Pfaff-silberblau and ALLTEC Antriebstechnik at Motek 2010 (13 - 16 September 2010, Stuttgart), Hall 5, Booth 5428

Pfaff-silberblau Antriebstechnik secures valuable cargo for railway transport of motor vehicles

Custom actuator solution provides greater operating convenience and ideal securing of the payload in the rail car

Kissing, Germany, 13 September 2010 – A large request from the automotive industry for equipping enclosed car carriers has provided Pfaff-silberblau Hebezeugfabrik GmbH of Kissing, Germany, and its subsidiary ALLTEC Antriebstechnik of Heilbronn, Germany, with numerous orders in recent months. This specialist for difficult drive solutions equipped several hundred railway “autoracks” with custom drive technology for electrically raising the upper vehicle ramp. This makes operating the system more convenient and secures the valuable cargo in an ideal manner during transport. By delivering their new vehicles in enclosed transport rail cars, carmakers are able to accomplish several things at once: For one thing, this means of transportation eliminates the need for a protective coat of wax on the car bodies. In the past, such measures were used to protect the body paint, but applying and removing the protective coating results in an unnecessary burden on the environment. Furthermore, enclosed car-transport trains protect vehicles (especially luxury cars) from theft and vandalism – two transportation hazards that have become increasingly problematic in recent years. Pfaff-silberblau and ALLTEC Antriebstechnik designed an actuator system for autoracks. It can be used to raise and lower the upper vehicle ramp by using worm gears with angle gears powered by electric motors. For this purpose, the drive technology specialists adapted their proven worm-gear screw jacks as well as additional standard products from their versatile range of offerings to meet the customer’s requirements. The system included screw-jack gearboxes and jack screws as well as chain drives, angle gears, cardan shafts and couplings – all in custom versions adapted to meet the customer’s stringent requirements. In addition to the use of self-locking screws, this drive solution was equipped with braking capabilities via electric motors. This secures the payload on the upper decks, even when heavy vibrations arise during the ride on rails.

About Pfaff-silberblau The Pfaff-silberblau Group with headquarters in Kissing (near Augsburg), Germany, is part of the Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO). Pfaff-silberblau Hebezeugfabrik GmbH is a technological leader in lifting and materials handling and in drive technology. The Pfaff-silberblau Group, which also includes ALLTEC Antriebstechnik in Heilbronn, Germany, and Pfaff-silberblau Verkehrstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, in Kissing, Germany, has some 300 employees worldwide and is represented internationally by numerous regional agents. Further information about Pfaff-silberblau is available at www.pfaff-silberblau.com.