2010-07-28 - Fibre Optic Multiplexer with network management system to ensure reliability and safety of supply.
Johannesburg, South Africa, July 27, 2010 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a contract from Transnet Ltd., South Africa's largest freight rail logistics company, for the supply and delivery of multiplexers required nationwide.
The multiplexers are supplied to graphically view data and bring all information to a central point. The equipment will allow Transnet to monitor track condition and rolling stock, thus ensuring the safety and reliability of supply.
“ABB’s innovative products offer this key freight system of Transnet the opportunity to reliably and safely monitor rail operations,” says Carlos Pone, CEO, ABB in South Africa. “We are pleased to be involved with this project, one that is crucial for the economic development of the country.”
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has a national Synchronous Digital Hierarchy backbone network that provides high speed connectivity at about 120 sites. However, a low capacity access network is used for narrow band services to signaling control centres, electrical substations and radio high sites. These are all critical for train operations.
The existing access network of over 800 multiplexers has reached the end of its lifecycle and is due for replacement and expansion. ABB won the contract to provide this with their FOX product. This will also support TFR's vision to have Ethernet everywhere for condition monitoring and proactive maintenance.
The multiplexers will reduce delays and stoppages on the freight lines, thus maintaining the supply of products to essential services, e.g. coal to the power plants and iron ore for exports. The network management system will enable controllers to make educated decisions at the Technical Command Centre thus saving them unnecessary costs.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs more than 117,000 people.