Integrated cabling for smart trams

Thoreb, a computer hardware company specialising in innovative public transport solutions, was recently commissioned to upgrade a series of trams in Victoria.

With connectivity playing a key role in this upgrade, finding a reliable cable specialist was crucial.

“All vehicles, from personal cars through to trains, buses and trams, have a series of sensors and modules, so to connect these together, gather data and add functionality, there needs to be a ‘highway’ of reliable cables,” said Ralf Otto, General Manager at Thoreb.

For this particular upgrade, Thoreb chose LAPP Australia to supply the cable assemblies — “because not only did they provide the quality and reliability we were seeking, but they were willing to go above and beyond to meet tight deadlines and deliver to our customer’s precise requirements”, Otto said.

The cable assemblies, each rated with the appropriate rail certifications, were supplied by LAPP Australia’s new LAPP Harnessing Solutions division — a service that provides complete assemblies labelled, tested and ready to go, to save time on automation projects.

“It was the personnel at LAPP that made this project possible; from quality control through to communications and final checks, they ticked all the boxes so that we could confidently deliver to our customer,” Otto said.

LAPP labelled all of its cables and components to meet precise customer requirements for Thoreb.

As part of the proof of concept that Thoreb needed to deliver to the customer, all cables had to be clearly packed and labelled. “This is where LAPP Australia really stood out,” Otto said.

“Each assembly features a range of cables such as network cables, power cables and earth cables, for four different classes of tram. Each component was labelled — at each end for cables — with what tram it belongs to, what type it is and what its function is. They were then packed into kits that were clearly labelled as well.

“This not only means that we can complete the installation accurately, but if we ever need to perform troubleshooting later on, we can isolate specific parts swiftly to reduce downtime,” he explained.

Smart functionality via integrated cabling

Using LAPP cables, Thoreb’s solutions have enabled various smart functions for the trams:

• Vehicle signage (both inside and on the exterior of the tram) displays upcoming destinations, or communicates messages to passengers.
• Passenger counters, typically installed on doors to count how many passengers enter or leave the tram, help with planning public transport timetables and services according to demand.
• Communication with satellites, allowing a tram’s location to be tracked, can be reported on real-time apps.
• In some cases, the solution even enables tram operators to control upcoming traffic lights, giving them priority over cars and keeping passengers on schedule.
• Finally, the system facilitates anything requiring electrical power, such as door functions and stop buttons.
   

“With so many cables in a small space, electrical emissions could create too much noise pollution and reduce the performance of the system, or the comfort of passengers, but LAPP’s cables have electromagnetic interference shielding properties to protect against this issue,” Otto said.

Communication the key to success

With tight customer deadlines, and LAPP and Thoreb’s NSW head offices needing to coordinate closely with Victorian project teams, effective communication was key to the success of the project.

“LAPP kept us well-informed throughout the process. What we particularly liked was that they informed us if there were any delays,” Otto said.

“Some companies don’t like to deliver negative news, but we are aware that sometimes there are delays outside of their control, and learning about it as early as possible helps us plan accordingly,” he added.

“Our experience with the LAPP Australia team was that they were reliable, trustworthy and respectful. We hope to be able to work with them again on future projects.”

Top image caption: Computer hardware specialist Thoreb used high-quality cable assemblies from LAPP Australia in a public transport upgrade project in Victoria. Images: Supplied