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InnoTrans 2024: digital solutions for the future of rail transport

InnoTrans 2024: digital solutions for the future of rail transport

Months before InnoTrans, which takes place every two years in Berlin, preparations for the most important international trade fair for transportation technology are already in full swing. Two of our four divisions in particular are very busy before and during InnoTrans: the voestalpine Railway Systems business unit of the Metal Engineering Division and the Steel Division.

The voestalpine stand at this year's Innotrans.
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From September 24 to 27, 2024, we proved to over 130,000 trade fair visitors that we are on track with the trend towards digital railroad solutions. The trade visitors at our stand were amazed: on the approximately 1,000 m² stand spread over two levels, we presented our entire portfolio for all types of rail transport, including mixed traffic, local transport (tram/subway/rail), high-speed and freight transport. In addition to “system hardware” such as rails, switches, fasteners or sleepers – at InnoTrans, for example, we presented low-maintenance rail models and sustainable products – we also specialize in digital solutions for monitoring the condition of the rail track and rolling stock with diagnostic and monitoring technologies.

Digital solutions and complete systems on the InnoTrans stage

We were able to impress, for example, with our intelligent turnouts from voestalpine Railway Systems. They use high-tech sensors to measure the status data of the system in real time and transmit it to the rail infrastructure operators. At InnoTrans, the spotlight was also on our (digital) ecosystem for railroad systems “zentrak”, which permanently monitors the condition of the infrastructure and rolling stock (trains), forwards the data to the railroad infrastructure operators in real time and displays the results in clear dashboards without any time delay. Our solutions make it possible to digitally record the life cycle of the systems and derive the optimum maintenance strategy. This maximizes availability, optimizes maintenance costs and reduces the risk of failure. With this focus on digitalization and holistic system solutions, we are taking on a pioneering role – not only at InnoTrans, but also with our customers.

Innovative scrap car

The Steel Division also attracted trade fair visitors with a highlight. We presented a scrap wagon prototype on the open-air site. Scrap logistics will be a key topic on the Steel Division’s path to green transformation. The prototype of the lightweight scrap wagon, which was developed by LogServ together with DB Cargo and TransANT, scores points with its lower tare weight and special design for higher payload quantities. With the “Bayern Shuttle”, LogServ has already implemented an innovative logistics concept for voestalpine – awarded the German Logistics Prize 2021 – together with DB Cargo.

Products and services in demand: from the trade fair to the track

Our rail and turnout systems as well as monitoring and signalling technology solutions not only attracted the attention of trade fair visitors, but are already in high demand on the international market and are being used in numerous large-scale projects: we are supplying 320 turnout systems with drives and rail extensions including diagnostic and monitoring software to the UK, for example, for the construction of the High Speed 2 high-speed link from London to Birmingham, and we are also an implementation partner for the renewal of the German rail network. In the local transport sector, our customers in Vienna and Singapore rely on our reliable rail products and services, including for the implementation of subway rail projects.

A person with VR glasses and controller tests the current state of the art at the voestalpine stand.
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voestalpine AG

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.