Mat4Rail takes part with presentations, posters and demonstrators in the final event of the Shift2Rail projects in Paris

The final Shift2Rail event of the PIVOT, Mat4Rail, Run2Rail and FairStations projects was held in Paris on 17 September. During the course of the event, the main results of these projects were presented, which form part of the Shift2Rail Innovation Programme 1 (IP1): “Efficient technologies for high capacity trains”. Within IP1, the MatRail project covers what Shift2Rail calls “Technology Demonstrators TD 1.3, 1.6 and 1.7”, i.e. the demonstrators for train boxes, doors and interiors.

Dr. Elena Jubete, coordinator of the Mat4Rail project, and Dr. Alaitz Rekondo, leader of Work Package WP2: New materials for rolling stock, took part on behalf of CIDETEC Surface Engineering.

The event included presentations on the main objectives and the results of the projects, given by the coordinators Paul Böttcher (PIVOT, Bombardier Transportation), Elena Jubete (Mat4Rail, CIDETEC Surface Engineering), Marta Andreoni, (Run2Rail, UNIFE) and Umberto Battistta (Fair Stations, STAM), as well as specific presentations for each TD. In the case of Mat4Rail, prototypes of the ultra-light seats developed in WP6, the aluminium door manufactured through disruptive methodologies in WP5, the “Plug and Play systems” to improve train connectivity in WP7 and samples of composites that exceed HL2 in fire (WP1) were presented, as well as a virtual prototype that shows the versatile modular design for the train cabin within WP8. All these prototypes and demonstrators clearly showed the disruptive results obtained by Mat4Rail for the manufacture of lighter and more modular trains.

The event brought together around 90 participants, including producers of technology, materials and components for trains, as well as service providers, large manufacturers and other important companies in the railway world.