[drucken] [fenster schliessen]

Selectron Systems AG Bernstrasse 70 CH-3250 Lyss +41 32 387 61 61

Newsletter 2/2012 from Selectron

Dear customer,

We at Selectron Systems are pleased to present you with this second edition of our Newsletter in 2012. We hope that these selected reports will provide you with some interesting news from our company. We hope you find this a pleasant and enjoyable read!

Contents

Safety Applictions Wheel slide protection on the way to UIC certification Our customers' successes in rapidly growing markets Locomotives from China for transporting coal in Australia using Selectron control and monitoring systems Our customer's success Trucks on track - Selectron technology supports this What's new? Training locomotive drivers efficiently and practically InnoTrans show 2012 in Berlin Selectron Team The Application Engineering team – your contacts when you need to undertake projects Occupational health Tour de Berne, 2012

Safety Applications

Wheel slide protection on the way to UIC certification In past newsletters, we have already reported on experience with the new WSP 800 wheel slide protection system. The system has been configured according to the specifications of the UIC (International Union of Railways), and has been used successfully for some time now. Some of our customers have now asked for official certification of wheel slide protection. For this reason, in autumn last year we decided to certify the system in line with UIC leaflet 541-05.

To guarantee independent assessment of the system, the UIC assembled a team of experts to accompany coordinated certification and to assess the system. These are renowned brake experts from the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), German Railways (DB AG), Dutch National Railways (NSS) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).

To obtain the UIC certificate, it is necessary to carry out highly qualified system validations, extensive tests as well as a one-year operations trial with long-term recordings of wheel slide interventions on the brake system.

Selectron WSP 800 wheel slide protection unit

Measuring carriage with disconnection coupling

One of the elaborate tests specified in the leaflet concerns the "disconnection tests". These are practical tests in which a coach is decoupled, i.e. disconnected, from a train unit at a speed of up to 160 km/h. The free-wheeling (disconnected) carriage enters rapid braking in this case. The coach was equipped with a brake operating device in order for this function to be implemented (see illustration). The wheel slide protection system must prevent flats from being formed in the wheels in this case. The operating conditions can be harsh and vary depending on the season; in order to simulate them as realistically as possible, some of the test series were also carried out on wet tracks or even tracks that had been previously treated with lubricating soap.

Mobile brake operating unit

The partner for implementing the disconnection tests was DB Systemtechnik in Minden (Westphalia). A train comprising a locomotive and two coaches, with a locomotive driver, was hired for this purpose. The vehicles underwent technical preparation in advance. The test drives took place on the Minden – Gütersloh – Neubekum line (approx. 100 km). DB AG had to authorise "slots" (available time windows) within the normal DB timetable. Another exciting test involved braking the train from a speed of 200 km/h. In this case, the entire train unit was stopped by the brake system of the prepared coach, without the brake system of the locomotive and the other coach being operated.

The entire track tests lasted about 3 weeks. To ensure an efficient use of this time, 2 further weeks were spent in advance on a detailed optimisation of the governing procedure of our wheel slide protection on the brake simulation test rig at DB Systemtechnik. This simulator makes it possible to run the required profiles of the test series in simulation, thus ironing out problems with possible critical responses in advance. The results of the system optimisation will also benefit future practical wheel slide protection applications.

Wheel slide simulation test rig

The entire project could be significantly compressed in terms of time because it was only necessary to carry out the UIC requirement profile for coaches. The requirement profiles for railcars and locomotives could be covered by the brake tests for the "Stadler KISS" vehicle. DB Systemtechnik carried out the entire brake tests for Stadler in this case. Selectron can rely on the existing test results. We wish to repeat our expression of gratitude to Stadler Rail for this.

The results of the test series were very successful. Selectron will now move on to further operations validation with the WSP 800 wheel slide protection system (also acc. to UIC 541-05).

Our customers' successes in rapidly growing markets

Locomotives from China for transporting coal in Australia using Selectron control and monitoring systems

CSR Quishuyan Co., Ltd. (QSY) decided to use the TCMS System (Train Control and Monitoring System) from Selectron in its locomotive production. The vehicles are being supplied to the customer Pacific National (PN) in Australia.

QSY Locomotive is one of the two leading diesel locomotive manufacturers in China. The motors are powered by alternating voltage and are used for transporting coal in Queensland's mining industry. 4 locomotives will be coupled together into 2 sets in order to pull 120 wagons. This results in a train up to 3 kilometres in length.

The TCMS system is based on CANopen and Ethernet. The Maestro Designer® GUI configuration tool is being used for the HMIs during the project planning phase. A diagnostic tool will be used for operation, servicing and maintenance. Preventative maintenance will also be handled using the diagnostic tool.

QSY Locomotive will be implementing the engineering itself with support from Selectron China and Selectron .

It is planned for the locomotives to be supplied to Pacific National (PN) in 2012.

Our customer's succes

Trucks on tracks – Selectron technology supports this

Extensive modernisation of the Bcm61 support car of RAlpin AG

RAlpin AG is based in Olten (Switzerland) and operates the rolling motorway (ROLA) through the Swiss Alps. Complete trucks are loaded onto the train at ROLA terminals. Their drivers travel in a support car.

As a result, RAlpin is making an important contribution to transferring traffic from road to rail. At present, the ROLA operates up to 22 trains a day between Freiburg im Breisgau () and Novara () as well as two trains on weekdays between Basel and Lugano.

The ROLA trains on the Lötschberg-Simplon route are pulled by motive power units from BLS Cargo and SBB Cargo International. They comprise up to 21 low-floor (NT) railcars of the 498 design with type 690 bogies from Talbot, Bombardier Transportation and DB Niesky. These are generally operated with a type Bcm61 or Db51 support car.

Bcm 61 support car On 1 December 2010, RAlpin purchased 20 type Bcm61 couchette cars, which were formerly used by SBB Personenverkehr, the passenger transport arm of Swiss Federal Railways, and were built in 1979.

In 2011, RAlpin adapted the former long-distance coaches to the requirements of ROLA and extensively modernised the vehicles.

The "Bcm61 conversion" project was exceptionally important for RAlpin in terms of volume, time frame, distance, coordination and strategic significance. The order was placed with TecSol GmbH in Anger ().

As part of the conversion of the support cars in 2011, the former service compartment and two couchette compartments were converted into an open-plan accommodation area with two permanently installed tables and benches. This means the ROLA support car now offers truck drivers 32 (up to max. 48) comfortable air-conditioned couchette places.

The vehicle technology is controlled with Selectron components by a CPU 831-TG as the man computer, while the air conditioning is controlled by a CPU 727-T. In addition, a CPU 723-T, three DDC 701-T units, an MMIC 702 as well as various expansion modules are used. The computers are interconnected via a CAN bus, an RS-485 connection with Modbus protocol and Ethernet.

TecSol GmbH and the accompanying consultant have been working with Selectron on retrofit projects for more than 10 years, and they are highly satisfied with the performance and equipment from Selectron.

The initial feedback from truck drivers about the new support cars has been entirely positive. They appreciate the significantly greater levels of comfort in the air-conditioned ROLA Bcm61 support cars, and can enjoy a relaxing period of recuperation as the train transports them with low noise levels in the support car.

What's new

Training locomotive drivers efficiently and practically

We are in the lengthy build-up to InnoTrans 2012. Selectron will be presenting not only its current new developments on its trade show stand in Hall 6.2, but also the "Locsim" driver's cab simulation software in conjunction with Berne University's Technology & IT department based in Biel / Switzerland. This will give our visitors to the stand the opportunity to control a rail vehicle realistically in a simulated driver's cab.

Although trade show visitors might initially think this is a novelty for the show, actually it has a professional background. In fact, the "Locsim" software on display is used as a practical education and training tool for locomotive and motive power unit drivers at many railway companies within Switzerland and abroad.

The idea behind "Locsim" and its benefits are obvious. For example, the ability to practice unusual route situations and driving conditions is highly appreciated. Due to the ever-increasing traffic levels on real lines, it is only possible to carry out real training with restrictions, or else during the night when railway operations are suspended. Furthermore, training on newly purchased vehicles represents a welcome addition to the actual training procedures.

All the functions of a driver's console must be present in order to be as realistic as possible. They are adjusted or simulated in detail, according to the customer's order. For example, the simulation provides features such as the speed measurement, drive, status of the main pressure line, train protection, the usual switches for start-up, train force indicator, sprocket operating mode selection, various indicator lamps and much else besides, which are evaluated by a commercially available PC. The track situation is recorded by a train with a camera that takes a film of the route, which is displayed on a large flatscreen. The safety devices include systems such as the usual high and slow speeds, the dead man's switch for monitoring alertness, and the train protection.

The goal of the simulator is to generate situations for the vehicle driver which would require great complexity or entail a significant safety risk to be taken in order to achieve them during normal railway operation. These include situations such as block malfunctions, signal malfunctions, vehicle malfunctions, barrier malfunctions, incorrect operating procedures or safety systems and many more besides.

The following components must be physically present or set on a computer in order to achieve a realist representation of train operations from the perspective of a train driver:

Driver's console Vehicle control (vehicle control unit) Drive section Auxiliary equipment Brakes Track (including the track protection systems and contact wire) Hauled load Driving dynamics Environment (view from the driver's cab)

"Locsim" provides all these elements by software, or can integrate corresponding hardware components.

Interested? Then visit our trade show stand (stand no. 123, hall 6.2) and "drive" a section of one of the world famous railway lines in Switzerland.

InnoTrans 2012 show in Berlin

From 18 to 21 September, the "who's who" of the railway industry will once again meet in Berlin this year for the InnoTrans 2012. For years, this event has represented the showcase for manufacturers and operators of railway technology to present new technologies and current innovations. It goes without saying that Selectron will be there. We are already looking forward to meeting you at our show stand.

The Selectron show stand will be stand no. 123 in hall 6.2.

Selectron team

The Application Engineering team – your contacts when you need to undertake projects Each customer decides according to its needs which services it will call for from the Application Engineering team. These could include consulting, system design, writing technical specifications, system integration, developing software libraries and/or application software, documentation or even complete project management right through to commissioning.

Time and time again, Selectron also offers highly motivated university graduates an interesting first step on the career ladder. This is also indicated in the composition of the Application Engineering team. Martial Amsler, Simeon Grossenbacher and Sandro Walker are graduates who have now joined Selectron Systems AG. All three have since worked on various projects or even carried them out themselves through to successful commissioning. After completing his studies, Thomas Jakob worked as a university assistant in the course of which he gathered a high standard of basic knowledge in the railway sector. He has been working for Selectron for five years now, and has been involved in and managed projects; in 2011, he took over management of the Application Engineering team. By virtue of his keen personal interest and many years of experience in the railway area, Adrian Meier has valuable and broadly based expertise in many areas. One of his skill sets covers our wheel slide protection system, for example. Kun Qian worked for our branch in Beijing/China for many years, but has now moved with his family to Lyss in order to gather additional experience at headquarters. Daniel Kaderli and Eric Ramseier have gathered valuable experience during many years of working for various well known companies in the industry and automation area, which they now place at the team's disposal.

Thanks to this motivated and high-performance team, we are capable of contributing to interesting projects, both large and small, time and time again. We make our contribution to the success of projects such as developing new locomotives in Spain, retrofit projects for various large fleets of the Swiss Federal Railways, developing a wheel slide protection system acc. to UIC 541 05, air conditioning projects and building a new tram for the USA, etc.

We are there for our customers.

Back (from left to right) Adrian Meier, Sandro Walker, Martial Amsler, Simeon Grossenbacher Front (from left to right) Daniel Kaderli, Kun Qian, Thomas Jakob, Eric Ramseier

Occupational health The health of our workforce is important to us. Almost all of our workplaces are VDU workstations. If these are not set up ergonomically, the consequences can be unhappy employees, physical problems and increased rates of absence. Therefore, Selectron introduced height-adjustable workplaces for all its employees a few months ago. This allows work to be carried out both sitting and standing, and employees are encouraged to vary their postures. An ergonomic workplace and adequate compensatory movement are intended to ensure that employees can bring all their skills to bear in the workplace, thus achieving optimum levels of performance, satisfaction and health protection in the workplace.

And, on sunny days, when the company's premises are suffused by the odour of sausages, steaks and vegetables grilling, that is a sign that Selectron's employees are on their lunch break. The fact that the company is located in rural surroundings means that we have been able to set up an idyllic barbecue area which has proved very popular. A barbecue lunch break in the open air together with colleagues boosts efficiency levels during the afternoon. Furthermore, free fruit baskets with seasonal produce are offered in order to promote healthy eating.

Anyone who overloads their plate at the barbecue can work off their excess calories throughout the month of June as part of the "Bike-to-work" campaign. This has already become a traditional event and this year 5 teams with a total of 20 employees will be taking part in the campaign with the objective of covering at least part of their journey to work by bicycle. This keeps commuters healthy, reduces pollution and, above all, it's fun. Tour de Berne, 2012 The 89th Tour de Berne was held on 12 May 2012.

For the 10th time, Selectron was involved as a sponsor and participant in the well known companies' and people's race as part of the Tour de Berne.

This year too, more than 1000 participants took part in the Seeland Classic, a bike race around the Frienisberg mountain.

Although numbers did not top last year's record attendance, the event once again proved astonishingly popular. The "Selectron 1" team with six cyclists was entered for "Race 1" and two cyclists took part in the people's race on the Saturday, in spite of the rainy conditions. Regrettably, the weather gods were not on the side of the race this year.

But everyone was in good spirits in spite of the poor weather Fully concentrated on the start

One obvious indication of the inclement weather conditions on the Saturday was that multiple world champion and Olympics winner Fabian Cancellara had a mudguard fitted to his bicycle.

Professional cyclist Fabian Cancellara

In spite of everything, the Selectron team was able to keep its spirits up, and all the team members completed "Race 1" over a distance of 33 km and 420 vertical meters and the 21 km of the "People's Race". The riders reached the finishing line rather wet, but with a smile on their face.

Our fastest team member in "Race 1" achieved a creditable placing in the middle of the field, coming in at number 86. The placings in the people's race were 20th and 50th.

Everyone came through the race well, although wet

Selectron's amateur cyclists are hoping that the Tour de Berne 2013 will once again be held in Lyss, and are already looking forward to next May. We wish all two-wheel fans an exciting bike season in 2012.

Kind regards Selectron Systems AG Bernstrasse 70 3250 Lyss Switzerland

Subject to technical changes and amendments to technical specifications at any time.

You would not like to receive our newsletter any more? Click here to sign off