Our PROSE team recently had the opportunity to take part in a comprehensive workshop at Borflex-Rex SA in Mendrisio. Led by Claudio Rossi, Bernardo Moltrasio, Salvatore Basso and Gennaro Mauro, the workshop gave our experts an in-depth insight into the design and manufacture of rubber-metal parts.
These components, from sleeper pads and rubber springs to door seals, are important for improving comfort and sustainability in railway systems. We are grateful for sharing knowledge and experiences at the event. It shows how much we value expertise and reliability at PROSE.
This workshop is just one of many steps we are taking together to promote railway technology and ensure a more comfortable and sustainable future in mobility.
At PROSE, we believe that building strong, collaborative teams is key to delivering great value to our customers. Our teamwork ensures that we bring the best of our collective skills to every project, improving the quality and reliability of our solutions.
In November, we showed our dedication to innovation in railway technology during our two-day event, Engineering Day. Our teams focused on important topics that are fundamental to improving project outcomes and customer satisfaction.
Key Topics Covered:
Basic signalling: Discussed the importance of signalling for safety and efficiency in railway operations.
Alternative drive systems: Highlighted progress towards sustainable solutions and their impact on future rail vehicles.
Vehicle Authorisation – Maintenance vs. Modification: Covered key points for navigating regulatory frameworks in vehicle engineering.
ETCS Onboard Units: Looked at the latest advancements in ETCS technology and its role in improving rail transport safety and efficiency.
By fostering a collaborative environment, we ensure that each team member contributes to and benefits from the collective knowledge and skills. This approach not only improves our internal capabilities but also translates into better service and innovative solutions for our customers, we call it the “prose.one-approach”.
Join us on this journey as we continue shaping tomorrow’s mobility https://prose.one/
Customer: BLS Netz AG, Dr. Florian Kappler, Switzerland
Project tasks
Program Management
Project Planning
Coordination among all Swiss ATO projects
Leading the marketing team to develop and maintain the ATO website
Quarterly reporting to the steering board (railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and industry)
Coordination with stakeholders, such as the national authority BAV, as well as the industry
Supporting specific ATO projects with technical-, operational- and business advisory
Our Approach
In May 2022, the Federal Office of Transport called on the rail sector to align and better coordinate future ATO activities within the Swiss rail sector.
PROSE was commissioned to manage the programme for all Swiss ATO projects. In close cooperation with the ATO core team, PROSE established regular monthly exchanges and jointly identified and developed central cross-cutting topics.
In addition, PROSE also led the communication team and worked with this team to develop and maintain the ATO industry website (https://voev.ch/ato). Furthermore, PROSE initiated an ATO-related conference day that invited and actively involved the industry in ATO developments.
Customer benefit
With PROSE as a partner, the customer benefits from comprehensive expertise in the areas of on-board signalling, ETCS and ATO, both on the line and on the vehicle side. An entrepreneurial approach, in-depth technical knowledge and market knowledge are essential for a successful programme design in the first year.
The customer does not need to develop its own project-specific management resources, as PROSE, as an independent consultant, coordinates the related interests of all project managers.
Last week, we had the opportunity to share our expertise at the IHRUS conference. PROSE employee Tobias Hoppe shed light on the complex interplay between existing depots and new fleet orders and showed how innovative approaches can create solutions.
Here are the three most important take-home messages from his presentation:
Mastering challenges: Flexibility and innovative adaptations are the key to making old workshops fit for new requirements.
Involve employees: On-site knowledge and precise simulations lay the foundation for successful planning.
Shaping the future: Automation and flexibility ensure efficient and sustainable workshop concepts for tomorrow.
Many thanks to all participants for the inspiring exchange! Together we are shaping the future of railway technology.
Get in touch with us to find out how our expertise can help you in shaping tomorrow’s railway maintenance: https://prose.one/contact/
Thanks to our extensive experience in production, acceptance, commissioning and maintenance, PROSE was commissioned as an expert for the new electric multiple units (EMU) on the MoselLux network by the Rhineland-Palatinate North Rail Transport Association (SPNV-Nord) and the Saarland Ministry of the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.
In this multi-year contract, we are supporting the 19 Flirt EMUs ordered and ensuring that all requirements are implemented correctly. We are particularly proud of the task entrusted to us, in which we support the reuse guarantee of the regional rail transport contract and promote sustainable mobility in the region.
Find out more about our projects and services on our website and contact us if you have any questions about consulting or cooperation: https://prose.one/contact/
With the LEILA Light bogie, developed in collaboration between JOSEF MEYER Rail and PROSE, we are setting new standards in rail freight transport. The joint venture stands for efficiency, sustainability and technical excellence: LEILA Light reduces noise and minimises wear and tear on the rail infrastructure, resulting in significant cost advantages and increased speed.
But such innovations require more than just technology. Cooperation and targeted use of resources are crucial to overcoming challenges such as the asymmetrical distribution of the costs of technologies and jointly paving the way for the future.
Next week, the specialist conference on locomotive maintenance will take place in Siegburg – a central industry meeting point for manufacturers, system providers, rental companies, railway operators and workshops. The main topic this time is ‘Digitalisation – but the right way!’. The focus is on how digital technologies can be meaningfully integrated into maintenance processes in order to increase efficiency and safety.
PROSE is proud to be actively involved – among other things with a presentation by Dr Bernhard Frei, Director Corporate Development at PROSE. He will talk about successful ECM approaches for historic vehicles.
PROSE is pleased to participate in this event, where practical best practice examples will be shared and solutions for collaboration will be developed. With a structured exchange of experiences and topics such as bar camp sessions, the conference promotes networking and provides valuable insights into the future direction of the industry.
Since the end of last year, PROSE, IFTEC GmbH & Co. KG and ICS – Informatik Consulting Systemshave joined forces under the name DIE RETROFITTER to offer modular or comprehensive modernisation solutions for light rail vehicles and trams.
With our combined expertise, we can cover both software and hardware aspects of modernisation, from concept development to approval management. With our expertise in engineering, consulting, materials and workshop services, we support projects every step of the way – from vision to reality.
On our new joint website www.retrofitter.eu you will find details of our approach, our services and our modernisation focus areas.
And for those who visited us at InnoTrans, we hope you enjoyed our exclusive giveaways, posters and one-pager insights. Feel free to contact us with any questions or ideas for collaboration!
PROSE is excited to collaborate with Svenska kraftnät on an important pre-study to investigate the necessity of a specialised railway car for transporting extraordinarily heavy materials like power transformers and reactors. This initiative is vital as Sweden’s aging national grid requires upgrades and renewals to meet future demands.
The study will assess logistical requirements, explore potential solutions, and deliver a comprehensive report on the best way to transport these essential components via rail.
We are proud to support Svenska kraftnät in ensuring the reliability and sustainability of Sweden’s power transmission infrastructure for years to come.
This year’s BahnVerstand GCU practice conference focussed on the future of the GCU (General Contract of Use for Wagons) and the urgent need for rail transport companies to prepare for the upcoming changes.
PROSE-employee Dr Bernhard Frei was present and reported on how PROSE is increasingly advising rail transport companies on organisational development in connection with GCU tasks. The GCU landscape is changing and many rail transport companies are not prepared for the upcoming changes.
In a recent interview, Dr Bernhard Frei explained that while PROSE has its roots in rolling stock engineering, it has evolved to support clients in broader areas such as ECM and SMS (Safety Management Systems), helping rail companies navigate the complex relationships between keepers, operators and organisational change.
Will the sector be prepared for the changes to the GCU by 2026? Dr Bernhard Frei is optimistic that a workable compromise will be found, but companies must prepare for the changes in good time.
Creating a CAD model of the carbody from a set of drawings
Creation of an FE model of the carbody
Strength assessment of the condition without corrosion
Consideration of corrosion damage in the calculation model
Analysis and determination of minimum wall thicknesses
Specification of measures for corrosion repair
Preparation of drawings to document the repair solution
Our Approach
Corrosion damage to the lower structure of the carbody was discovered during the planning of conversion measures on dining carriages. The wagons are welded steel constructions from 1990 and due to the advanced age of the vehicles, the operator did not have any CAD models or strength documents. PROSE was commissioned to assess the utilisation of the carbody in terms of strength. First in their original, corrosion-free state and then considering the identified corrosion damage. Additionally, we were asked to develop solutions to prolong the service life of the vehicles.
In a first step, a CAD model was created from the set of drawings. This model then served as the basis for creating the Finite Element (FE) model, which embodies the target condition of the carbody structure. A subsequent strength analysis then showed how many theoretical reserves the structure still had.
In the next step, the FE model was updated to include corroded areas, and the calculations were repeated. In this way, the effect of corrosion on the structural strength of the carbody could be determined and evaluated.
Using an iterative approach, a maximum corrosion depth could be determined for the damaged areas. For areas where it was foreseeable that the corrosion would penetrate too deeply, repair solutions were also developed, which included welding in new profiles, and their strength was verified.
Customer benefit
Thanks to PROSE’s work, the customer now has access to a CAD model of the carbody. The strength analysis has enabled the determination of minimum wall thicknesses for vehicle areas typically affected by corrosion, which the customer can use to evaluate the extent of corrosion damage. For areas where corrosion has penetrated too deeply, the customer now possesses localised repair solutions. This can significantly extend the service life of the vehicles.
From 11 to 13 September, PROSE-employees Josef Kometer and Dr. Felix Saur took part in the Oberbremsrätekonferenz in Bad Ischl and gave the opening lecture on the exciting topic of ‘Self-excitation through wheel-rail contact and its influence on braking’. The audience showed great interest and an intensive dialogue developed during the course of the conference.
In addition to PROSE, companies such as Knorr-Bremse, ÖBB-Cargo, Stadler and Alstom also contributed to the success of the event with interesting presentations. A special highlight was the gala dinner, at which four new „Oberbremsräte“ were appointed in the stables of the Kaiservilla.
We are delighted with the valuable discussions and the intensive dialogue within the industry!
