Reliable and Rugged Sensor Solutions for Rolling Stock
With over 50 years of experience in the railway industry, we confidently deliver solutions for every critical application, from train control to brake systems.
From innovative wheel-axle encoders to precision pressure and level sensors, all the way to high-speed cameras: Baumer has over 50 years of experience in sensor design for the railway industry. As a family business, customers worldwide trust the know-how of the Baumer Group. Baumer represents partnership, precision, a pioneering spirit, a broad service portfolio, and an international outlook. Our values form an integrity that extends from development to production and through to our contact with customers.
Reliable, State-of-the-Art Sensor Solutions
- Expertise across a wide range of sensor technologies
- Competence in high-volume sensor design and production
- A highly vertically integrated supply chain
Built for Your Application
- A wide product portfolio covers a large number of applications
- Flexible, configurable product setup
- SIL-certified products for safety-critical applications
We Understand the Railway Sector
- Products compliant with the EN 50155 standard
- TSI certification
- Strong customer focus and close collaborations
Train Control
Safe and reliable sensors for speed measurement and odometry.
Brake Systems
Sensors for wheel slide protection (WSP) systems.
Traction
Sensors used in converters, transformers, and traction control.
Sanitary Systems
Level detection in wastewater and freshwater tanks, and in vacuum toilets.
Inspection and Identification
Cameras for catenary, rail, and train inspection systems.
Monitoring and Control
Sensors for a variety of monitoring tasks such as hot box detection and torsional vibration detection.
Reducing maintenance costs, increasing vehicle availability, and detecting critical conditions early are among the most important challenges in rolling stock operation. Condition monitoring plays a key role not only in preventing failures but also in achieving a sustainable reduction in total operating costs. The proven BPIK wheel-axle encoder has now been extended with a condition monitoring function. The multiple use of sensors makes economical and highly efficient condition monitoring possible on the wheelset — for example, to detect flat spots on the wheel.
Condition monitoring (CM) on the wheel and rail can be carried out cost-effectively using axle-mounted sensors and sensor data fusion.
What You Will Learn in the Application Report
- Suitable sensor solutions for condition monitoring
- Sensor data fusion for reliable assessment of wheelset condition
- Practical axle allocation plans for speed measurement and condition monitoring on the wheelset
- Flat spot detection as an application example
- Fusion of speed, acceleration, and temperature data to produce robust condition values
- Simple on-vehicle implementation based on existing sensors, patent-pending technology
BPIK
Multi-unit wheel-axle encoder family
- Individually configurable encoder units to meet specific subsystem requirements
- Proven solution for speed measurement; also acceleration, temperature, and torsional vibration detection
- Superior signal quality and flexibility thanks to rugged magnetic sensing technology
- Smart functions such as rotation detection, digital speed threshold, and stall/cable-break monitoring; sensor data fusion for condition monitoring
- SIL certified
BPIV2
Multi-unit wheel-axle encoder with exchangeable bearing set
- Individually configurable encoder units to meet specific subsystem requirements
- Low lifecycle costs thanks to field-serviceable, exchangeable bearing set
- Easy retrofit without extra effort thanks to a standardized mechanical interface
- Proven solutions for speed, acceleration, temperature, and torsional vibration detection
- SIL certified
Railway-Certified Pressure Sensors
Pressure measurement
- Safety certified through testing to the EN 50155 standard
- Long-term product supply assurance
- In-depth expertise in railway applications
- Pressure measuring ranges from -1...0.25 bar to 0...400 bar
TE2 & TCR6 Temperature Sensors
Compact and standard RTD temperature sensors
- TE2: compact stainless steel housing, -50…250 °C process temperature, fast response time
- TCR6: -50…400 °C process temperature, customer-specific length
- High output accuracy with the FlexTop 2212 transmitter
CleverLevel® Point Level Sensors
Point level sensors
- Medium-independent operation
- Unaffected by sticky or build-up-forming media
- Maintenance-free, with limited process intervention
- Industry 4.0 and IIoT compatible via IO-Link
LX and CX Series Cameras
10 GigE and industrial imaging cameras
- LX: up to 65 MP and 1622 fps, 1.1 GB/s bandwidth, -30 °C to 70 °C operating range
- CX: up to 24 MP and 94 fps, integrated lighting controller, -40 °C to 70 °C operating range
- Rugged industrial-grade M12 connector, optional IP 54/65/67/69K protection ratings
Fire-Certified Cables
- Compliant with the EN 45545-2 fire protection standard
- Suitable for indoor (R15) and outdoor (R16) use, hazard level HL3
- M8 and M12 connectors, open-ended; standard lengths of 1 m, 2 m, and 5 m
Multi-Unit Encoder Concept
The key motivation behind Baumer's unique multi-unit encoder concept was to reduce installation costs. Up to 4 encoder units can be integrated into a single sensor. Each encoder unit is independent, and parameters such as the interface and pulses per revolution (ppr) can be freely and individually configured. This reduces the number of connectors and cables linking the axle to the vehicle body, minimizing the risk of damage from external influences.
picture_as_pdf Multi-Unit Encoder Concept (PDF)Torsional Vibration Detection
BPIK and BPIV speed signals enable precise detection of highly dynamic torsional vibrations, thanks to their unique signal quality, ruggedness, high resolution, and zero backlash. This reduces wear while improving traction, passenger safety, and comfort.
Custom Mechanical Instrumentation for Railway
Bourdon has been providing custom-built solutions for railway applications since 1849. All products are manufactured to the highest quality and safety requirements, backed by our expertise in the railway market and its applications. Bourdon also maintains a worldwide presence for better service.
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Have questions?
Our experts are happy to provide you with more information for your application. Just send us an email.