EKE-Electronics and VR FleetCare to launch cooperation: data-driven predictive maintenance for rail fleet
EKE-Electronics and VR FleetCare have agreed on joint product development for advanced bogie condition monitoring to enable data-driven predictive maintenance. The new analysis and optimisation methods developed as a result of this cooperation will significantly improve rail fleet maintenance.
Bogies are the most significant components of the rail fleet in terms of lifecycle costs and traffic safety. Data-driven maintenance will, in addition to creating significant cost savings for the rail fleet owners, increase safety and enhance the usability of the rolling stock. Trains keep on moving and serving the customers when they are directed to maintenance only when necessary. Furthermore, train traffic will operate more reliably when it is possible to predict rolling stock malfunctions before they cause disruptions in traffic.
“The interest in condition-based and data-driven maintenance is strong in the rail industry. This cooperation with EKE provides us with new ways to carry out bogie condition monitoring and serve our customers. Our aim is to generate savings of approximately 10–15% with this new method,” says Mikko Alanko, Director, Digital Services at VR FleetCare.
A technical solution that is innovative on a global scale
The cooperation is based on VR FleetCare’s technical rail fleet expertise as well as fleet maintenance optimisation and EKE-Electronics’ experience in train automation systems and remote condition monitoring.
EKE’s remote monitoring system and data analytics of the British company Humaware which was acquired by EKE in early 2019 are utilised in this solution. The aim is to develop a system providing data that predicts the maintenance need of bogies by using sensor technology and a smart combination of cloud and edge computing.
Sensors and data transmission systems will be installed in VR Group’s locomotives and electric trains during this year. More extensive results of the development work can be expected next year.
“Both VR and we have great expectations concerning our cooperation. The SmartVision software and sensor technology expertise combined with the analytics of our British subsidiary Humaware will make us forerunners in bogie condition monitoring,” says Karl Lönngren, Director, Digital Services at EKE-Electronics. “Our systems related to remote monitoring of trains are currently being deployed in Australia and on the London Underground. We believe that the cooperation with VR FleetCare will strengthen the position of both parties on the international market.”
Further information:
EKE-Electronics Ltd., Karl Lönngren, Director, Digital Services
karl.lonngren@eke.com
VR Group Communications, media desk, Tel +358 (0)307 0123
Mikko Alanko, Director, Digital Services, VR FleetCare
mikko.alanko@vr.fi
EKE-ELECTRONICS
EKE-Electronics Ltd. is a division of the EKE Group, a privately held Finnish company with diversified international operations. EKE-Electronics Ltd. is a leading global supplier of intelligent train automation and management systems. Based in Finland, the company has operated in the railway business for over 30 years, executing complex projects across the world and currently focusing on Australia, Europe and China.
VR FLEETCARE
A multiple-brand rail fleet service-provider, VR FleetCare is a subsidiary of the Finnish railway operator VR Group. It provides its customers with quality railway traffic equipment repair, maintenance and lifecycle services as well as technical fleet expert services in the Nordic and Baltic countries. With an annual turnover of approximately EUR 200 million, VR FleetCare employs more than 1,000 employees.