Paus broadens portfolio with VirtuRail’s battery-electric drive systems, intelligent vehicle control and automation solutions
Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH says it is systematically expanding its capabilities in construction site logistics by acquiring a stake in Austrian company VirtuRail.
This acquisition broadens its portfolio to include battery-electric drive systems, intelligent vehicle control and automation. At the same time, Paus is positioning itself as a development and manufacturing partner for VirtuRail’s logistics vehicles for tunnel construction, laying the foundation for successful international scaling.
At the heart of this strategic partnership is the industrialisation and international positioning of highly automated, fully-electric logistics vehicles designed to make material transport more efficient, safer and more sustainable.
Paus says: “Requirements for construction site logistics are changing rapidly. Sustainability, rising energy and operating costs, skilled labour shortages and increasing demands on workplace safety and productivity are driving demand for intelligent transport solutions. This is precisely where VirtuRail GmbH, based in Bludenz Austria, comes in.”
For the past five years, VirtuRail has been developing so-called Automated Service Vehicles (ASVs), specifically designed for use on large construction sites in tunneling and mining. The technology has already proven itself in demanding infrastructure projects, according to Paus.
Following successful deployments on tunnel construction projects in Switzerland and at the Kühtai pumped-storage power plant project in Tyrol, the new generation of vehicles will soon also be used on several tunnel construction projects in Germany. The vehicles transport payloads of up to 70 t electrically and reach top speeds of 25 km/h. Since VirtuRail’s ASVs can be deployed both individually and in convoy formation, they can be flexibly adapted to different transport tasks, according to Paus. During deployment at the Kühtai pumped-storage power plant project, the ASVs achieved ranges of up to 50 km under real site conditions. With a tunnel length of 23.5 km, this allowed for a complete transport cycle from the portal to the end of the tunnel and back.
The ASVs can be charged in approximately 30 minutes, allowing them to integrate seamlessly into existing construction workflows, Paus claims.
Combined, VirtuRail’s ASVs have already covered more than 1.5 million kilometers in construction site operation across the Kühtai and Kerenzerberg Tunnel (Switzerland) projects. The operational data and experience gained from this continuously feed into the ongoing development of the vehicles as well as their software and control systems.
A key feature of VirtuRail’s technology is its intelligent vehicle control system. The vehicles precisely follow a defined axle path, orienting themselves using a combination of LiDAR, radar and ultrasonic sensors. Continuous obstacle detection and lane calculation with automatic emergency stop functionality ensure a high level of safety during construction site operation. This sensor fusion also forms the foundation for future partially and fully autonomous driving functions. The fully electric drive reduces emissions and noise pollution on the construction site to zero. This is particularly beneficial in tunnel and underground construction, where it contributes to better working conditions and can significantly reduce the energy required for ventilation. At the same time, automated transport processes enable higher equipment availability, more efficient site logistics and relief for operating personnel.
Wolfgang Weber, Managing Director, VirtuRail GmbH, says: “With Paus, we have gained a partner who shares our vision of sustainable, intelligent construction site logistics. Together, we can industrialise our technology faster, position it internationally and open up new application areas in tunneling and mining.”
With its global sales and service network and its experience industrializing complex machinery concepts, Paus creates the conditions needed to scale VirtuRail’s technology internationally and open up new markets — particularly in tunneling and mining, the companies say.
Franz-Josef Paus, Managing Director, Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH, says: “VirtuRail offers a technologically compelling solution for underground site logistics. This stake ideally complements our portfolio and opens up new perspectives for both companies in the international tunneling and mining market.”
For Paus, the stake also represents an expansion of its own technology portfolio to include battery-electric drive systems, intelligent vehicle control and automation. At the same time, the partnership strengthens the research and development capabilities and production site at the company’s headquarters in Emsbueren, Germany, as well as the innovation power for both parties.
They added: “By combining their expertise, VirtuRail and Paus are laying the groundwork for the next generation of intelligent construction site logistics. The combination of fully electric drive, electronic lane guidance, intelligent sensor technology and future autonomous driving functions sets new standards for efficiency, sustainability and workplace safety in tunneling and mining.”
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