VibrAcquis® transforms tram bogie maintenance

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Autonomy, speed, and reliability: when vibration diagnostics become an everyday operational tool

Faced with reports of abnormal noises on several tram trains, the network operator needed to improve the reliability and speed of its diagnostics without adding to its maintenance processes. By deploying the turnkey vibration and acoustics multimeter developed by Vibratec, it took a decisive step towards more autonomous and predictive maintenance. This case study shows how this robust and clear industrial stethoscope can support you in your technical decision-making.

Discover how VibrAcquis® is transforming tram bogie maintenance.

Context & Issue

The operator runs one of the largest tram networks in France, with trains running continuously in demanding operating conditions. In this context, critical mechanical components, particularly gearboxes and bogies, are subject to significant stress that can eventually lead to damage.

Several abnormal noises were reported by driving and maintenance teams on different trains, occurring in the following circumstances:

During acceleration,
During braking,
At high speed.

These weak, sometimes intermittent signals raised a key question:

How can a genuinely faulty gearbox be identified quickly and reliably, without unnecessarily immobilizing trains or increasing the number of dismantlings?

It was in this context that Vibratec was approached, with a clear expectation: to provide a diagnostic tool that was easy to use, yet powerful enough to be discriminating.

Challenge

Move from expert diagnosis to an everyday operational tool

Become more independent

The main challenge was not only to carry out a series of measurements, but also to give the teams in the field the means to diagnose common situations themselves.

Reduce decision-making time

Each day a train is out of service has an operational impact. It became essential to quickly determine whether or not vibration behavior was normal.

Avoid unnecessary disassembly

Without an objective diagnosis, doubt often lead to invasive and costly procedures. The goal was to target only those reducers that were truly suspect.

Capitalize on a reliable reference

Comparing a suspect train to a healthy train, measured with the same tool and the same protocol, was an essential prerequisite.

The Game Changer

The VibrAcquis® turnkey vibration measurement kit

Rather than a complex device reserved for experts, Vibratec offered its client a turnkey vibration measurement kit designed for quick and reproducible use in the field. This kit is the heart of the solution and the common thread running through the entire study.

A ready-to-use solution

The kit includes:

A mini PC or rugged tablet,
A dual-channel USB accelerometer acquisition module,
Two ICP accelerometers with large magnetic bases,
Long-distance cables suitable for field use,
Simple and intuitive measurement and visualization software.

Result: in just a few minutes, teams can equip a train and start taking reliable measurements.

See the product sheet

Quickly deploy field diagnostics with VibrAcquis®

A tool that is immediately operational for teams

The first stage of the project involved a fundamental change in approach: bringing vibration diagnostics directly to the field, as close as possible to operations. With the turnkey vibration measurement kit supplied by Vibratec, teams have a ready-to-use tool that is easy to implement and perfectly suited to the tram network’s operational constraints.

Thanks to the magnetic bases, the bridgeheads can be instrumented in a matter of seconds, without dismantling or prolonged immobilization of the trains.

Vibration measurement becomes a simple task, accessible to maintenance teams, rather than a cumbersome operation reserved for occasional campaigns.

Create a reliable reference for comparison and decision-making

Vibracquis as a tool for standardizing diagnosis

Once the kit has been deployed, the second step is to create a reliable vibration reference, which is essential for interpreting the results correctly. A new train set, considered to be in good condition, is measured using VibrAcquis®. This measurement serves as a benchmark for comparison for the entire fleet.

The vibration levels observed on this reference train make it possible to characterize:

Normal mechanical behavior,
The expected presence of gear harmonics,
The absence of abnormal excitations in critical bands.

This reference, acquired using the same tool, the same protocol, and the same sensors, becomes a major asset.

Each suspicious train can be analyzed objectively, without subjective interpretation or dependence on individual experience.

VibrAcquis® no longer just measures: it structures decision-making.

Quickly identify suspicious gearboxes

When simplicity is enough to make the decision

In many cases, simply viewing the time signals provided by the kit is enough to make a clear diagnosis.

On certain trains exhibiting abnormal noises, the measurements immediately revealed:

Acceleration levels up to five times higher between two axles,
Peaks reaching 150 to 200 m/s² during specific phases (braking, acceleration),
Vibration behavior not present on the reference train.

In less than five minutes, teams can identify a suspicious axle or gearbox – without complex analysis or disassembly.

This ability to quickly sort out obvious cases saves considerable time and increases efficiency. The kit acts as a reliable diagnostic tool, helping to avoid unnecessary downtime.

VibrAcquis® as a performance catalyst

This case study demonstrates that true innovation lies not only in vibration measurement, but in the provision of a turnkey tool designed for operators.

Thanks to this solution, our customer was able to:

Gain autonomy,
Improve the reliability of its diagnostics,
Reduce unnecessary downtime,
Structure a more predictive maintenance approach.

VibrAcquis® is a decision-making tool dedicated to vibration and acoustics, designed to provide reliable and actionable measurements without requiring extensive prior expertise.

Railway Industry

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