Project FUTURA

About the project

The FUTURA action will improve the quality and safety of life of over 55 millions of EU citizens, who live or work near train tracks. The main objective of the action is to provide last development steps for market launch of Divided Rail Freight Brake Disc (DRFB disc). DRFB disc is a revolutionary solution, influencing 3 key elements in the rail freight transport: 1) safety and security, 2) health and environment and 3) cost-effectiveness with strong horizontal and vertical “spill-over” effects and crucial social, economic and technical impacts.

Today there are two competitive solutions: K-block and non-divided brake disc (the current state-of-the-art). Although non-divided brake disc is a superior solution (as it ensures higher safety, lower noise levels and less vibrations), it is used in practice in less than 10%, because it is too expensive. That is the problem that FUTURA action is solving. Our ambitious solution, DRFB disc, was developed by 4 high impact companies in the field of development, production and testing components for freight rail vehicles.The specific objectives of FUTURA action are: 10-15 dB lower noise, 11% shorter braking distance, 14% less vibrations, 21% lower mass, 7% less accidents, 12% less damage of freight, 50% longer life cycle of wheels, 13% lower LCC of the disc. For an operator with 1,000 6-axle wagons, the savings within a life-cycle would amount to 5,838,000 € in comparison with K-block and 9,840,000 € in comparison with non-divided brake disc.

DRFB disc will contribute considerably toward increasing the transported freight volumes via rail, which is environmentally friendlier than alternative modes (by road and air).Total available market size for our innovation is around 12 billion € per year. Our key target markets are EU, USA, Canada, Russia, China, India and Brazil. The aim of commercialising the innovation is to capture 7% of the market share in the production of brakes for rail freight wagons on the global market.

Start date: 03/2016
Finish date: 03/2018

Members of the consortium :
The consortium consists of 4 partners from 3 different countries. The partners are leaders and the highest-impact companies in the EU in the following fields:

• KOVIS – development and production of brake discs, axle boxes, brake pad and brake shoe holders in rail freight transport,
• OMNIA – production of steel forging parts and hubs for railways,
• ZX-B – development, production, servicing and lease of freight wagons,
• VUD – development, lab research and testing on all modes of transport.

Project is divided into seven work packages:

• WP1 – OPTIMIZATION OF DRFB DISC CROWN
• WP2 – OPTIMIZATION OF DRFB DISC HUB
• WP3 – LABORATORY TESTING AND UIC STANDARD COMPLIANCE
• WP4 – TESTING IN REAL ENVIRONMENT AND PILOT IMPLEMENTATION
• WP5 – VALIDATION OF BUSINESS MODEL
• WP6 – COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION
• WP7 – PROJECT MANAGEMENT

 

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JANUARY 2018: 5TH MEETING OF THE PROJECT PARTNERS AND 4TH EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING FOR THE PROJECT FUTURA
Place: Slovenia, Brežice, Brezina 102, KOVIS d.o.o. headquarters.

Project partners of the Project FUTURA have attended the 5th meeting of the project partners and 4th executive board meeting.
Results achieved with the 4th and 5th prototypes were presented to all project partners by the coordinator. With the results all planned objectives were achieved. Financial overview of the project was presented by the coordinator. Financial plan for the last month of FUTURA project was prepared. The list of submitted and planned deliverables was presented. The Plans for future activities were presented by the coordinator. Plan for preparation and submission of 2nd periodic and final report was defined. Executive board members were informed about past and future activities within FUTURA project. All Executive board members confirmed report on progress/results and future activities.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

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14 DECEMBER 2017 FINAL CONFERENCE OF FUTURA PROJECT
Place: Martin, Slovakia

On 14th of December 2017 Omnia KLF organised the 3rd Final Conference of FUTURA project in the conference room Hotel Bystrička in Martin, Slovakia. The purpose of the conference was to present the results of the development of brake disk prototypes to the academic, technicians, politicians, general and professional public. The conference were attended by representatives of Kovis as a coordinator and by all partners OMNIA, ZX Benet and VUD.

 

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4th EXPERT MEETING OF THE PROJECT FUTURA
Place: Výskumný ústav dopravný, Žilina, Slovakia

On 4th of October 2017, FUTURA partners met on 4th expert meeting in Výskumný ústav dopravný, Žilina, Slovakia.
The main objectives of 4th expert meeting was presenation of testing results under laboratory conditions.
Presentation of results, and process of testing results was presented by Testing laboratory of machine parts strength measurements.
Presentations were held in purpose for partners to understand how the material testing and type testing of five prototypes was performed, and what kind of results have been discussed with KOVIS for sucessful validation of final prototypes Futura 4 prototype (width 170 mm) and Futura 5 prototype (width 110 mm).

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19TH SEPTEMBER 2017: 3rd EXPERT MEETING OF THE PROJECT FUTURA
Place: Velika Dolina, Slovenia

Project partners OMNIA, VUD and KOVIS have attended the 3rd expert meeting in Kovis business unit Velika Dolina.
At the beginning of the meeting, followed by introductory speech of development manager, the Kovis business unit Velika Dolina was presented to partners. The meeting continued with presentation of the results. Presentation of the process of optimization was done by engineering department of Kovis. Presentation in details described simulation process of all prototypes. Presentations were held in purpose for partners to understand how optimization for all seven prototypes was done, and what kind of results were needed for sucessful validation of final design.

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13th OF JUNE 2017 INTERACTIVE PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE PROJECT FUTURA
Place: Czech republic, Šilheřovice, Zámecká 1, The chateau park in Castle Šilheřovice

ZX BENET CZ organized an Interactive professional conference of the project FUTURA in the conference room of the castle in Šilheřovice. The main object of the conference was to present the Divided Rail Freight Brake Disc in real environment to the professional and the general public. The conference attended the Dr.hab. Ing.Janusz Cwiek – Head of department Silesian University of Technology Faculty of Transport, Dr.Ing. Adam Mańka professor of Silesian University of Technology Faculty of Transport, politician of Moravian – Silesian region Ing. Petr Baránek, Petr Kadeřávek – redactor of Czech railway magazine, Kamil Klajman – fleet manager from Railtrans wagon and other related people from railway industry and partners from FUTURA project.

 

 
 

 
 
 

 

 

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13TH APRIL 2017: 3rd MEETING OF THE PROJECT PARTNERS AND 2nd EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING FOR THE PROJECT FUTURA
Place: Martin, Slovakia

Project partners of the Project FUTURA have attended the 3rd meeting of the project partners and 2nd executive board meeting. On the meeting were discussed the report on progress, preparation and submission of first periodic report and as well future activities. Conclusion was that with third prototype the mass was lowered for 18.6%, higher safety or possibility to have shorter braking distance (which was achieved through special connection of DRB disc crown and hub) was increased 3,7 times. On the other hand, efficiency has increased for 10%. Efficiency can be described as how much energy is used to run or stop a freight wagon, or how much and how fast freight can be transported from one place to another.