Alstom launches HealthHub, an innovative tool for predictive maintenance

HealthHub is supported by various high technology data capture solutions such as TrainScanner, an automated diagnostics portal. Image: Alstom

Alstom launches HealthHub, a new predictive maintenance tool able to monitor the health of trains, infrastructure and signalling assets using advanced data analytics to predict their remaining useful life. HealthHub has been presented at InnoTrans, the world’s biggest railway tradeshow which takes place in Berlin from 23-26 September.

HealthHub is supported by various high technology data capture solutions such as TrainScanner, an automated diagnostics portal. Image: Alstom

It is an innovative approach designed to shift from traditional mileage-based maintenance to condition-based predictive maintenance, thus reducing the lifecycle cost for the operator.

HealthHub is supported by various high technology data capture solutions such as TrainScanner, an automated diagnostics portal capable of measuring the condition of three key consumables of a train as it moves through the portal: wheels, brake pads and pantograph carbon strips.

It allows up to 15% of material costs to be saved by replacing them only on an as-needed basis. For infrastructures, TrackTracer will allow similar monitoring of the track and catenaries.

“HealthHub stengthens the implementation of the “pit-stop” approach by anticipating maintenance activities. Everything is ready when the train arrives so that maintainers can complete the tasks swiftly and without waste. It has been specifically designed to issue recommendations to carry out the tasks that are actually needed, at the moment they are required. For our customers, the advantages are multiple: they optimise their fleet-size thanks to the increased train availability, the time in depot is reduced and the total lifecycle cost is lowered” says Laurent Fromont, Alstom Transport Vice-President Services. 

Alstom already has significant experience in using remote condition monitoring of trains to optimise operations and maintenance and over 25 fleets have been equipped since 2006.

This first real predictive maintenance application, HealthHub with TrainScanner, is undergoing a series of tests and will be in service at the end of 2014. This first version of HealthHub will be upgraded in the near future with new data analysis tools.