and software development, production and administration are all carried out exclusively in Austria.
Further information on the PJM group: https://pjm.co.at/en
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