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Title

Noise Abatement Issue (Spring 2002) IPRO 315: Noise_Abatement_Issue_IPRO315_Spring2002_Final_Presentation

Date

2002, 2002-05

Description

Penn Machine Company, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a recognized leader in the manufacture and marketing of wheel sets for high speed and local...
Show morePenn Machine Company, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a recognized leader in the manufacture and marketing of wheel sets for high speed and local rail transportation operations. Penn Machine manufactures noise-damping wheels, including the PCC Standard Resilient Wheel, the first successful resilient transit wheel, and the Bochum 54 and 84 resilient wheels under license from Fried. Krupp Huttenwerke A.G., Bochum, Germany. These resilient composite material wheel sets produced by Penn Machine Company have been widely accepted in light rail operations around the world (e.g. Paris, Berlin, San Francisco, Washington, D.C.). However, even though they provide longer life and reduced maintenance, and most significantly lower noise, etc., they have a higher initial cost than the current wheels used in rapid transit operations like the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). This has made it very challenging to gain interest and acceptance by those responsible for rapid transit purchase decisions that impact engineering, maintenance, finance and operations.At this time, Penn Machine Company is interested in supporting an IPRO team that would study the complex combination of technical, marketing, financial, and community issues associated with demonstrating, specifying and accepting resilient wheel product technology in rapid transit applications. An IPRO team can play an important role in defining the complete "value proposition" for a rapid transit operation like the CTA, and provide independent, unbiased views on the full benefits vs. costs of their resilient wheel product technology. A particular benefit of an IPRO team working on this problem is that IIT students and consulting faculty can prepare their analysis and recommendations from a local Chicago perspective. There are several tasks that the team can undertake, based on guidance provided by the sponsor and available time during the semester: (1) review extensive engineering analyses and research reports and studies available from Penn Machine Company and its German licensor to fully understand and confirm the best available technology for rail wheel performance enhancement, and noise and vibration mitigation; (2) review the state-of-the-art and visit rapid transit and light rail operations in the U.S.;(3) evaluate procurement and purchase decision processes associated with rail car and other capital equipment investments in the passenger rail transportation industry;(4) study the variety of financial analyses (first cost, life cycle cost, present value analysis, etc.) used to support purchase decision making for products with high initial cost but competitive life cycle cost in various industries;(5) study the historical context of urban development, decline and renewal that influence social, political and economic cost-benefit considerations of noise, vibration and other environmental issues associated with local transit operations, ridership, and affected communities and structures adjacent to rail right-of-way; and(6) study the effect of government regulations (e.g., Federal Railway Administration) and related industry standards and practices (American Association of Railroads, Occupational Safety and Health Administration) on the specification and purchase of technologies that have long term economic and social benefit. In general, the IPRO team may identify creative approaches for enhancing the "value proposition" for marketing these rail wheel set products. The results of the IPRO team's work should be focused to developing a thorough, broad study of technical, economic, organizational, business/marketing, and community issues. The goal is to create a compelling case for gaining rail transit commitment to collaborate on demonstrating the efficacy of resilient wheel products offered by Penn Machine Company.
Sponsorship: NA
Project Plan for IPRO 315: Noise Abatement Issue for the Spring 2002 semester
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