Track Value, described by its developers as ‘a revolutionary traceability and monitoring solution for all freight activities (road, rail, air and sea)’, has been officially launched at the Innotrans transport fair in Berlin. On the margins of the event, Railfreight.com interviewed Europorte’s president, Raphaël Doutrebente, who is also president of France’s rail freight association Fret Ferroviaire Français du Futur (Alliance 4F), about a solution described as “the IoT innovation of the century”.
Track Value is the fruit of collaboration between Getlink (formerly Eurotunnel) subsidiary, Europorte, France’s leading privately-owned rail freight operator and Kerlink, a global provider of solutions dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT), in association with satellite IoT operator, Kinéis and IoT solutions specialist, Synox. Track Value is marketed as the first industrial application dedicated to the freight and logistics sector to integrate data transmission via Kinéis space connectivity. Its development is in response to operators being faced with an increase in trade and the imperative to guarantee the security of their goods and reduce the impact on the environment.
Is Track Value up and running at Europorte ?
“Yes, the solution is in place on wagons operated by Europorte and demonstrating its relevance, based on customer requirements.And with its commercial launch having just taken place in Berlin at the Innotrans trade event, Track Value is now available market-wide.”
Can you elaborate on Track Value’s features and the benefits it is offering to Europorte?
“Track Value is a solution for tracking and tracing goods transported by rail but also by sea, air and road. It is a complete solution focusing on a mobile hub comprising hardware (a box measuring 210mm x 110mm x 50mm mounted on a rail wagon) software and satellite connectivity. The mobile hub contains a non-rechargeable battery with a working life of at least five years, while its sensors are designed to collect data such as geolocation, acceleration, temperature and pressure.
The solution also allows other sensors to be added locally, depending on customer requirements. In particular, Track Value can detect an abnormal variation in brake temperature on a wagon, an abnormal vibration on an axle or wheel, or a door opening on a container. It also uses Kineis satellite connectivity, guaranteeing near-real-time data feedback with no white zones (unlike solutions using GSM connections), which is unique on the market.”
Does it use artificial intelligence ?
“Yes. Thanks to an on-board application using AI, the data is analysed as closely as possible to the sensors, so that only those showing an abnormal drift in one or more parameters or a malfunction pattern recognised by the application are passed on to customers. Given its limited data storage, Track Value is also a low-carbon solution, to which the non-rechargeable battery also contributes.”
What has been the reaction of rail freight companies in France and Europe to the launch of Track Value ?
“The solution has been very well received by all players in the sector. At Innotrans, we’ve had several meetings with railways, wagon owners and even end-customers.”