For over 30 years, Contrôle Mesure Systèmes has specialized in the design and manufacture of non-destructive testing products. The company develops eddy current and ultrasonic systems, and combines these two testing methods on complete inspection benches.
The company has been working for several years on an innovative rail control system based on rotating probes. On paper, the principle is simple: two probes are positioned on either side of the train. They are rotated at very high speed in line with the rail tread to detect any surface defects or fatigue.
For almost three years, the company has been working on mechanical and technical improvements to the device. An electronic distance compensation system has been designed to eliminate variations in position between the rail and the rotating CF probe. Contrôle Mesure Systèmes also worked on making the device easy to calibrate, so that it could inform the operator of the depth of defects found on the rails. The robustness of the system is one of the key elements on which the company has focused, since the device in action is subjected to numerous wearing factors such as dust, friction, humidity, cold, etc.
When defects are identified, the control system sends the information to the train supervisor, who operates a rail grinding device. The rails are inspected again in successive passes, to check that the defects have been eliminated by the grinding operation. This process is repeated as often as necessary.
The certification issued by Deutsche Bahn is one of the most comprehensive in the industry, and sets the benchmark. It is required in several countries for access to the rail testing market. To obtain it, Contrôle Mesure Systèmes and its partner have had to carry out a series of tests with the organization since 2017, and pass all the accreditation stages one by one. This year, all the work carried out has proved conclusive, as the company is now able to work in a multitude of countries with an efficient, certified system.
