Reliable Vacuum Toilet for trains around the world
Case
Automation/Machinery
Semvac's high-tech vacuum toilets are already widely recognized, but by significantly increasing the quality of a central subsystem, the sanitary system can now roll into markets where Semvac previously had to give way to competitors.
Application
Toilet
Sanitation
Automatic control
Valve
Vacuum system
Train and track technology
The challenge
Semvac manufactures compact vacuum toilets for modern railcars in most parts of the world. For many years, Betech has supplied a molded rubber valve that opens and closes when emptying the toilet bowl.Â
In its collaboration with a European train manufacturer, Semvac wants the system approved for a higher train class, which includes the latest generation of high-speed trains, the ICNG class.Â
But this requires the valve to be tested to a full 300,000 trouble-free suctions - which corresponds to about a 50 percent increase in the guaranteed service interval.
The solution
To ensure the desired quality and durability, Betech, together with Semvac's development department, adjusted both the vacuum system and the design of the rubber bellows (valve).Â
The change has led to a simplification of the toilet's design, and with a new molding tool, the molded valve has also been optimized so that the application can meet the requirement for lifetime extension and reliability.
Added value for the customer
The new solution means that the critical rubber bellows subsystem now performs with a large safety margin compared to the required quality.Â
The lifetime of the application is extended to such an extent that Semvac gets a head start on the competition and can sell the vacuum toilets to a new market segment.
