When ICE and S-Bahn cars roll into the workshop for modernization or inspection, every meter counts in the shunting process. Precise procedures, short cycle times, and maximum flexibility are crucial for efficiently moving rail vehicles through the individual processing stations. SG Ammendorf, based in the BWA industrial park in Halle an der Saale, relies on state-of-the-art shunting and workshop technology from Vollert Heavy Duty Solutions for this purpose.
The focus is on a new 24-meter-wide travelling platform that Vollert installed for the lateral transport of railcars and locomotives in the maintenance workshop. With a load capacity of 70 tons and a dead weight of 65 tons, the system is among the heavyweights of its kind. The platform connects more than 50 connecting tracks, enabling highly flexible distribution of rail vehicles within the workshop.
Sustainable loading processes
At SG Ammendorf, ICE and S-Bahn cars, among others, undergo comprehensive modernization and general overhauls. During this process, the vehicles are largely disassembled, technically overhauled, and renovated. The demands on internal logistics and the precise positioning of the vehicles in the individual work areas are correspondingly high. The new travelling platform ensures significantly more efficient workshop processes. Waggons or locomotives can be moved semi-automatically to the respective connecting tracks. Hydraulic flap bridges ensure a safe, ground-level transition between the shuttle car and the track. Separately controllable hydraulic track brakes additionally and reliably secure the vehicles against unintended rolling away.
A particular technical challenge was integrating the new system into the existing infrastructure. To this end, the shuttle car is semi-automatically coupled to the existing tandem table, allowing both systems to be moved in sync. This creates a continuous and efficient flow of materials within the workshop areas.
Minimizing noise and CO₂ emissions
For shunting rail vehicles across the entire plant site, SG Ammendorf also relies on a VLEX 40 road-rail vehicle from Vollert. The compact shunting vehicle handles the precise movement of waggons and locomotives with a pulling force of up to 600 tons - both on rail and on road. This allows vehicles to be flexibly transported between different workshop areas and precisely positioned on the shuttle car. The VLEX 40 also handles the loading and unloading of vehicles onto the travelling platform. The combination of a high-performance rail-road vehicle and a semi-automated platform creates optimal conditions for economical and safe workshop operations.
Efficient intralogistics is becoming increasingly important, particularly in complex modernization and maintenance projects in rail transport. Workshop space must be utilized optimally, shunting routes minimized, and processes designed to be as flexible as possible. The new solution from Vollert enables SG Ammendorf to expand its workshop capacities in a targeted manner while significantly accelerating processes. With the new shunting and workshop solution, the company is also making a consistent investment in future-proof maintenance processes for rail vehicles. The combination of a heavy-duty travelling platform and a flexible two-way shunting vehicle ensures maximum mobility on road and rail and creates ideal conditions for efficient modernization and maintenance work on the vehicles of tomorrow.
