Rail & Road Technology from Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik Convinces Customers from The Hague to Taipeh

Two under floor lifting systems for new depot stations of HTM in The Hague Public Railway Authorities in Algeria puts three track-driven mobile lifting jack systems into operation Department of Rapid Transit Systems in Taipeh, Taiwan, orders six under floor lifting systems Friedberg, 28 June 2007 - To work efficiently and to reduce inspection time for vehicles in depot stations: For their maintenance and repair facilities public transportation services from all over the world count on the reliable lifting systems from the German Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Derching/Friedberg. Also the latest customers – the Dutch public transportation service HTM in The Hague, the Public Railway Authorities in Algeria, as well as the Department of Rapid Transit Systems in Taipeh, Taiwan – have put special emphasize on the outstanding quality and user friendliness of the systems. They allow for a smooth workshop flow, so underground vehicles and busses can return fast to the “racetrack.“ And also the customer-oriented development of the systems, the competent on-site installation and the comprehensive after-sales-services from Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik tipped the scale when these companies, which are spread all over the globe, placed their orders. HTM in The Hague asked Pfaff-silberblau to equip its new maintenance and repair facility for trams with the most modern under floor lifting systems. The custom-made system includes two in-floor lifting systems, each consisting of four platforms and 12 moveable 10-ton-capacity lifting jacks. The system can be quickly adapted to the different vehicle types. Different vehicle lengths may be lifted at any given time for maintenance works and the bogies may be changed out efficiently with the help of in-floor supports. The in-floor supports are moveable sideways and are equipped with adjustable load arms. The lifting jacks are also unique and efficient because they are designed to be used in conjunction with a mobile wheel lathe. Furthermore, to provide shop workers adequate lighting while performing work underneath the vehicles Pfaff-silberblau has built a lighting system into each of the lift beams for more convenience and safety. The Public Railway Authorities in Algeria has ordered three track-driven mobile lifting jack systems from Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik for their depot stations in Mécharia and Béchar. The three systems each consist of four jacks with individual capacities of 20 tons, 25 tons, and 35 tons and a lifting height which extends to 2,000 mm. With this capability, the largest system of four jacks can lift 140 tons two meters high off the ground. The inspection and testing of the system was performed at Pfaff-silberblau’s factory in Derching for the customer TSO, France, and the end-user. The jacks were demonstrated as to how they function, as well as how well they perform on the test stand under the safe working load and under a 50 percent static overload. The final commissioning of the jacks is scheduled to take place in the middle of this year. Another huge contract leads Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik to Far East: A few months ago the company shipped four under floor lifting systems, with the equipment weighing over 300 tons to Taiwan. Customer is the Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS) in Taipeh in whose workshops the systems will be installed soon. This had been the first of two deliveries, all in all Pfaff-silberblau will be delivering and installing six under floor lifting systems which will be capable of synchronously lifting and further supporting three coupled metro trains with a capacity of 150 tons as well as 34 turntables, which are either manually or electrically operated, as well as six bogie lifting systems. The completion of the entire project is scheduled for 2009.

About Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, which is based in Derching/Friedberg, Germany, is a subsidiary of the Pfaff-silberblau Group. This group of companies – established in 1867 – currently has approximately 325 employees and a group turnover in excess of 61 million euros (2006 fiscal year). The company is a leader in the fields of hoisting machinery and materials handling equipment, actuator technology/worm-gear screw jacks, and road & rail technology. In 1970, Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik installed its first underfloor lifting system in Nuremberg, and in 1983, the company began producing lifting jacks. Its HD series of lifting jacks was recognized in 1996 with “Best of Branch” award for form and functionality by the “Industrieforum Design” of Hannover. Pfaff-silberblau’s underfloor lifting systems are used around the world for servicing railway vehicles, including such locations as Toronto/Canada, New Delhi/India, Bangkok/Thailand, Madrid/Spain and Vienna/Austria. In 2004, Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik became a separate “GmbH & Co. KG” company (a form of limited commercial partnership in Germany). Besides components for road & rail engineering, the company primarily offers complete planning & design, installation and maintenance of turn-key lifting systems for rail vehicles.