Without a power socket: Maintenance 2.0 at Alstom

"With a volume of around 1,500 tank and bulk freight wagons per year, it was imperative to find a solution so that we could work on all three maintenance tracks in our hall at the same time. Thanks to the new roof work stand from Günzburg, this is now possible, even wirelessly. We are really proud of our innovation," says Bruno Hartmann, Industrial Manager at Alstom Transport Deutschland GmbH.

In contrast to the two outer tracks, it was previously not possible to carry out extensive maintenance work on tank wagons on the middle track, as no safety rails were fitted there. "Securing on the roof side was ruled out as a solution because otherwise we would no longer be able to use our indoor crane without restrictions. The working platform from Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik is the ideal solution for us. We can move it along the entire length of the track without power cables, and our maintenance staff enjoy a whole new level of freedom in their work. They can work without safety harnesses and even put the tools down next to them," says Hartmann.

Up to three men can now work simultaneously on the working platform from Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik, which offers them maximum working safety. The working platforms on both sides can be steplessly moved electrically in height and their width can be varied via several manual extensions so that they can always be docked directly onto the outer skin of the tank wagon. Completely independent of the shape of the wagon. "We can really cover everything from the smallest tank wagon to the largest bulk goods wagon. Thanks to the height traverse and the extensions, we can freely reach any known profile," explains the Alstom maintenance professional. A special feature: since the five extensions in the middle are only 200 mm wide, superstructures on tank wagons such as stairs or railings can be precisely left out when docking the working platform. In total, the working area can be extended by 50 % with the help of the extensions.

For Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik, the Alstom platform is the first maintenance platform in cordless battery operation. "We are pleased to be entering the age of maintenance 2.0 together with our customer, because of course other working platforms can also be equipped with this form of electric mobility. This offers maximum flexibility and independence from the previous power grid," says Ferdinand Munk, Managing Director of Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik. Thanks to the high-performance battery pack of the top innovation from Günzburg, the Alstom service team in Salzgitter receives full working power completely detached from the nearest power socket and is thus more flexible than ever before. In battery operation, the platform can be used along the entire maintenance track, i.e. over a length of 120 m.

The access technology manufacturer from Bavaria is known for its innovative ideas and has already been awarded the title "Bavaria's Best 50" by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology. The access equipment specialists have now shown just how innovative they are in the development of the Alstom work platform: so that the platform can be moved and operated by one person, it has been equipped with camera monitoring, several monitors, laser scanners and auto-stop.

Not only the employees of the wagon repair service department at Alstom in Salzgitter, but also the customers and external service providers such as the inspectors from Dekra and TÜV are pleased with the high level of safety and the comfortable work during maintenance and inspection. At Alstom Transport Deutschland GmbH, the wagon repair service team takes care of the complete maintenance, inspection and repair of up to 4,000 wagons a year. Just under 50 % of the work is accounted for by the inspection and repair of tank and bulk freight wagons. Interior inspections are just as much a part of the job as the replacement of seals, dome covers or pressure gauges, as well as the installation of running platforms or grids on the side or top of the wagons.