GBXLE, Amsted Team on Condition-Based Maintenance Initiative
The initiative includes installing Amsted Digital’s IQ Series™ gateways on all new freight cars from GBXLE, whose portfolio includes hopper, intermodal, tank, and open-box cars. “The IQ Series gateway is mounted directly on the [freight car truck]—a configuration unique in the industry—enabling GBXLE to receive critical [health] information about [freight car] running gear, including wheel slide and wheel fault reports,” said Amsterdam-based GBXLE, part of The Greenbrier Companies in the U.S. “In a second phase, the program will expand to include bearing diagnostics delivered through Amsted Digital’s over-the-air upgrade capability, eliminating the need for additional hardware retrofits or service interruptions.”
According to the partners, the IQ Series platform provides:
- “Continuous monitoring of wheelsets and wheel slide events.
- “AI-driven predictive maintenance insights to reduce unplanned downtime.
- “Seamless integration with existing fleet management systems via industry-standard ITSS protocols.
- “Minimal installation time through plug-and-play setup.
- “Long-life battery and hardware built for harsh rail applications.
- “Over-the-air upgrades that unlock new features and benefits.
- “Green technology: one gateway replaces multiple external sensors to reduce environmental impact.”
Customers, they added, will benefit from:
- “Proactive wheelset health insights that help keep the fleet running at its best.
- “Intelligent shock detection for immediate awareness of potential damage.
- “Maximized [freight car] availability through smarter, data-driven maintenance planning.
- “Optimized maintenance spending through targeted, condition-based interventions.
- “Strengthened operational safety with significantly lowered derailment risk.
- “Seamless installation with no need for additional external sensors.
- “A powerful online portal delivering real-time wheel health analytics and instant incident alerts.”
GBXLE said it provides freight car truck-mounted installation services for its customers, with trucks “upfitted to include an approved Amsted Digital-compatible” mounting bracket.
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to continuously improving the performance and safety of our [freight cars], bringing real benefits to our customers,” GBXLE President William Glenn said. “Partnering with Amsted Digital Solutions enables us to explore new possibilities in [freight car] condition monitoring and help shape a more intelligent and sustainable rail system.”
“This is an exciting milestone in our mission to transform freight rail through intelligent, data-driven tools,” commented John Felty, Managing Director of Amsted Digital’s European operations. “We’re proud to collaborate with Greenbrier Leasing Europe on a program that reflects shared values of safety, innovation and long-term operational efficiency.”
