References – Rail transport technology
Designed for high performance
We have been a spring technology specialist in the rail transport sector for many decades. In 1989, the first Deutsche Bahn ICE was already equipped with GRUEBER springs. Over 180,000 train passengers enjoy the comfort and safety of our spring solutions every day. We develop and manufacture primary and secondary springs for locomotives, passenger coaches, suburban trains, double decker coaches, freight wagons and composite vehicles such as the ICE.
- Ralf Jaenicke
- Head of Sales
- Authorized Agent
- +49 2331 9656 25
- +49 2331 9656 24
- jaenicke@grueber.de
The fascination of mobility
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of steel springs for the railway industry, Grueber, together with the system houses, is developing and testing the next generation of high-performance springs. High speed in the railway industry is no longer wizardry – it is more than ever a part of our everyday lives. Grueber is involved as a high-performance partner to ensure that the highest standards of safety can be ensured here as well. With newly developed sensor technology for steel springs, Grueber with its development partner have initiated the next step towards the intelligent spring. For the first time, measurement data (load conditions exerted on the spring) can be digitally called up during train operation. Thus data from the field can be used in real operation, especially as part of new developments.
Case Studies
High Speed travelling with Angelina Jolie.
The latest generation of the Intercity-Express (ICE) high-speed trains for long-distance passenger traffic. Siemens Mobility was commissioned with the development and construction in 2011. The trains are multiple units for passenger services. Unlike the first two ICE classes, they are driven by several separately driven cars distributed over the length of the train. Deutsche Bahn for the first time displayed a 1:1 model of a part of the ICE-4 end car at the InnoTrans 2012. The design was jointly developed by Deutsche Bahn, Bombardier and Siemens, and won the Red Dot Design award in 2015 as well as the German Design Award in 2016. Due to its front design, the train is internally called “Angelina Jolie”. The very high speeds achieved by the IC trains require highest levels of precision and safety. And we are exactly the right partner to meet these requirements.
SIEMENS Intercity-Express 4
Highly precise suspension at extreme speeds.
GRUEBER primary and secondary compression springs
64 compression spring sets are installed in the bogies of the standard ICE 4 variant
The fast, quiet and safe way to travel through Germany’s Ruhr Valley.
Since the end of 2018, the new RRX from Siemens’ DESIRO HC series has been running every 15 minutes, gliding through the Ruhr Valley between Cologne and Dortmund.
The RRX fleet is based on the Desiro platform, which has already been employed in other commuter trains. The Desiro HC uses tried-and-tested components and systems that have already proven their reliability over millions of operational kilometres.
The interior of the Rhein-Ruhr-Express trains is bright and friendly, with folding tables and reading lights, power sockets and WLAN access throughout the train. The RRX is the world’s first series-produced train to be fitted with a new high-frequency window solution from Siemens that improves mobile reception 500-fold with a special laser technology.
Comprehensive expansion and modification of the rail infrastructure will be required in order to allow the RRX to run at frequent intervals. The federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia invested a total of more than EUR 3.4 billion. The new trains alone cost EUR 800 million. Siemens, which was awarded the contract for the project in 2015, delivered the first 15 trains in winter 2018.
In the future, the total of 82 RRX trains will be maintained in the north of Dortmund, where Siemens has set up a maintenance centre with 75 employees and six tracks on about 70,000 sqm. Maintenance and repair are fully digitalised so that defects are detected by computers at a very early stage. For example, if a door does not run smoothly anymore, this will be noticed by the computers in the Dortmund maintenance centre. As a result, the door can be repaired before it is stuck.
The innovative overall concept of the RRX series also includes the particularly quiet-running and low-vibration bogies. The train accelerates and brakes smoothly and runs extremely quietly thanks to its high-quality bogies equipped with efficient air suspension. Residents living along the railway line and passengers alike benefit from the low-noise operating characteristics of the Desiro HC.
The components, which were produced in a very lightweight form of construction, feature a special newly developed generation of springs. Again, we and our partner SIEMENS are benefiting here from our decades of experience in rail transport technology.
SIEMENS DESIRO HC RRX
Particularly quiet-running, low-vibration and low-resonance bogies for Europe’s most densely populated region.
GRUEBER Compression springs as primary and secondary springs
New generation of springs, especially developed for highest stress on the bogies.
Stronger together
