Mitsubishi Electric Exhibits Latest Rail Technology at InnoTrans 2016
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. is exhibiting a range of railway technologies at InnoTrans 2016, the world’s largest biennial international trade fair for transport technology, taking place at the Messe Berlin exhibition complex in Berlin, Germany from September 20 to 23. The Mitsubishi Electric booth (No. 100-06) will be located in Hall 7.2a.
The company will showcase advanced solutions for regenerative energy usage, energy conservation, rolling stock system integration, safety, life cycle cost reduction and maintenance.
Tetsuya Takahashi, head of the Transportation Systems business at Mitsubishi Electric Europe, said, “Exhibiting at InnoTrans for the seventh time running shows our commitment to Europe, which is a key market for us. Europe has the largest demand for rail equipment worldwide and our aim is to further increase our work with national and commercial car-builders, train operators and other local customers in the region.”
He continued, “We are really excited about the range of cutting edge technology we are bringing to InnoTrans this year and believe our world leading technology and track record will be a draw to the delegates. Mitsubishi Electric is the only manufacturer capable of providing a comprehensive product portfolio from propulsion and braking to control management equipment and we have a strong track record of deliveries for approximately 45,000 railcars outside Japan.”
Innovative Technology for Sustainable European Railways
Traction Inverters
With 40 percent energy savings in power consumption compared to previous systems the all-silicon carbide (SiC) power module fitted traction inverter is contributing to reduced-carbon transportation. Mitsubishi Electric was the world’s first company to employ large capacity All-SiC power modules in inverters used in railcar systems to provide an energy-efficient, low-maintenance and low-noise design, which is expected to play a major role in next-generation railcar propulsion systems. Mitsubishi Electric has been field testing and proving these technologies extensively on Japanese railway systems.
Station Energy Saving Inverter(S-EIV)
Among the solutions exhibited at Inno Trans will be the SiC power module equipped with Station Energy Saving Inverter (S-EIV®), which delivers surplus energy from regenerative train brakes to provide a direct and sustainable power supply for a train station`s lighting, air conditioning, elevators, signage systems and more. The S-EIV® has worked successfully in Japan, as a new way of regenerative energy utilization, and will now be showcased at InnoTrans for the European markets.
Traction Transformers
The company will also exhibit its lineup of traction transformers. With the utilization of its unique technology, the company has been successfully supplying blower-less natural air cooling type transformers to various customers, which are now contributing greatly to energy savings as well as noise reduction. The company is targeting sales of approximately US$ 174 million for its traction transformers in the European market by the fiscal year ending March 2021.
Mitsubishi Mobile Monitoring System for Diagnosis (MMSD)
Another highlight is the “Mitsubishi Mobile Monitoring System for Diagnosis” (MMSD™), a measurement vehicle equipped with GPS, inertial measuring units (IMUs) and laser scanners, which provide high-accuracy sophisticated 3D infrastructure data and maps while the vehicle is running on railway tracks. With the 3D data and highly accurate rail positioning data, the MMSD™ can provide detailed analysis of infrastructure, such as gauge clearances, beacon distances, and tunnel wall profiles, to contribute to more efficient railway infrastructure maintenance.
Railcar air conditioning systems (HVAC)
Mitsubishi Electric will also showcase its highly reliable railcar air conditioning systems of which the company has an extensive track record. The company is not only the dominant supplier of air conditioning systems in the Japanese domestic market, but has also been supplying these systems to various European countries including the UK, Germany, Italy and Sweden.
Eye on Europe
Mitsubishi Electric continues to win contracts in Europe, including an order in 2014 from Deutsche Bahn AG of Germany for traction systems to modernize Intercity Express 2 trains worth about $28 million.
In addition, the company won an order for traction systems worth $29 million by Dutch Railways (NS) in the Netherlands and also for traction converters for high-speed trains in Norway. In the field of air conditioning systems, the company most recently won an order to deliver 332 Railcar air conditioning systems for Siemens Desiro High Capacity Trains scheduled to operate on the new Rhein-Ruhr Express network in Germany worth approximately $15 million.
In April 2014, Mitsubishi Electric established a new division for its Transportation Systems business at Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., a sales subsidiary, to strengthen local sales and after sales in Europe. At the same time, it also launched Mitsubishi Electric Klimat Transportation Systems S.p.A. in Italy, after having acquired Klimat Fer S.p.A., to strengthen production and after sales of railcar air-conditioning systems. This gave the company a 70 percent share of production in the Italian market and is expected to help increase overall European sales. In 2016 Mitsubishi Electric also acquired a 49-percent stake in MEDCOM Sp. Z o.o., a railway vehicle electrical equipment manufacturer based in Poland.
Mitsubishi Electric’s global revenue target for the transportation business until the year 2021 is 320 billion yen and the company expects to continue to expand its transportation business in Europe.