Road-rail Robot VLEX -
From track to road and back
Road-rail Robot VLEX -
From track to road and back

Shunting Vehicle for Rail and Road

Shunting vehicles with road-rail technology combine several advantages in addition to the clean electric drive. Here, we have designed the road-rail robot VLEX for the rough everyday use in railway sidings. All components as well as the steel construction are extremely robust.

At the same time, you have maximum drive power and experience technology features such as the swing axle for increased derailment safety. In just a few seconds, you can safely switch from the track to the road.

This makes the VLEX the ideal solution for your shunting and loading jobs up to 600 tons:

Up to  600 tons on Track and Road

With the VLEX, Vollert offers a robust solution for the shunting of freight cars as well as in road and subway depots up to 600 tons. 

100% E-Mobility Drive Concept

100% fully electric - the road-rail robot VLEX has a clean drive concept with high power. 

In 15 min learning the road-rail technology

Thanks to the new color system, the outdoor remote control is particularly easy to use.

High derailment safety and easy on and off tracking

For optimum traction and power transmission, we rely on a high dead weight and a newly developed swing axle.

100% E-Mobility Drive Concept

100% fully electric - the road-rail robot VLEX has a clean drive concept with high power.

4 x 4 All-wheel drive provides real power and endurance

Powerful 96% efficiency, four individually controlled wheel hub motors with a peak torque of up to 4,000 Nm ensure reliable shunting processes and optimum power transmission on road and rail - both outdoors and in enclosed loading or workshop areas. Braking is electric. Spring-loaded multi-disc brakes acting on all wheels keep the road-rail vehicle safely in position.

From 0 to 100: Simple and intelligent recharging

The battery is recharged via an intelligent high-frequency charger with gentle charge control. Air circulation +AIR accelerates the charging process and enables trouble-free intermediate charging. The tubular plate technology also ensures a long battery life cycle.

A special, newly developed drive-away protection prevents accidents during the charging process.

In 15 min learning the road-rail technology: New color concept

The outdoor remote control makes it particularly easy thanks to the novel color system.

Learning to steer and drive in minutes

The steering and travel directions as well as the lowering device of the track guide rollers can be intuitively operated via color-coded buttons. In addition, all other functions such as buttons for solo/load speed, locking of the steering function, working lights, the shunting coupling and an emergency stop button are always in view and can be selected.

Due to the high range, the road-rail robot can be controlled safely under all operating conditions. In most of the European Union, the radio frequency does not need to be registered or approved (433/434 MHz).

Swing axle for optimum contact with road and rail

For optimum traction and power transmission, we rely on a high dead weight of 4.5 t (VLEX 20) resp. 10 t (VLEX 40) and a newly developed swing axle. This ensures that all drive wheels always have maximum contact with the ground and can develop their full power during rail and road travel.

Smaller obstacles as well as potholes are mastered without loss of stability and traction, even on unpaved but load-bearing surfaces.

High derailing safety and easy on/off tracking due to track guide rollers

In conjunction with the swing axle, the inside track guide units ensure a high level of derailment safety and a particularly simple on/off tracking process. The individual track rollers can be rotated individually and have a special hydraulic compensation control. 

Innovative articulated steering for sophisticated steering geometry

Many conventional shunting vehicles are too clumsy and operate with high wear. The newly developed road-rail robot VLEX has a special articulated steering system. The steering is effected via the speed control of the wheels, which means that the usual steering cylinders for articulated steering systems could be dispensed with.

The road-rail vehicle is nonetheless compact and impresses with extremely small turning radii.

High usability, less wear and downtime

With articulated steering, we eliminate the need for individually steerable wheels, which are often equipped with a lot of vulnerable electronics. This not only avoids disturbing downtimes, but also ensures a particularly simple steering geometry. Tire wear is also significantly reduced.

High robustness for a long lifetime

Dirt, dust and the climate and weather conditions often make shunting processes in sidings challenging for technology. The shunting technology previously used in many sectors is often susceptible to faults due to its delicate construction. With the VLEX, we are focusing here on a real evolution in road-rail technology. Not only has the drive and steering concept been completely redeveloped, but with a special steel structure and high-quality components, the road-rail vehicle is designed especially for rough railway operation.

Robust construction as for construction machinery

The steel frame is extremely robust and fully welded. Even in the event of minor collisions, no major damage occurs and shunting operations can be continued without any problems. The individual components, such as the track rollers or electronic components, are also designed in such a way that they are maximally protected but still freely accessible at all times. This also significantly facilitates any maintenance procedures that may be necessary.

Technical Details

Technics and Details (VLEX 20/VLEX 40)

  • Traction force 20 kN up to 300 t tensile load (VLEX 20) or 40 kN up to 600 t tensile load (VLEX 40) at 0 ‰ in straight, level track, 6 km/h or 3 km/h under load
  • All-wheel drive with four powerful 7.5 kW (VLEX 20) or 12.5 KW (VLEX 40) wheel hub motors and permanently excited DC synchronous motors
  • Lifetime min. 20,000 h
  • Spring-loaded multi-disc brakes act on all wheels
  • ± 45° (VLEX 20) or ± 35° (VLEX 40) passive articulated steering
  • Track gauges 1,000/1,435/1,520 mm (VLEX 20) or 1,435/1,520 mm (VLEX 40) other track gauges on request
  • High-performance traction battery with a lifetime of approx. 1,500 cycles, voltage 80 V, capacity 360 Ah (VLEX 20) and 875 Ah (VLEX 40)
  • Intelligent charger for high energy efficiency with air circulation +AIR for accelerated charging 
  • High-quality series components from renowned manufacturers (Exide, Allweiher, STW, Abitron and many more)

Current projects

Road-Rail Robot VLEX at Fret SNCF in the French Alps

read more

Scrap Transport with Smart Road-Rail Solution

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Zwei_Mitarbeiter_stehen_neben_einem_Zweiwegefahrzeug_VLEX_40_in_der_Metro_Wartung_bei_Korail

Road-rail Robot VLEX now up to 600 t tensile load

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Your contact

Michael  Spohn

Senior Sales Manager

Telephone: +49 7134 52 465

E-Mail: michael.spohnvollert.de

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