GE, Transnet explore use of digital technologies to boost locomotive performance

Technology multinational GE reports that it is working with South Africa’s Transnet on ways to integrate its digital solutions into the locomotives it has already supplied, and is in the process of supplying, to the State-owned freight logistics group.

The two companies are using GE’s newly established Africa Innovation Centre, in Johannesburg, as the “gathering point” for these digital deliberations. The R500-million centre was officially opened in June and has been described as a “collaborative work space” for developing innovative solutions for “Africa by Africans”.

GE South Africa CEO Thomas Konditi tells Engineering News Online that Transnet is keen to use digital technologies to improve its operational performance and that various opportunities are being investigated for the GE locomotives in its fleet.

The US group has already supplied Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) with around 150 diesel-electric locomotives and is also in the process of fulfilling an order for 233 diesel locomotives, awarded as part of the R50-billion contract for the supply of 1 064 new diesel and electric locomotives.

Awarded in 2014, the contract has been split four ways with General Electric South Africa Technologies and China’s CNR Rolling Stock South Africa to supply 233 and 232 diesel locomotives respectively, while CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive and Bombardier Transportation South Africa have been contracted to supply 359 and 240 electric locomotives respectively.

GE has positioned itself globally as a ‘digital industrial company’ and is seeking to overlay industrial machines, including locomotives, with software and data analytics tools.

“In South Africa, we are using the innovation centre as a place where we are connecting the dots,” Konditi reports, adding that GE’s digital strategy complements TFR’s plan for sourcing more data from its locomotives and using the intelligence to improve fleet management and planning.

He is also confident, meanwhile, that GE will successfully navigate the current transition of supplying TFR under the local-content designation system for rail rolling stock, having previously supplied the company under the Competitive Supplier Development Programme.

Local production and content of 55% is stipulated for diesel locomotives and, under the designations, needs to be verified by the South African Bureau of Standards, using the SATS 1286:2011 technical specification.

Konditi reports that the audit is under way and that he is comfortable that General Electric South Africa Technologies will meet, or even exceed, the thresholds.

Over 50 locomotives have already been delivered to TFR under the ’10-64 programme’, with only the first six made outside of South Africa.

The balance is being produced in Koedoespoort, near Pretoria, and GE is working directly with 25 domestic suppliers, with a further 70 firms supplying into those major component manufacturers.

In addition, the group is working with Transnet Engineering to supply other African markets from Koedoespoort, with around 60 South Africa-assembled locomotives having been supplied to Mozambique.