Michael B. has been part of the voestalpine Railway Systems Group’s Signaling profit center at the Siershahn site (Germany) for 20 years. At the beginning, he worked as a project manager, primarily for the new railroad safety systems in Australia and also in Spain. The dedicated safety projects on the Spanish high-speed lines acted as a door opener for today’s global success.
For the past 12 years, he has been responsible for the high-quality production of rail monitoring systems for trains and thus for the work of around 20 employees in series production. The hot axle box tracking systems consist of sensors, interface cards and control cabinets that measure the temperature of the brakes, wheel bearings and tires of locomotives and wagons and sound an alarm if necessary. In this way, Michael’s team makes a significant contribution to ensuring that train travel is safe despite increasing demands and that trains arrive on time. In addition to hot axle box detection, acoustic systems are now also available, for example for flat spot detection, which are perfectly integrated into the zentrak software package. This modularity offers our customers decisive advantages.
Michael studied physics and was fascinated by computer technology at the same time. He started his career as a software developer in the beverage industry and later in the packaging industry. There, as a programmer, he helped drive the automation of machines. On his way there, he kept observing the small, fine company in Siershahn, which at the time had 17 employees and an interesting technical product, and finally introduced himself. Michael’s intention from the outset was to grow with “his company” and he invested “a lot of heart and soul” in its development. One thing led to another.
The sensors produced are installed in the tracks and can measure the temperatures of critical components on the trains, such as the brakes, wheel bearings and tires. These measured temperatures are transmitted to a control cabinet housed in a concrete shelter near the tracks. The data is analyzed there and alarms are sent to the train dispatchers in the event of critical temperatures. Depending on their instructions, they take appropriate countermeasures: Stop the train, slow it down or similar. Our job is to identify hazards and report them to the dispatcher.
Last year, capacities were significantly increased with the expansion of the production hall and warehouse at the voestalpine Signaling Siershahn site. More than 200 people are currently employed. Together with the management team from project management, development and production, the projects requested by sales are checked for feasibility two to three times a week and – if everything fits – a joint, clear commitment is agreed.
He makes sure that applicants show an interest in the products of the voestalpine Railway Systems Group at the voestalpine Signaling Siershahn site and a high level of quality awareness for railroad safety. It is also clear to Michael that linguistic and national diversity contributes to the company’s current good performance and order situation. International employees enrich our thinking and actions in every respect. Diversity is good for everyone.
Working in the newly expanded production facility makes him and his employees proud. Its opening last year is one of his personal #FavoriteMoments. Relocating an entire production and storage facility within three weeks was a huge challenge, which was mastered well together. The new premises make it possible to develop and establish further improvements with the help of lean management methods.
The efforts involved are certainly worthwhile. Michael experiences private #favorite moments with music. In recent years, he has developed a passion for playing the guitar and singing.
In our new brand and image campaign #FavoriteMoments, we show our contribution to a modern, sustainable life from the perspective of people. We focus on their individual favorite moments and the commitment of our employees that makes such moments possible. The specially composed song “All these moments” accompanies the campaign and musically conveys our values, courage, community and our joy for the future and is authentically accompanied by pictures of our employees.
Die voestalpine ist ein weltweit führender Stahl- und Technologiekonzern mit kombinierter Werkstoff- und Verarbeitungskompetenz. Die global tätige Unternehmensgruppe verfügt über rund 500 Konzerngesellschaften und -standorte in mehr als 50 Ländern auf allen fünf Kontinenten. Sie notiert seit 1995 an der Wiener Börse. Mit ihren Premium-Produkt- und Systemlösungen zählt sie zu den führenden Partnern der Automobil- und Hausgeräteindustrie sowie der Luftfahrt- und Öl- & Gasindustrie und ist darüber hinaus Weltmarktführer bei Bahninfrastruktursystemen, bei Werkzeugstahl und Spezialprofilen. Die voestalpine bekennt sich zu den globalen Klimazielen und verfolgt mit greentec steel einen klaren Plan zur Dekarbonisierung der Stahlproduktion.
