Railway
The railway sector demands technological solutions to ensure safety, reliability and efficiency of systems throughout their entire lifespan, from design to operation. Our capacities include the modelling and simulation of components and processes, the development of digital twins for predictive maintenance purposes and the application of artificial intelligence to optimise steering and energy management. We integrate technologies such as L-DED in order to repair track, lasers for functional texturing, and our expertise in power electronics with a view to enhancing performance of materials and systems, and use specific monitoring, localisation and cybersecurity solutions for transport environments.
Capacities
Steel forming
We research into new ranges of stainless steels with high added value and properties that meet the demands of the railway environment. We develop solutions to improve the quality of the end product and enable faults to be minimalised in key processes such as laminating and forging of structural and rolling components, using modelling, simulation and optimisation tools.
Further informationDesign and mechanical behaviour
We design and analyse critical railway components such as bogies, axles and structures that are subject to severe dynamic demands. Our mechanical behaviour models enable the reliability of materials and systems to be accurately assessed by taking phenomena such as fatigue, vibrations and tribology into account, with a view to maximising safety and the lifespan of equipment.
Further informationAdditive manufacturing and powder metallurgy
We apply additive manufacturing technologies such as Laser Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED) with a view to repairing railway parts with complex geometry (wheels and tracks, among others). These solutions enable the lifespan of components to be prolonged, inactivity times reduced and for the supply chain to be provided with flexibility.
Further informationPrecision laser manufacturing
We develop applications for functional texturing, surface treatment of metal components and processing of materials such as glass and technical plastics, using ultrashort pulse laser techniques. These technologies enable tribological and decorative performance of both the train’s internal and external components to be improved.
Further informationSmart factory
We boost the digital transformation of railway manufacturing plants via technologies such as collaborative robotics, monitoring of processes in real time, operator assistance and smart quality control. We integrate localisation systems, industrial cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital twins with a view to making advances towards more secure, efficient and adaptive production environments.
Further informationWaste
We develop technologies for the recovery and valuation of inorganic waste generated during the course of manufacturing processes and railway maintenance. These solutions help to reduce the sector’s environmental impact in line with circular economy objectives.
Further informationVehicle dynamics and infrastructure
We have a proven track record in modelling, simulation and testing in railway dynamics, involving analysis of vehicles’ interaction with infrastructure. Our solutions include safety in view of derailing, comfort and track quality in accordance with regulations, field monitoring, laboratory characterisation tests, wheel-rail contact studies, efficient steering algorithms and tools for predictive maintenance and calculation of lifespan cost.
Further informationElectrification of transport
We design electric motors and high-efficiency power converters for railway traction systems. These solutions enable energy performance to be enhanced, emissions reduced and maintenance of electric or hybrid fleets facilitated, thus meeting the challenges faced by railway transport.
Further informationDigitalisation of transport
We develop key digital systems for the railway transport of the future. Among these are advanced signalling technologies, cybersecurity systems for critical infrastructures, digital twins that simulate and optimise the train’s behaviour and infrastructure, artificial intelligence for traffic prediction and energy consumption, and monitoring and on-board localisation systems for predictive maintenance purposes and efficient operation.
Further information