Open Access

This book offers a timely introduction to railway brake systems. It introduces operational aspects as well as a set of rail vehicle specific requirements, such as wheel-rail contact and rail vehicle dynamics. It discusses the process of brake control, in particular for automatic pneumatic brake system and brake systems for multiple units. In turn, the book gives insights into braking force generation, covering both friction brake systems and regenerative brakes. It also describes performance calculations, discussing concepts for brake systems design. Despite the focus is mainly on European braking systems, the book identifies key and general aspects, thus offering an inspiring reading for researchers and professionals that are active both inside and outside of Europe.

Industrial field devices exchange information through standardized communication interfaces and data models, encompassing process data, communication properties, and vendor details. Despite enhancing interoperability within a specific protocol, integrating these devices with diverse systems poses challenges due to data model fragmentation and custom interfaces. The absence of a universal semantic model for categorizing field device process data independently of standards necessitates engineers to repetitively devise custom exchange data models for different sensors and actuators, relying on standards like OPC-UA. In response, this work proposes an ontology-based architecture to tackle information data model fragmentation, aiming for seamless data interoperability across a universal interface. By focusing on two open-access field device standards, IO-Link and CANOpen, we compare their information data models, identify existing limitations, and put forth a semantic information model. The objective is to offer an interoperable interface for Industry 4.0 applications, showcasing the potential of an ontology-based approach in streamlining data exchange and reducing heterogeneity among field devices.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a topic that is becoming more relevant to many companies globally. With AM's progressive development and use for series production, integrating the technology into existing production structures is becoming an important criterion for businesses. This study qualitatively examines the actual state and different perspectives on the integration of AM in production structures. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed. The interview partners were high-level experts in Additive Manufacturing and production systems from industry and science. Four main themes were identified. Key findings are the far-reaching interrelationships and implications of AM within production structures. Specific AM-related aspects were identified. Those can be used to increase the knowledge and practical application of the technology in the industry and as a foundation for economic considerations.

Establishing high-performance polymers in additive manufacturing opens up new industrial applications. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) was initially used in aerospace but is now widely applied in automotive, electronics, and medical industries. This study focuses on developing applications using PEEK and Fused Filament Fabrication for cost-efficient vulcanization injection mold production. A proof of concept confirms PEEK’s suitability for AM mold making, withstanding vulcanization conditions. Printing PEEK above its glass transition temperature of 145 °C is preferable due to its narrow process window. A new process strategy at room temperature is discussed, with micrographs showing improved inter-layer bonding at 410°C nozzle temperature and 0.1 mm layer thickness. Minimizing the layer thickness from 0.15 mm to 0.1 mm improves tensile strength by 16%.

Transgenic plants have the potential to produce recombinant proteins on an agricultural scale, with yields of several tons per year. The cost-effectiveness of transgenic plants increases if simple cultivation facilities such as greenhouses can be used for production. In such a setting, we expressed a novel affinity ligand based on the fluorescent protein DsRed, which we used as a carrier for the linear epitope ELDKWA from the HIV-neutralizing antibody 2F5. The DsRed-2F5-epitope (DFE) fusion protein was produced in 12 consecutive batches of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants over the course of 2 years and was purified using a combination of blanching and immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). The average purity after IMAC was 57 ± 26% (n = 24) in terms of total soluble protein, but the average yield of pure DFE (12 mg kg−1) showed substantial variation (± 97 mg kg−1, n = 24) which correlated with seasonal changes. Specifically, we found that temperature peaks (>28°C) and intense illuminance (>45 klx h−1) were associated with lower DFE yields after purification, reflecting the loss of the epitope-containing C-terminus in up to 90% of the product. Whereas the weather factors were of limited use to predict product yields of individual harvests conducted for each batch (spaced by 1 week), the average batch yields were well approximated by simple linear regression models using two independent variables for prediction (illuminance and plant age). Interestingly, accumulation levels determined by fluorescence analysis were not affected by weather conditions but positively correlated with plant age, suggesting that the product was still expressed at high levels, but the extreme conditions affected its stability, albeit still preserving the fluorophore function. The efficient production of intact recombinant proteins in plants may therefore require adequate climate control and shading in greenhouses or even cultivation in fully controlled indoor farms.