Schaeffler shows axlebox generators and actuators for automated freight wagons at InnoTrans 2026
At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, Schaeffler is showing axlebox generators, its modular ITRS power system and electromechanical actuators that it says can automate rail freight wagons.
- 10 kN to 50 kN
- EMA50 to EMA100
- Hall 21, Booth 430
What Happened
Schaeffler is presenting its axlebox generator, the modular power system ITRS (Innovative Technology for Railway Systems) and electromechanical linear actuators at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, at Hall 21, Booth 430. The supplier describes them as innovative system components that are already readying freight wagons for automated and interconnected rail logistics, and says first projects are undergoing field tests. To overcome the pressing challenges in rail freight transport, Schaeffler argues the associated logistics have to be digitalized, interconnected and automated. The bottom-up approach with incremental extensibility, depending on requirements and degree of automation, is meant to enable fast and cost-efficient automation and digitalization solutions.
- Axlebox generator: an autonomous power supply for rail freight wagons that provides the technical basis for digitalization, connectivity and automation.
- ITRS: a modular power system combining a Schaeffler axlebox generator with a coordinated battery management system from partner Realtronik for a high-performance onboard power supply.
- Electromechanical linear actuators: EWELLIX series that replace pneumatic or hydraulic systems in automated freight cars.
“Our innovations form the basis for automated processes in rail freight transport, whether for digital automated couplers or automated opening and closing systems. They enable loading and unloading processes to be accelerated while substantially reducing downtimes. A reliable and operationally safe power supply is a key prerequisite for the ongoing development of such solutions – and that's precisely what we are facilitating in collaboration with our partners in the rail industry.”
Schaeffler axlebox generators generate energy within the power system to enable key functions in the next generation of rail freight cars, reducing or completely replacing manual activities. These include the automatic triggering of actuators for the automatic opening and closing of tarpaulins, doors and hatches on bulk cargo wagons. The generators also serve as a permanent and reliable energy source for other electronic components used for communication, for sensors that capture load status, for GPS trackers, or for automated brake testing. They are designed for standardized European bogie configurations and axles in rail freight transport (Y25 and UIC standard), so they can be used in new vehicles or retrofitted to existing freight wagons.
Schaeffler is working with its Slovenian partner Realtronik on solutions for automating rail freight wagons based on the modular, integrated system ITRS. ITRS consists of a Schaeffler axlebox generator and a coordinated battery management system from Realtronik, which provides a high-performance onboard power supply for the relevant applications. The first successful pilot projects using the power system in the market are receiving positive feedback from customers, and Schaeffler says they highlight the need to push technologies for the automation of freight wagons in order to increase the share of rail freight in the overall market.
For electrified freight cars, Schaeffler's EWELLIX electromechanical linear actuator series CAHB-2xE and CAHB-2xS (smart variants with integrated controller) and the EMA series of high-performance linear actuators (EMA50 to EMA100, 10 kN to 50 kN) replace pneumatic or hydraulic systems with a highly efficient alternative. In harsh railway operations these actuators support the digital monitoring of positions and speeds and are largely unaffected by temperature fluctuations over a large range. They work according to the power-on-demand principle, using energy only if directly activated, and in the event of an unforeseen power failure they are self-locking, which keeps the flaps in a secure position. By presenting these components at InnoTrans, Schaeffler says it is showing how automation solutions for rail freight transport can already be technically supported and implemented.
Why this matters
Rail freight wagons currently rely on manual handling and pneumatic or hydraulic systems, and Schaeffler argues rail freight must be digitalized and automated to win a bigger share of the overall market. Its components target rail freight operators, wagon builders and logistics providers, enabling automated couplers, doors and hatches plus onboard sensing, GPS tracking and brake testing. Schaeffler says first pilot projects are already in field tests.
Terms in This Story
- Axlebox generator
- A generator mounted at the axle box of a rail wagon that produces electricity to power onboard electronics without an external supply.
- Bogie
- The wheel-and-axle assembly with its frame and suspension that supports a rail vehicle and lets it follow the track.
- Electromechanical linear actuator
- A device that produces straight-line motion using an electric motor instead of compressed air or hydraulic fluid.
- Power-on-demand
- An operating principle in which equipment consumes energy only while it is actively being used.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.