Time to act – upgrade to the digital automatic coupler (DAC)
The future is here and the entire rail freight market is evolving. Arrange your migration analysis with Voith now to launch your DAC retrofit while workshop capacity is still available.
At a time when no other manufacturer has moved beyond the prototype stage, the CargoFlex from Voith is already on track in regular operation. Join the digital future of rail freight today!
Guide to DAC migration analysis
Approximately 500,000 freight wagons and 23,000 locomotives across Europe are in line for a DAC retrofit by 2030.
Given the wholesale changes involved, operators must perform a mandatory pre-installation compatibility check known as migration analysis. We are happy to provide expert support ranging from drawings and 3D data to on-site inspection.
- Determines suitability for installation of automatic coupler
- In-depth fleet assessment and longitudinal compressive force capability check
- UIC 530-1 installation space check and potential upgrade to meet requirements
CargoFlex: revolutionary coupler, unrivaled real-world experience
The digital automatic coupler (DAC) automatically connects and disconnects freight wagons as well as their air pipes, data lines, and power lines. It represents a fundamental reimagining of rail freight in Europe:
- Not just automatically connected freight, but digitally networked freight
- Longer and heavier trains, faster processing, and reduced emissions
- Key to meeting European Green Deal goals for 2030
Faced with change on this vast scale, you need a partner you can trust and a solution you can rely on. You need CargoFlex, the digital automatic coupler from Voith.
Uniquely awarded maximum points in the DAC4EU pilot project and used by SBB Cargo since 2019, CargoFlex is the only DAC with real-world freight experience.
Why is the DAC a game-changer?
DAC means digitization, automation, and the biggest upheaval in European rail freight for at least 100 years. As a technology leader and innovator for the supply chain of the future, Voith is at the forefront of efforts across the sector to establish rail freight 4.0.
Trailblazing coupler technology
The CargoFlex and CargoFlex Hybrid are robust couplers and easy to service. All types are suitable for upgrading to the next level of DAC technology, known as DAC5.
They can be reliably coupled in winter even without being heated and their cold-weather performance has been independently verified. The patented front panel enables them to handle snowy conditions with ease and can also be removed for fast servicing.
CargoFlex
CargoFlex Hybrid
OnControl.Cargo
Theory is no match for practice
Voith’s unique experience of the DAC in action stems from its partnership with Swiss freight transporter SBB Cargo.
Knowing that digitization and automation are essential for increasing the competitiveness of rail freight, SBB Cargo has become Europe’s first and thus far only freight operator to deploy a DAC in active service – the CargoFlex from Voith.
Having installed this pioneering DAC on 200 freight wagons and 25 locomotives since 2019, SBB Cargo is set to implement CargoFlex on all its intermodal combined freight trains.
As CargoFlex remains the only DAC in active duty anywhere in Europe, Voith has a wealth of practical expertise unmatched by any other manufacturer.
DAC is here: contact Voith today
The transition to the digital automatic coupler is packed with opportunities and challenges alike. Voith guides you through the process with expert on-site assistance and real-world experience unlike anything the rest of the market can offer.
Let’s navigate the digital future of rail freight together.
