When Hitachi launched its Blues hybrid train, we engineered the production of its roofs to make possible cost effective mass production of parts that result from assembling panels of different shapes and sizes.

Made of fiberglass, for reasons of weight but also electrical insulation, ESCS insulated Roof™ represents an optimized approach based on a standard panel coupled with fastening frames made with modular rails that allow flexibility by reducing production to linear elements of defined lengths and curved connecting elements.

The roof, which houses converters, batteries and inverters, had to meet a series of technical challenges: ensure electrical insulation both from outside (eg. fall of the catenary cabling) and inside (eg. dispersions or failures from electrical equipment); withstand fire and fumes including burst of flames from transformers; be structurally solid to support maintenance personnel and withstand hail.

Loson’s design not only meets these requirements and has achieved EN45545 HL1 – HL2 set R1 and R7 certification, but the use of fiberglass has also helped to greatly reduce condensation, eliminate grounding cabling thus simplifying and reducing cost of the whole system. Moreover, thanks to its lightness, maintenance is easier, requiring less personnel and no hoisting machines.

ESCS Insulated Roof is a custom made product where the same industrial process is adapted to the sizes of the train. We take care of designing the roof, its interface with the wagons, engineering the production process, mold making, production to certified standards.

ESCS Insulated Roof is not only an highly efficient product coupling structural and insulation capabilities, but also a cost effective approach reducing customization and variations to standardize parts.