Hardware

Preview of new terminals
Displays for trams, metro, monorail
The requirements placed on displays of central vehicle functions in the driver’s cab are increasing continuously. As well as information about the status of a vehicle, it is necessary to provide vehicle diagnostic data.
Frequently, displays such as those used in trams, metros or monorails are not subject to the strict requirements of the EN 50155 standard. Selectron is following this trend with four low-cost displays that are not compatible with EN 50155.
The touchpanels with 5.7-inch, 7.5-inch, 10.4-inch and 12.1-inch displays are implemented in TFT technology. The printed circuit boards are painted, to take account of use in harsh railway environments. Two serial ports, USB and Ethernet are provided.
A comfortable SW tool with a wide range of functions facilitates project planning and startup.

Preview of power supply units for Selectron® MAS 73x-T devices
Power supply systems according to EN 50155
Rail vehicles are not always equipped with uniform on-board power systems. Voltages such as 24 VDC, 36 VDC, 48 VDC, 72 VDC, 92 VDC and 110 VDC are used, depending on the country or even the vehicle type. Frequently, however, the devices must be supplied with an input voltage of 24 VDC.
Selectron will soon be offering a DC/DC converter to take account of this topic specifically. It is an initial variant with a nominal input voltage range of 72 VDC / 110 VDC with 50 W power, and an output voltage of 24 VDC. The PSM 731-TV module with the form factor of the familiar MAS 73x-T series is designed to provide optimum power supply to Selectron control units. However, it goes without saying that it can also be used for powering devices with an extremely wide range of functions, such as displays.

Software

TOP 1131 V3.1.3
The new TOP1131 V3.1.3 management tool is now available and it will be possible to download it from our homepage. The following new functions are integrated:

• Recording with system data logger
  This data logger is integrated in the MOS. No blocks have to be integrated in the CAP1131 application. The LogData memory is freely scalable and the system data logger permits permanent data recording with the CPU85x.
• Cross-network recording
  Permits simultaneous recording of various CPUs in the group of networks.
• Auto LogData export
  Recorded LogData is automatically exported by the TOP1131. 
• Recipes
  The recipe is a container of variables with a specified nominal value. The specified nominal value can be compared with the current variable values and loaded. The status display shows the status of the nominal and actual values.
• Copy&Paste
  Node objects in the tree views and CAP1131 project references can be copied and pasted using the clipboard.
• PLC parameters
  The user can export the PLC parameters into a file and import them from a file. The PLC parameter file can be configured as a specified nominal value and can be loaded onto the controller.

Outlook to the new CAP1131 release 5.1.x
The new CAP1131 release is available from mid-October, when it will be possible to download it from our homepage.
The new release permits version management of CAP projects, makes optimized printing functions available, supports the target data logger from TOP1131, simplifies programming (e.g.: Tooltip for variables) and permits copying between various CAP projects.
Our Sales and Support departments will be pleased to provide you with information if you would like to know more about the new functions of the new CAP1131 release.

Outlook to Concerto® diagnostic system
The reliability of the system is indirectly improved by the diagnostic system. The diagnostic system is not capable of preventing the failure of a component, but it does offer straightforward possibilities for visualizing faults in a component and statistics at vehicle and fleet level. This means a system that is susceptible to failure will be filtered out extremely rapidly, and allows the corresponding element causing the faults to be localized.
Selectron is currently working on developing its own diagnostic system that can be used on Selectron controllers. We will be keeping you up to date on the current status of this project in the following newsletters.

The Logistics & Service department has been reinforced.
We are delighted to welcome Silvia Roth. She started working for us as an Order Processing clerk on July 23, 2007. Silvia Roth previously worked in a hospital where she was responsible for registering new patients and for the reception.
We are also happy to welcome Petra Pfister, who started her work for us on 2 August 2007, with responsibility for logistics & services. Petra Pfister previously worked as a sales assistant for import and export in a ball bearing company.
At present, these new employees are working themselves into their posts and will gradually assume more and more duties as contacts in their areas.
Silvia Roth’s direct phone line is +41 32 387 62 55 and her e-mail address is silvia.roth@selectron.ch.
Petra Pfister’s direct phone line is +41 32 387 62 53 and her e-mail address is petra.pfister@selectron.ch.

Silvia Roth

Petra Pfister

We are training apprentices
This year too, three apprentices have started their training at Selectron.

Fabrice Hänni and Jan Binggeli will complete their apprenticeships as electronics technicians over a four year period.
Selectron trains two apprentices in each training year.

Jonathan Grof is completing his preliminary apprenticeship as a logistics technician, which will take one year.
Selectron has been offering the preliminary apprenticeship for two years now.

The Sele Summer Weekend for Selectron employees was held from 17 to 19 August at Schwarzsee Lake in the Canton of Freiburg. A total of 18 people attended, some of them with their partners.
The participants stayed in the St. Michael holiday home, which provides a wonderful view over the Schwarzsee Lake and the surrounding mountains.
The first evening was celebrated with a pasta party with various sauces, while the food on Saturday evening was cooked at the open-air barbecue available on the premises. There was a generous brunch provided for each of the breakfasts.
The three days were entirely devoted to sport. It was possible to take part in bike rides and walks guided by Selectron staff. Those who were interested had the chance to visit the north shore bike park on Sunday to try out trail riding, riding over see-saws and even small jumps. The ride on Friday afternoon was 20 km and the one on Saturday was 45 km. The rides around the Schwyberg involved ascents of 600 and 1000 meters respectively.
In addition, the guests could take part in walks, climbing at les Diablerets, canoeing and paragliding.
Everyone gathered before each evening meal to sip a cool beer and discuss the combined events of the day.

Selectron will be taking part in the communal stand of SwissRail at the suissetransport show. The suissetransport is going to be held from November 7 to 10, 2007 in Berne.

We look forward to seeing you at the SwissRail communal stand in November. The stand number is C100-34, Hall 310.