New Service Centre opened in Linz

The Linz Training Centre and Technical Service Department are key for the professional support of our customers. Over the last few years they have significantly gained in importance. Since April 2018 both departments are housed in the new Service Centre.

Every week, at least two groups of trainees come to our main plant in Linz to attend the training courses that form part of a new machine contract. Most of the trainees are operating staff and maintenance personnel of our customers. However, also managers are introduced to the key criteria for handling work sites.

Since April 2018, training has been taking place in our new Service Centre, a spacious and modern building. Equipped with state-of-the-art media technology, it allows us to share our knowledge efficiently and swiftly.

The training comprises the technical construction of the machine, its operation and maintenance. Christian Höllwirth, Head of the Training Centre, “We place great emphasis on the subject of safety. What do I have to watch out for when working on a machine? How do I conduct myself on a worksite?“

In addition to the theoretical basics, the participants learn how to use individual components, such as the ALC guiding computer, the P-IC control or the DRP recorder. To allow the trainees to familiarise themselves with the workflow on the machine, the basement of the Service Centre houses simulators. They make it possible to train the work in the front wagon and the operator’s cabin of a tamping machine efficiently.

At Plasser & Theurer, it is standard practice to provide comprehensive documentation with every delivered machine. All this documentation is written in the local language of the operating companies and meets the legal requirements of the respective countries.

The introduction of digital information media has made it possible to take huge steps forward in recent years.

Technical Service is the second big department in our new Service Centre. Its essential activities include, amongst others, the commissioning and the practical training at the customer’s site.  

Christian Stroblmayr, Head of Technical Services: “Before the customer goes on a machine, we make sure that it is commissioned properly. After that, we instruct the customer’s personnel on using the machine in practice.”  

The intensity and duration of the practical training on site varies depending on the knowledge of the customers’ staff. We make sure that each machine crew is prepared optimally for operating the machine. Here, too, the subject of safety plays a crucial role.

Christian Stroblmayr: “By working jointly on the machine, we quickly see where we can help our customers. This is crucial for the economic success in using the machine.”

Before moving into the new Service Centre, the offer of our Technical Service Department was expanded and brought up-to-date in many areas. It comprises the leasing of machine operators and service engineers, maintenance contracts, inspections and overhauls through to retrofits and upgrades.

The main focus is on remote support and support on site. In the former case we support the machine crews by telephone or online from Linz, in the latter case our engineers provide direct on-site support on the machine in any technical matters. We use the knowledge our engineers gain from this work to constantly further develop and improve our machines.