The path from the drawing board to the rails has never been more demanding. As rail vehicle development grows increasingly complex and capital-heavy, the industry finds itself at a crossroads. Amidst global economic uncertainty, the difference between a project’s success and its stagnation lies in one thing: precise, high-efficiency project management.
PJM is setting a new standard for this evolution. By offering an all-encompassing suite of services, the PJM companies take the weight of complexity off the manufacturer’s shoulders. Their holistic approach covers everything from the first design calculations to certification and conformity assessments. With an ISO/IEC-accredited laboratory for specialized vehicle testing, PJM provides the technical depth and management clarity needed to navigate unquiet economic waters, ensuring that innovation never hits a bottleneck.
As a world-renowned systems specialist in the rail sector, PJM has continued to develop the group, particularly over the last three years. The latest developments at a glance:
Test areas: The scope of the ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing laboratory has been expanded. In addition to testing in the fields of acoustics, brakes, running characteristics, fatigue strength and aerodynamics, it now also carries out pantograph testing. The accreditation covers not only measurements in accordance with EN 50317 but also simulations in accordance with EN 50318. This makes PJM the only company in Austria with accreditation for the pantograph test area.
Electromagnetic compatibility measurements: Last summer, PJM launched its subsidiary EMC Rail Services in collaboration with the German engineering specialist Rörden. EMC testing is now PJM’s seventh testing area.
Engineering: Both the technical expertise and the engineering team have been expanded. The experienced engineering team combines theoretical and practical knowledge for the development of components and rail vehicles. Furthermore, PJM is certified by the AAR WABL Committee (strength verification of railroad wheels S-660 und S-669). The experienced and interdisciplinary team in Graz covers CAD design, FEM analysis and MBS simulation.
PJM also demonstrates its strength in structural manufacturing. The certification in Activity Level D (Design, Calculation, Documentation) and Classification Level CL 1 (highest safety level) according to EN 15085-2 – the standard for welding railway vehicles and components – documents the company’s outstanding competence in welding technology.
Instrumented wheelsets: PJM has developed and manufactured instrumented wheel sets for a wide range of vehicles. The wheel sets from Graz are tested worldwide. To increase capacity, the Graz site has been expanded and equipped with new technical facilities, such as a test rig for wheel sets and a test rig for pantographs.
Test track: In addition to the specialist departments and technical equipment for the development and testing of rail vehicles, the company has also had its own test site since last year. INFRATRACK Solutions utilises the connection railway of a decommissioned coal-fired power station close to Graz. The portfolio of INFRATRACK includes a specially equipped test track. Vehicles are also fitted with measurement technology on site, where both physical and software-based tests are carried out.
Authorisation management: These test areas are complemented by the expertise of PJ Motion, offering comprehensive authorisation management services to obtain vehicle and vehicle type authorisation. This full-service package covers every step, from identifying requirements and managing documentation to submitting regulatory applications and issuing vehicle and vehicle type approvals. PJ Motion has grown since its foundation in the summer of 2023. The team has expanded to ensure the high-quality delivery of an increasing number of projects. Its clients include Westbahn, DB InfraGo, ÖBB Train Tech, Railadventure, KONČAR and many others.
Accredited assessment body: These capabilities are ideally complemented by t he portfolio of Railway Competence and Certification, an accredited conformity assessment body in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065 and ISO/IEC 17020.
Efficiency in Motion: What’s PJM’s asset and why is integrated management the future of rail?
“The development lifecycle of rail vehicles is characterized by increasing technical complexity and significant capital requirements. Given the current global economic volatility, the successful implementation of such projects is increasingly dependent on precise and efficient project management. PJM facilitates this process by offering a comprehensive service portfolio designed to mitigate development risks and reduce complexity for manufacturers”, says Martin Joch, CEO of PJ Messtechnik.
Driving the Future of Rail Freight: PJ Monitoring’s Digital Revolution
As the global transport sector faces increasing pressure to shift cargo from road to rail, PJ Monitoring (PJM) has emerged as a global innovation leader in the digitization of freight wagons. By transforming “silent” rolling stock into intelligent, data-driven assets, PJM is addressing the most critical challenges of modern rail logistics: efficiency, safety, and competitiveness.
The hub of innovation: At the heart o f PJM’s portfolio is the WaggonTracker system – a pioneering, end-to-end solution that combines monitoring, automation, and real- time data analysis. As a self-contained system powered by high-performance energy harvesting, it provides the technological foundation for the smart freight train.
“Unique digital train function in real-time, such as kingpin monitoring, brake system monitoring and brake analysis, derailment diagnosis, load weight monitoring and in-train communication provide a wide range of benefits f or wagon keepers, Railway Undertakings and railway logistics”, says Günter Petschnig, CEO of PJ Monitoring.
Customers include Tatravagónka, VTG, TRANSWAGGON, Plasser & Theurer, SBB Cargo, FS Logistix and many more.
A cornerstone of this digital evolution is the automation of traditionally labour-intensive processes. Innovations such as Automated Brake Testing are revolutionizing train preparation by condensing pre-departure checks – which previously required several minutes per wagon -into a single process that covers the entire train in moments. These advancements do more than just save time; they empower the entire rail freight transport ecosystem by bridging the efficiency gap between rail and road transport.
PJM’s technology delivers immediate benefits whilst also paving the way for the future: it is compatible with custom applications, screw couplings and a future DAC.
Find out more at www.pjmotion.at
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