Actren and Renfe World Reference in Condition-Based Maintenance

Actren Mantenimiento Ferroviario (Actren) and Renfe have commissioned NEM Solutions to further their current excellency in rolling stock operations and maintenance. With this signed collaborative agreement, Renfe’s Alvia fleet comprising of the train series S120, S120-050 and S121 will boast some of the most advanced  Condition- Based Maintenance (CBM) technology thanks to the upgrade that NEM Solutions is providing with its new 'A.U.R.A' features. Each of  the  56  variable-gauge high-speed trains will be fitted with a NEM Solutions Onboard Eye (NOE) system to manage and diagnose all information coming from the communications bus and to further enrich the intelligence that A.U.R.A already provides for this fleet.

Actren’s commitment to continuous improvement started with  the  firms  creation in 2007 and an initial project between Actren and NEM Solutions provided the Alvia fleet with the first real-time predictive system in the world for bearing condition of high- speed variable-gauge trains.

Actren currently manages its different fleets using A.U.R.A desk, an innovative system considered to be the first of its kind for rolling stock maintenance management which provides a platform for decision-making processes whilst reducing uncertainty and increasing availability for passengers of Renfe fleets maintained by Actren.

Actren’s roadmap which began in 2007 has taken the following journey, embarking on yet another new initiative in 2016:

• 2007-2008: First CBM project for bearings of high-speed variable-gauge trains using A.U.R.A diagnostic.
• 2008-2009: Centralisation of monitoring information coming from wheels, brake discs and lathe in A.U.R.A wheel to diagnose asset condition and predict the remaining life and future wear tendencies of wheels.
• 2010-2011: Real-time monitoring of gearboxes  to  monitor  and  manage  their  health status with both onboard critical variable monitoring and  periodic extraction  and analysis of oil samples managed by through A.U.R.A diagnostic lubrication module.
• 2012-2013: On-board alarm management (A.U.R.A diagnostic alarm module)  with frequent and regular connection to  trains  to  anticipate  and  manage maintenance needs before train arrival at depot.
• 2014-2015: Implementation of A.U.R.A desk as a single focal point for maintenance and business management, centralizing all information when required to take best- informed decisions. The user is provided with a unique workstation with latest user- friendly technology and innovative interface.
• 2016: Installation and commissioning of NOEs to expand onboard ability to deploy a full CBM program for doors, traction units,  air  conditioning,  and  other  key  assets thanks to A.U.R.A diagnostic and its patented intelligent algorithms of normality behaviour modelling.

Actren's Managing Director, José Alcaide, said “Our challenge is to offer up our company to new technologies in order to be a reference in the railway industry. We want to offer our team the best tools and services in order to improve our service and the corresponding influence on Renfe’s passengers. Thanks to A.U.R.A and the team at NEM Solutions we can predict the health status of our fleets, thus understanding future needs and identifying possible failures before they occur. This is something vital for our business and our future competitiveness”.

Alberto Conde Mellado, founder and CEO of NEM Solutions said that “Actren trusted NEM Solutions from the beginning, and today they have become one of the most advanced operations and maintenance companies in the world. Their way of understanding CBM and how they adopt our A.U.R.A platform allows us to improve our services day by day. I have only good words for Actren and Renfe's team and we thank them their trust in NEM Solutions and A.U.R.A”.

Joaquín Lizcano, customer and assets management director for Renfe Fabricación y Mantenimiento S.A. concludes that “for us it is clear that every new step ahead coming from Renfe’s investee companies is key for a better service for RENFE’s passengers. Renfe’s high speed is a worldwide reference thanks to this kind of commitment. Proposals like this from our investee companies such as Actren actively focusing on A.U.R.A and CBM allows us to continuously improve”.