Plasser Diagnostics is a new brand within the Plasser & Theurer Group. What does this brand stand for in the market?

Stefan Damm (SD): These days, our customers no longer expect individual measuring systems, but integrated diagnostic solutions. That is precisely why we are bringing our expertise together under a single brand and establishing a central point of contact for diagnostics. In view of increasing network utilization, tighter maintenance windows, and increasing demands on network availability, infrastructure managers need one thing above all else: a reliable basis for decision making. Plasser Diagnostics provides exactly that.

How does Plasser Diagnostics complement the Plasser & Theurer Group?

SD: Plasser Diagnostics is an integral part of the Plasser & Theurer Group. Plasser & Theurer develops and manufactures machines, while Plasser Diagnostics supplies the required measuring and testing technology, and also acts as the point of contact for infrastructure managers and railway construction companies who require individual measuring systems, complete inspection vehicles, or services. This allows us to bring complete track diagnostics together under one roof.

Which solutions best illustrate what Plasser Diagnostics stands for?

SD: Three examples demonstrate our approach. Track geometry and track position measuring not only show how the track is aligned, but also where it is located. At speeds ranging from 0 to over 300 km/h, our systems deliver highly accurate measuring results during regular railway operations, during transfer travel, or when the yellow fleet is in working mode. This enables us to establish a reliable basis for maintenance actions and to document the current condition of the track every time the vehicles move. We provide maintenance staff with specific guidance on how and where the track position or rail profile should be adjusted during tamping, grinding, or milling. Following track relaying or renewal, checks are carried out to ensure that the track has been laid in accordance with the plans and standards.

Condition data is continuously generated during ongoing operations or maintenance, without the need for any additional track closures. Changes are documented over time, signs of wear are identified at an early stage, and reliable forecasts are produced for predictive maintenance.

A second key area is turnout measurement. We record the turnouts exactly in the same condition they will be in when a scheduled train passes over them: under load and under dynamic conditions. Infrastructure managers are provided with a realistic turnout geometry and can assess maintenance requirements in a more targeted manner.

Another example is Plasser RailEcho, our ultrasonic technology, which has been used by Plasser American for testing services in North America for many years. We are now supplying them to Europe and Asia as complete systems. This lays the foundations for early defect detection and, in combination with our automated optical defect detection system, enhances the safety of the infrastructure.

How is the data collected used to inform maintenance decisions?

SD: Added value is created when data is turned into decisions. Our customers want to know which defects have safety implications and where maintenance can specifically extend the service life of their assets. That is why we consolidate information from various systems to provide an overview of the infrastructure’s current condition and create a sound basis for decision making. At the same time, individual values from measuring or testing remain accessible to railway experts.

What does this approach mean in day-to-day operations?

SD: We support our customers throughout the entire maintenance process, from pre-measuring through to working, acceptance, and subsequent periodic condition monitoring. The results are not merely measured values, but a sound basis for decision making regarding the planning, implementation, and verification of maintenance actions.

Within our Group, we are making collaboration easier: in future, there will be a single point of contact for products, services, and after-sales support. Our customers now benefit from even greater support thanks to the Plasser Group’s global service and sales network. You know who your local Plasser contact is, including for Plasser Diagnostics.

What are the technological drivers of innovation in track diagnostics?

SD: Extensive pre-processing of measuring and image data at the chip level is a key component in the real-time assessment of infrastructure. Thanks to the high computing power available directly on the vehicle, our detection algorithms enable analysis to take place while the vehicle is travelling: AI is already a tried-and-tested reality in this context and enables rapid decisions to be made regarding spontaneous repairs or scheduled maintenance.

Where will Plasser Diagnostics be in a few years’ time?

SD: We want to establish Plasser Diagnostics as the leading provider of modern track diagnostics. Our aim is to enable infrastructure managers to make decisions more quickly, on a more informed basis, and with greater foresight. Every Plasser & Theurer track maintenance machine can act as a data source, equipped with a wide range of track diagnostics systems. That is precisely why we are constantly developing Plasser Diagnostics further.