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Customer application 5 January 2021

Reliably Open Even under Critical Loads

Tunnel construction depends on state-of-the-art machines and devices. Demostene + Partner AG developed the new controller in the mixed load system “Module de Repompage et de Sensibilisation d’Emulsion (Morse)” for the “Société Suisse des Explosifs (SSE)” from concept to installation. This technical marvel is controlled by the WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM 750, which, with the new XTR expansion, excels even under extreme conditions.

The Lötschberg tunnel of the BLS railway opened 100 years ago. After the groundbreaking on October 15, 1906, countless miners risked their life daily in the dark and dusty tunnel. Muggy 32 °C temperatures were the norm within the mountain, and the booming noise of the drills and the subsequent explosions took their toll on health. Haggard bodies, illnesses and often early deaths: Work under extreme conditions was no picnic a century ago. The situation was quite different in 2014. Today, state-of-the-art machines drive the tunnel construction. However, one thing has stayed the same: Tunnel construction still makes extreme demands on workers, machines and electronic devices– in the form of vibration, dust, dirt, heat and dirty electricity grids – often for years at a time. These circumstances are especially hard on machines controlled by state-of-the-art electronics.

Operation under Extreme Conditions – Here’s How WAGO Supports You:

  • The WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM 750 meets the highest demands on quality and functionality.

  • The XTR version is temperature-resistant from −40 °C to +70 °C and vibration-proof up to 5g and features high immunity to impulse voltages according to EN 60870-2-1.

  • Thus the system withstands even the most demanding conditions and can be expanded thanks to its modular design.

Designed for Extreme Environments

One of the machines is the Morse (mixed load vehicle) used by SSE. At a first glance, it looks clunky; however, appearances deceive. This metal container is used to generate explosives – based on state-of-the-art technology and a precise mixture. Using a compressor, two to five kilograms of it will on average be filled into the 3 to 4.5 meter deep drill hole. The explosives mixture is then paired with the detonator, which is located in the front of the drill hole. WAGO Contact SA in Domdidier supplied all of the control electronics for the Morse (mixed load vehicle). WAGO developed the new WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM 750 XTR for extreme applications. And this system is powerful: Temperatures from a chilly −40 °C up to a scorching +70 °C have no effect on it. Dr. Maurice Delaloye, the technical director of the SSE Group, has the following to say about it: “People’s lives are at stake in what we do. Therefore, quality, reliability and safety are our main concerns. We must be able to rely on our partners.” Morses (mixed load vehicles) are used throughout Europe in underground construction. SEE is responsible for the machines, as well as training the miners on site. Only operators who have passed a test are permitted to operate the machines. “We make no compromises when the safety of the miners is at stake,” emphasizes Dr. Maurice Delaloye.