TRIGO Transforms Rail Quality Control with AI
TRIGO, a global leader in inspection, engineering, and quality consulting services for the transportation industry, will participate in the InnoTrans trade fair, taking place from the 24th- 27th September 2024, in Berlin.
On this occasion, TRIGO will showcase its latest technological innovations, reflecting on its new ambitions. The goal is to support the major transformations in the rail sector, which must tackle challenges related to the modernization of rolling stock and increased production.
Ecological Transition and Rolling Stock Modernization
The rail sector is currently facing significant challenges due to the increasing demand for rail transport and infrastructure modernization. As a central pillar of sustainable transportation in Europe, with the Green Deal, the rail sector aims to increase passenger numbers by 30% across the European continent by 2030. Globally, the rail transport market is expected to reach $561.7 billion by 2026, with an annual growth rate of around 4.7%.
This dynamic market environment is driving industrial production of trainsets, especially since 40% of the European rolling stock fleet is nearing the end of its life or requires a full renovation. The clear consequence: increased production leads to higher demand for quality control of rolling stock to ensure fully secure production.
In this context, TRIGO's rail business has grown by 30% since 2023. The partnership started in 2014 between TRIGO and Alstom, with revenue quadrupling in ten years. International growth has also begun, particularly in the United States and Quebec, with strategic partnerships with Alstom suppliers and a collaboration with AMTRAK, the leading national rail operator in the United States
"The expertise of TRIGO supports us in quality control and production assistance. Their teams' proximity to the main rail retrofit hubs and their experience in multi-country project management are a guarantee of trust for a company like ours, a global leader in sustainable and intelligent mobility," said Benjamin Lagarde, Alstom Supplier Quality Director for the DACH Region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
Complex Quality Controls
The rail industry is unique in that it relies on specific manufacturing processes, such as welding, heat treatment, and painting, which cannot be inspected through visual quality control alone. These processes require non-destructive testing (NDT), essential to ensuring the reliability of key components like wheels, axles, and bogies, thus guaranteeing rail transport safety.
Recognized for its NDT methods, TRIGO offers an extensive range of techniques to meet the needs of different rail industry players, from visual inspection to ultrasonic testing, dye penetrant inspection, and magnetic particle inspection Through NDT and its inspectors certified under EN ISO 9712, TRIGO detects invisible anomalies, such as internal cracks, corrosion, or welding defects, ensuring train safety.
For the past two years, TRIGO has been assisting a major rolling stock manufacturer, overseeing production at several European suppliers with a team of specialized inspectors under EN 15085 standards. This standard requires that welding of rail components undergoes non-destructive testing to verify their quality, applying standards such as ISO 17635 (VT) or EN 1290 (MT).
Supporting Rail Digitalization through Technological Innovation
Train production is facing growing demands for digitalization, where the integration of smart technologies becomes essential to optimizing productivity, ensuring rolling stock maintenance, and adapting to new market requirements. To address this need, TRIGO offers automated quality control solutions based on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalized processes.
At InnoTrans, TRIGO will present the new version of Spark, Spark Max, an automated visual inspection solution using machine learning developed by its subsidiary Scortex. Equipped with multiple cameras and lighting systems, Spark Max can now inspect up to three parts per second, meeting the manufacturing speed requirements of the sector. Spark Max analyzes images captured by its optical cameras to detect defects such as cracks, surface deformations, misalignments, or missing components. The system provides real-time feedback, improving quality control and process efficiency, whilst reducing production costs and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
TRIGO will also introduce the "OTD (On Time Delivery) Predictor," an AI-based database that predicts supply chain failures. Powered by machine learning algorithms, OTD Predictor analyzes data from quality control operations, production schedules, and supplier performance to predict whether a delivery will meet deadlines. OTD Predictor acts as an early warning system, alerting users when there is a high risk of delay, allowing train manufacturers to take corrective actions before delays occur. This innovation helps better manage supplier relationships and negotiate contracts more effectively while reducing costs associated with urgent shipments and production downtime.
Visit the TRIGO team at InnoTrans in Berlin, Hall 6.1 – Booth 310 for live demonstrations of Spark Max and to discover exclusive rail industry technological innovations.
www.trigo-group.com
