Pfaff-silberblau Rail Technology at the Innotrans 2008, Berlin/Germany, Hall 1.2, Stand 134

Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik with revolutionary jacks for the maintenance of rail vehicles

Telescopic load arm reduces space requirement by 50 percent

Kissing and Berlin, 23 September 2008 - At Innotrans 2008, Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Kissing/Germany, will be presenting some true innovation. The new jack, designed by the “rail & road” specialists for use in maintenance workshops of public transport authorities around the world, has an electrically driven telescopic load arm. This revolutionary concept ensures not only great comfort because of its easy operation, but also because it requires less space in the workshop. Originally designed as a special unit for an important Pfaff-silberblau customer in France, this new jack with its telescopic arm will now be produced on a regular basis after now being technically approved for this application. The most “outstanding” thing about the new jack by Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik is the electrically driven telescopic load arm. Especially in restricted areas within the workshop, for example when there are walls or pillars in the way behind the lifting system, this unprecedented design offers up to 50% more freedom of space. The load arm is motorized and can be extended with a range of 750 mm which makes operation considerably easier at any height, especially in the upper positions. For precise mounting of new bogies the entire car-body can be aligned by ± 40 mm under load at any height by means of an electrically driven adjustment system. Henceforth, bogies can be quickly replaced with great ease. All movements of the Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik jack are motor-driven. The operator can thus lift and move the load, and also adjust the telescopic load arm, conveniently and quickly. The configuration of the lifting jacks is very variable. The French customer, for example, has a total of 16 jacks installed – 12 for a load of 18 tonnes, 4 for 25 tonnes – to lift rail vehicles with a total weight of up to 288 tonnes. But the 25 t jacks can be used alone, for instance when a single, heavy locomotive has to be lifted. The lifting height of the new jack is within a range between 0.6 metres and 3.5 metres, or up to 4.7 metres. The lifting speed can be selected as desired between 310 and 630 mm per min, depending on whether quick travel or slow movement for precise positioning of the load is required. An electric travelling gear is provided for easy travel of the jacks along the rail and precise positioning to the lifting points of the car body. This travelling gear can be easily lifted off the floor by means of a hydraulic motor. Before lateral positioning, the column is lifted from the floor via a touch button, and can then be moved parallel to the train. In addition to ergonomic convenience, the engineers at Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik paid close attention to maximum safety when designing the new telescopic-arm jack. The synchronisation of all the installed jacks is continuously monitored and automatically adjusted if there is a deviation of ± 4 mm. For simple, convenient operation, all operating states are shown on a large graphic display. Warning flashers and a horn inform the operator and any other staff present in the maintenance workshop that lifting is in progress. Handheld lamps with holders on all the jacks provide optimal lighting for the work area. Power is supplied to the jacks through a spring cable reel right on the jack. All cables are laid cleanly in rails, and are rolled up automatically. To further prevent cable clutter, there are additional sockets for the power supply of further handheld tools. The scope of delivery also included the auxiliary rail system for jack positioning along the rails.

About Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, which is based in Kissing/Germany, is a subsidiary of the Pfaff-silberblau Group. This group of companies is a leader in the fields of hoisting machinery and materials handling equipment, actuator technology/worm-gear screw jacks, and rail & road technology. The Pfaff-silberblau Group employs over 300 people and is represented worldwide through six national subsidiaries as well as numerous regional representatives. 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. Further information at www.pfaff-silberblau.com.