NT Expo – Negócios nos Trilhos, considered the main meeting point for the railway sector in America, reached its 23rd edition in 2023. This year, the event started on February 8th and runs until March 2nd, at the São Paulo Expo, in the city of São Paulo.
The fair brings together more than 200 exhibitors from Brazil and abroad, suppliers of the entire chain of the transport sector on rails for passengers and cargo: shock and structural noise companies, construction and maintenance of railways, equipment for the maintenance of trains, manufacture of locomotives and railway signaling systems, in addition to sustainable solutions using recycled material and vibration control products.
For Lucas Cortez, key account manager at Advantech, NT Expo is one of the biggest business platforms in the sector. “The event moves opportunities for the modal and for manufacturers, carriers, concessions, government and integrators, among others”. For Cortez, holding the event is important for the railway sector for four reasons:
1 – Networking: the event is one of the largest fairs in the railway sector in Latin America and brings together professionals, companies and specialists in the sector, providing an opportunity to create new connections and expand the network of contacts;
2 – New technologies: in space, companies can present and learn regarding the latest innovations and technologies in railway products and services. With this, participants are updated on new trends and identify opportunities to improve their products and processes;
3 – Knowledge: NT Expo offers lectures, debates and workshops, providing insights and information on trends and challenges in the sector. In addition, participants can exchange experiences and ideas, acquiring knowledge that can be applied in their own companies;
4 – Visibility: the event attracts the attention of the specialized media, providing an opportunity for companies to gain more visibility and recognition.
Fair should focus on automation and smart solutions
Cortez points out that the 2023 edition of NT Expo will address topics related to the importance of technology applied to the sector, such as the application of technology in predictive maintenance and to improve the user experience.
“Technological automation and connectivity solutions, such as 5G, are essential for today’s transport, whether passenger or cargo,” he says. “In the railway sector, technology has contributed to increasing the safety of operations, optimizing processes, bringing insights to decision makers in real time and increasing the reliability of operations, benefiting companies and users”, he adds.
How can IoT boost rail transport?
For Advantech’s key account manager, IoT (Internet of Things) solutions have the potential to improve and help rail transport, trains and monorails in many ways. Some of the main ones are:
1 – Asset monitoring
IoT solutions can be used to monitor locomotives, rail cars, rails and signaling equipment. IoT sensors can collect real-time data on the condition of assets, allowing companies to identify and resolve maintenance issues before they cause system failures and travel delays.
According to Cortez, this can help increase asset availability and reduce downtime, improving operational efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.
“The IoT layer is important for applications related to predictive maintenance of on-board and non-on-board assets, such as telemetry, vibration and temperature data collection at crucial points for maintenance teams, whether on the train or in the park’s infrastructure,” he adds. “The IoT collects data and generates insights for cost reduction, sustainability focused on monitoring and reducing water and energy consumption, as well as optimizing processes.
2 – Improved security
Cortez recalls that IoT solutions can be used to improve safety in rail transport. As an example, he mentions that monitoring sensors via LPWAN networks can be installed on rails and bridge structures to detect anomalies or structural damage.
“Sensors can monitor the speed of trains and alert drivers if they are exceeding limits,” he says. In addition, IoT solutions can be used to monitor the behavior of onboard personnel and provide real-time alerts in case of suspicious or potentially dangerous behavior”, he adds.
3 – Improved operational efficiency
IoT solutions can still be used to improve operational efficiency in rail transport, says Cortez. Sensors can monitor passenger flow at stations and trains, allowing transport companies to adjust services and capacities according to demand. “In fact, the sensors can monitor the load on the wagons and provide real-time information to drivers to help them manage weight and fuel consumption.”
4 – Improved user experience
Finally, the professional explains that IoT solutions can improve the user experience in rail transport: sensors can monitor air quality in trains and stations, ensuring that passengers breathe clean and healthy air.
“IoT solutions can provide real-time information regarding schedules, delays and other important information for passengers,” he says. “With the railway framework, there is an expectation that large investments will be attracted to increase the network in the country, benefiting the flow of products – since the participation of the railway network in the transport of cargo is less than 20% of the matrix” , articulates.
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