NDT for freight wagons: W.S. Werkstoff Service at the VPI Technical Information Event

VPI – the Association of Freight Wagon Keepers in Germany – represents the interests of private freight wagon keepers in Germany and Europe. Its 222 member companies operate, service and repair more than 70,000 freight wagons across Europe. One of the association’s key tasks is to keep members informed about technical, legal and political developments in the railway sector. To this end, VPI regularly organises its Technical Information Event (TIV).

The 19th edition of this event took place in June. W.S. Werkstoff Service GmbH had the opportunity to contribute actively to the programme in Hamburg with two technical presentations.

Presentation on the Viareggio train accident

In one presentation, Dr Ingo Poschmann discussed findings from expert assessments relating to the Viareggio train accident. The focus was particularly on the applicability and limitations of non-destructive inspection methods in periodic inspection of wheelset axles. Staff from our accredited inspection body (W.S. ExpertCenter) were actively involved in investigating and evaluating the causes of this serious railway accident.

The presentation highlighted the findings of the investigations and their implications for non-destructive testing practice.

Changes to Module 09 of the VPI Maintenance Guide

In a second presentation, Dr Poschmann outlined recent changes to Module 09 of the VPI Maintenance Guide. This set of rules is used throughout Europe for servicing and repairing freight wagons. Module 09 sets out requirements for non-destructive testing (NDT).

The specialists at the NDT competence centre developed this module on behalf of VPI and continue to update it. The changes presented included calibration of testing and measuring equipment and the addition of eddy current testing (ET) for examining wheelset axles to Module 09.

W.S. Werkstoff Service – expertise in the railway sector

Through its contributions to the Technical Information Event, W.S. Werkstoff Service underlines its role as a technical partner for non-destructive testing in the railway sector.

By combining practical testing experience, expert assessment work and the development of technical rules, the company’s specialists make an important contribution to advancing inspection methods and technical standards in freight wagon maintenance.

An overview of our services is available at https://www.werkstoff-service.de/en/w-s-railwaycenter/.