HANNING & KAHL has been an established provider of point machines for national and international rail-based public transport since 1937. It also has a long tradition of refurbishing point machines. By Robin Dölling

Point machines are safety-related, operationally proven technology for rail-based public transport. Reliable, targeted processes are needed to consistently meet these high standards. Central to this is ensuring operational readiness and availability of the point operating systems through regular, proactive maintenance instead of reactive repairs.

When it comes to this service, HANNING & KAHL customers particularly value the resource and environmental benefits resulting from reduced material consumption and waste generation as well as the conservation of valuable raw materials. At the same time, a lower carbon footprint means improved sustainability performance for all parties concerned. There are also considerable time savings, particularly when sourcing new parts is associated with long lead times. Another important aspect is the trust in the manufacturer’s experience, which is strengthened through the use of functionally tested, reliable and proven technology.

The point machine refurbishment process was extensively restructured during the SAP rollout from 3 January 2022 onwards. In particular, the integration and traceability of relevant data was considerably improved. The aftersales service now has a clear, transparent and efficient way to manage complex information relating to customer orders.

The resulting added value is particularly evident in these areas:

• The as-is state and precise version information are already captured during goods receipt.
• A complete and individually traceable change history is maintained for each piece of equipment, including related parts lists.
• Individual service concepts are developed by an experienced team. In addition to the straightforward refurbishment of existing components, it also considers engineering improvements as well as current technical installation documentation.
• In respect of component use, a clear differentiation is made between new and existing equipment.
• Customer-owned assets are clearly assigned to services already provided and future services within the refurbishment process.

Taken together, these points confirm this as a proven system for restoring existing point machines to a modern, future-ready form that can also meet the rising demands of rail-based local transport going forward.