Following on a half-century history of constant innovation and drive in the pursuit of the most advanced technologies, the Italian company ECM is recognised as one of the leading players in the field of railway signalling, control and safety systems and products.
The brand is the synthesis of a fascinating Italian story, started in 1958 by Giulio Cappellini and brought to success by his sons, Mario and Roberto. Since its foundation, ECM main concern has been the constant development of state of the art safety solutions for railway signalling and power supply.
The Research and Development staff submits new solutions and ideas, for the implementation of technological equipments meeting the very restrictive international quality standards required.
Railway safety goes first
All ECM’s railway equipments concerning power and safety conditions are tested and certified in accordance, and fully complying, with the extremely selective and severe European CENELEC (the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation) SIL4 Standards.
ECM designs and produces a wide range of technological equipments for railway systems, including diagnostic and remote controlled and optoelectronic signalling systems. The computer assisted Quality Control procedure on signalling equipments is particularly sophisticated, verifying their compliance with the strictest safety rules. All ECM products are designed and produced with compatibility and modularity in mind, being aware that the fast changing technologies make modifiability and customizing the basic needs for any railway firm. Today, ECM has wide ranging international scopes, being present wherever an increase in technological level of railway services or advanced solutions for new railway frontiers are required. More than that, an ECM heart even beats on the brand new Italian High Speed lines!
ECM has played a significant role in the development of solutions, from the early tests to the final implementation of supply systems for the High Speed railway signalling. The dawn of the new millennium has seen ECM growth to wider levels; the relentless research in various sectors have led to the creation of different products, like SCMT, SSC Automatic Train Control and Protection Systems and various kinds of optoelectronic signals. Specifically, the research has focused on the conversion from conventional lamp signals to the more modern and reliable LED Technology minimizing the impact on existing control systems. ECM’s product line ranges from the very first Low Shunt (1999) to the latest Standard Signal and Light Indicator Signal (2010).
Research and innovation in pursuing of performance
Today’s new frontier and true core item of ECM’s research is the Computer Based interlocking railway signalling system named HMR9. Conceived and developed internally by a highly specialized technical team, it is able of managing up to 400 km of line circulation from a single Central Control Station. Thanks to its high modularity and redundancy, it can be managed both in manual way, by the Operating Staff, and in a fully automated mode. Furthermore, HMR9 allows the addition and control of any other system individually assisting the railway circulation at present, like the above mentioned SCMT and SSC, and also ERTMS, Axle Counter Block, etc. ECM has developed a complete, scalable, modular, flexible signalling solution.
This innovative Computer Based Control System was inaugurated by an exceptional guest: the Italian Minister of Transportation Mr. Altero Matteoli who, during the 50 years of the company’s activity held on June 21st, 2010 within ECM main facility in Serravalle Pistoiese, symbolically cut the tricolour ribbon that sealed the equipment, ideally opening a new phase in the firm’s history.
Amongst the numerous national and international personalities taking part in the event, of particular relevance was the intervention of FS CEO, Mr. Mauro Moretti. Recalling his first visits to the structure as a Railway Inspector in the early 80s, he stated: “ECM is a historical company that has been able to follow us in our innovation process during the last 10 years, when we have completely revolutionized our approach to safety and functionality of our facilities. We abandoned the outdated electro-mechanics and moved to computer systems, produced in this very place.
The importance of this company -continued the top manager – is to have uncommon spirit of innovation and not being afraid to take its chances in the process”.
At present, the Company, measuring 13000 sqm of covered area and counting 250 employees with annual sales for approximately EUR 100.000.000 resulting from a production of high added value, is a recognized player as one of the leading high-tech producers in the railway infrastructure field.
Every day ECM invests in human and logistic resources, pushing constantly the development of new systems and products, conscious that only an advanced research opens the doors of tomorrow!
Projects for the future
Specializing in the design of refined power supply systems for railway transport, ECM offers products carefully designed, which provide extreme flexibility, modularity and a higher life span, without losing sight of the essential guidelines in terms of safety, reliability and efficiency.
ECM solutions can satisfy almost any type of demand – from the diagnosis of signalling installations for the vehicle control and guiding support systems, guaranteeing good operation even in critical situations, in accordance with the environmental protection norms, due to the use of renewable resources, such as photovoltaic energy; the personalized hardware and software control systems provide constant monitoring of the network in every point.
The SCMT system
Due to the SCMT system, an innovative technological system implemented by ECM in conformity with the new European interoperability standards (ERTMS), train running is constantly protected and subjected to the conditions imposed by the signalling systems, within the maximum speed allowed and the situation imposed by the track conditions.
The Ground Subsystem is operated by a complex network of Station Panels and Track Panels (these two systems monitor the installation and the command of the “signalling balises”, special antennas installed between the tracks) and by a signal codifier, which has a low energy consumption (2.5 W), which substitutes the Track Panels through the same functions.
The SSC system
The Traffic Surveillance System (SSC) developed by ECM is the latest innovation in terms of Automatic Train Protection systems. SSC is designed and structured in a way in which it can guarantee maximum safety on the tracks.
Made up of a Ground System (SST) and an On-board System (SSB), connected through a network of high-frequency waves, the SSC system constantly monitors train running based on the track conditions.
Flexibility
The Ground Subsystem (SST) is made up of a network of data points which, if properly disposed, collect, analyse and send information to the SSB system concerning the state of the infrastructure and the signalling systems (signal operation, distance between successive signals, maximum speed, braking angle, possible speed restrictions etc.).
The ECM diagnosis system
The ECM Integrated Diagnosis and Remote Control System provides complete control for the safety equipment and signalling installations, with additional benefits, due to the extraordinary flexibility of the modular design: this feature extends the use of any application that requires evaluations of the digital and analogue parameters or remote control assistance.
ECM has the solution for any type of demand concerning power supply for the railway sector. The company implemented the guidelines in terms of design, which have turned ECM into a landmark over the years: developing safe, reliable systems, with a high life span and with the guarantee to continue to create devices that optimize the operations in extreme conditions and in a hostile environment, such as the railway sector. Moreover, all the power supply systems developed by ECM have been designed to operate connected to a diagnosis and remote control system, hence ensuring the remote monitoring of all the functional parameters.
For the static units, ECM has developed a wide range of solutions and equipments, including converters and AC/DC stabilizers, protection and distribution frames designed to ensure a perfect interface between the power supply systems and the user.
by Elena Ilie
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