New developments for gangway systems featuring innovative concepts and fabrics made of sustainable materials
At the press of a button: HÜBNER AutoCouple System to enable fully automated coupling of gangway systems
Holographic display technology for window systems
A simulator for the tram cockpit of the future
HÜBNER FrontAdd System: Improved energy efficiency at head of the train
SensIQ: Innovations for door safety systems
Ecodesign: Wide range of offerings for upper and lower articulation systems
HÜBNER’s trade fair concept – presented online at www.hubner-group.com/en/innotrans – reflects the key priorities of the HÜBNER Group. “At InnoTrans, we are presenting innovations and solutions that support our customers as they make their vehicles and fleets more efficient, sustainable and comfortable for passengers for the future,” emphasizes Kai Mentel, Managing Director of the HÜBNER Group and responsible for the Mobility Rail division.
Recycled fishing nets for more sustainable gangway systems
Whether for high-speed, regional, metro or tram vehicles – HÜBNER has high sustainability standards for the entire product life cycle. A special focus at InnoTrans will be on gangway systems. In the high-speed sector HÜBNER has been delivering comfort and safety with its gangway solutions for 35 years and continues to set new standards for the industry. “For the first time, we are using materials for fabrics in corrugated bellows featuring fully recycled nylon from fishing nets and sustainable raw materials based on cellulose or viscose,” reports Christopher Sames, Vice President Global Sales Mobility Rail in the HÜBNER Group. “This approach should make it clear what we want to make possible at the present time and what we have planned for the future. We want to make our contribution so that our customers are able to reduce their own ecological footprints in the products and services that they are offering.”
New accents are also being set for the interior look and feel in gangways – with a wide range of appealing colors, innovative design elements and new lighting concepts to enhance passengers’ comfort and sense of security. In addition, HÜBNER has developed a new fairing system especially for the high-speed sector. The new system’s corrugated bellows with rectangular corrugations that lie flush with the vehicle’s profile improves aerodynamics and saves energy during operations.
HÜBNER AutoCouple System: Car coupling at the press of a button
And the HÜBNER Group has further innovations in development. In future, the HÜBNER AutoCouple System will make fully automatic coupling of gangway systems possible in passenger trains. With this pioneering combination of automation and digital control, transit operators will be able to adjust their carrying capacities more quickly and flexibly to meet changing passenger demand, saving time and personnel costs and reducing downtimes. In the future, the system will also enable integrated power and data transmission from car to car.
A look into the future: Holographic displays for window systems
Holographic display technology for window systems – developed in cooperation with ZEISS Microoptics – offers a glimpse into the future. With the holographic technology, up-to-the-minute data such as arrival and departure times or local information on tourist attractions can be displayed in the window panes of trains and buses. Not only does this offer new levels of comfort and convenience to passengers, it also provides advantages for operators. In comparison to conventional display technologies such as OLED systems, the new holographic displays are more economical, require less energy while providing higher image resolution, and also take up less space in public transport vehicles.
Simulator for tram cockpits of the future
Through its subsidiary GERSYS GmbH, the HÜBNER Group is participating in the development of a simulator for the tram cockpit of the future. For the cooperation with IABG (Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH) and the Munich public transport company MVG, GERSYS is supplying driver assistance systems and multifunctional displays. The simulator shows how vehicle personnel will be able to receive additional digital information so as to identify dangerous situations as early as possible. Interested visitors can get an impression of these new developments in digitally supported tram control at the IABG booth in CityCube A / Booth 240.
More sustainable train operation through improved aerodynamics
The HÜBNER Group is also presenting innovations for improved energy efficiency in train operation. The robust HÜBNER FrontAdd System protects vehicle equipment at the front end of the power unit from extreme weather conditions. This minimizes component wear and increases vehicle availability. At the same time, the HÜBNER FrontAdd System improves aerodynamics. Air resistance is reduced by approximately three percent, having a positive effect on energy usage of the vehicle and associated costs.
SensIQ: Innovations for door safety systems
HÜBNER’s SensIQ product family is setting new benchmarks for door safety systems. The new models of the SensIQcontact line provide even more passenger safety thanks to the best fire protection in rail transport. And the safety contact strips are compatible with all standard systems in use in public transport.
HÜBNER is also working on a technical upgrade for the SensIQsignal series. The new SensIQsignal Pro will improve the illumination of door systems in trains, trams and buses. The newly developed lighting elements use different signal colors to reliably inform passengers when doors are opening and closing. The new SensIQ signal Pro variant will provide new, more even illumination in the signaling light strips and also will have an extended product life.
Articulation systems in ecodesign
In addition to these innovations, the HÜBNER Group has also undertaken further diversification in its product portfolio to better meet customer needs. “We are offering customers a wide selection of upper and lower articulation systems whose function and performance are now more flexible and adaptable to individual customer requirements,” explains Christopher Sames. Our modern ecodesign concept is in use here, which allows for the re-use of up to 98 percent of all installed metal parts.
A reliable service partner at customer’s side – also with digital support
The HÜBNER Group offers a broad portfolio of outstanding products and maintains its support as a reliable partner with comprehensive services at the customer’s side – also after delivery. A further HÜBNER advantage: Customers benefit from HÜBNER’s integrated value and supply chain as well as from the extensive network of companies within the Group. Companies present at the HÜBNER InnoTrans booth (Hall 1.2, Booth 120):
HÜBNER (Kassel, Germany)
ATG Autotechnik (Siek, Germany)
GERSYS (Wolfratshausen, Germany)
HEMSCHEIDT Engineering (Feucht, Germany)
Kunststofftechnik Hennigsdorf (Hennigsdorf, Germany)
Plastocell (Schifferstadt, Germany)
Last but not least, the HÜBNER Group is continuing to expand and develop its customer portal HUBLink, so that customers can receive digital support throughout the entire life cycle of our products. HUBLink is designed to enable transit operators to manage the ongoing operation and maintenance of their vehicle fleets as economically and ecologically as possible. The portal’s numerous interactive interfaces with their intuitive handling give transit operators targeted information and services for their different HÜBNER products. HUBLink makes the life cycle costs (LCC) of each product transparent and trackable. Transit operators receive concrete information which systems and components need to be replaced during the course of operation and which should be upgraded during refurbishment.
Experience and innovative strength to shape the mobility of the future
“The HÜBNER Group draws on its many years of experience and its proven innovative strength,” says Kai Mentel, Managing Director of the HÜBNER Group. “As an integrated group of companies, we are strategically positioned to serve a wide range of markets and customer requirements as we develop future-oriented components and customized systems to give worldwide support to our customers in the rail vehicle industry over the entire product life cycle.”
Find out more about the HÜBNER Group’s activities at InnoTrans 2024 online
