The EST CRASH BUFFER
Information and References

Mile stones

(Photo: EST)

2001:

• EST Eisenbahn-Systemtechnik is founded.
• Deformation principle studies, development and prototype testing of the EST Crash Buffer, application for patent.

2002:

• Approval tests in accordance with UIC and scale 1:1 vehicle crash tests with loaded freight wagons.
• EBA (Federal German railway approval authority) approves the EST Crash Buffer.
• Public presentation of the EBA-approved EST Crash Buffer in the versions G1-100 (in accordance with UIC 526 for freight wagons and locomotives) and R1-100 (in accordance with UIC 528 for passenger coaches) at the InnoTrans fair in Berlin.

2003:

• Honing of the EST Crash Buffer: introduction of the product generation "-200" with fine-tuned force-deflection characteristics and a service-optimized design.
• Derivation of the 400 kJ/800 kJ-variant G1-200 K and the diagonal buffer variant X1 of the EST Crash Buffer.
• Presentation of the EST Crash Buffer at the working group "Tank- und Fahrzeugtechnik" (tank and vehicle design) of BMVBW (Federal German transportation ministery), Bonn.
• Series production of the EST Crash Buffer G1 begins, with deliveries to Vossloh for the customer SBB.
• Development of the deformation system EST Duplex G1.A1 consisting of the EST Crash Buffer G1 and the EST Absorber Block A1.
• Crash testing with DB locomotives in cooperation with DB/Railion Deutschland.

2004:

• Series production of the EST deformation system Duplex G1.A1 begins, with deliveries to Bombardier for the customers SBB (Class Re484) and DB/Railion (Class 185.2, 146.2).
• Longterm field-testing of the EST Crash Buffer by DB commences with electric locomotives, diesel locomotives and double-decker passenger coaches.
• Derivation of the R1-200 ST variant with extra-wide buffer plate for Spain (Talgo/Renfe).
• Approval of SBB Class Re484 (Bombardier TRAXX MS) with the EST deformation system Duplex G1.A1 in Italy.

2005:

• More than 1000 EST Crash Buffers are in service in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Spain.
• Crash testing with passenger coaches of Indian Railways.
• ÖBB orders the conversion of all Ökombi RoLa passenger coaches with EST crash buffers.
• Successful completion of the longterm field-testing of the EST Crash Buffer by DB with electric locomotives, diesel locomotives and double-decker passenger coaches after one year.
• First series deliveries of the EST Crash Buffer G1-200 K in accordance with the dangerous goods transportation guideline (Gefahrgutverordnung) RID 2005 for hazardeous goods tank wagons.
• Approval of CFL Série 4000 with EST Crash Buffers G1-200 M in France.
• The EST order book allows to predict that the total number of rail vehicles which are equipped with EST Crash Buffers or Duplex deformation systems will more than double in the course of the year 2006.

2006:

• Up to the beginning of the year 2006, the EST Crash Buffer and Duplex deformation systems have already proven successful in seven real vehicle collisions and severe impacts. In all of these events, the EST deformation systems have proven both the non-triggering of the crash function, where no activation of the crash function was necessary, and the reliable triggering in the case of high collision energies. No damages to the vehicle structures were observed in any of the events.
• Crash testing with tank wagons in accordance with UIC 573.
• Classes E 186 111 (TRAXX MS, Angel Trains) 246 001 and (TRAXX P160 DE, LNVG) effectively highlighted Bombardier's rigorous platform and parts sharing concept at the InnoTrans 2006 fair in Berlin, which includes the EST deformation system Duplex G1.A1.
• Presentation of the EST deformation system Duplex G2.A2 at the InnoTrans fair in Berlin. The deformation system comprises the EST Supra Buffer G2-100 MC with hydraulically dampened 70 kJ elastic system.
• Licence agreement with SCHWAB Verkehrstechnik, Schaffhausen (Switzerland). SCHWAB presents a range of crash buffers with 250 kJ and 400 kJ of crash energy absorption ability at the InnoTrans fair in Berlin, using the buffer crashworthiness concept by EST.
• Innovation Award of the State of Baden-Württemberg 2006: Dr.-Rudolf-Eberle-Preis. EST is honoured with a special award for its "Energy absorbing, crashworthy railway buffer".

2007:

• With BLS, MRCE and MWB, three private locomotive fleet operators opt for the rigorous retrofit of large parts of their vehicle fleets, as far as not equipped with crash energy absorbers from new, with EST Crash Buffers type G1-200 M. The decision is rewarded with reductions in the annual insurance fees by locomotive insurance companies.
• The dangerous goods tank wagon fleet operators WASCOSA and NACCO decide to use the EST Crash Buffers type Typs G1-200 R for retrofit projects and G1-200 K fpr newly built vehicles. The first new-built tank wagons with EST Crash Buffers are granted European approval in accordance with TSI WAG, which has become effective from February 2007 on.
• Series production of the EST Supra Buffer G2 starts. The buffers type G2-100 MC are delivered to SKODA for the three-system electric locomotive Class 109E and VOITH for the diesel locomotives Class Maxima 40CC and 30CC.
• Series deliveries of the EST Supra Buffer type G2-100 MB to Bombardier begin. The buffers are used for the TRAXX freight locomotives of RENFE Mercancias (Spain). The final assembly of these locomotives takes place at Bombardier Italia in Vado Ligure, because the capacities of Bombardier in Germany do no longer suffice to meet the great success of the TRAXX locomotive platform family.
• Series production of the EST Crash Buffer type R1-200 S-IR for Indian Railways starts.
• In 2007, more than 2000 EST Crash Buffers and Duplex deformation units are produced and supplied. Annual production of the EST Crash Buffer has more than doubled when compared with the year 2006.

(Photo: EST)

Copyright © 2005-2008 EST