In the rail and public transport sectors, safety, reliability and durability are extremely important. This is particularly true of sliding doors, which are subject to certain requirements, since they have to guarantee a smooth journey for passengers.
The collaboration between Metal 99, ACE and BIBUS has resulted in an innovative solution that integrates miniature shock absorbers into pneumatic sliding doors, increasing their reliability and passenger safety.

There's never enough safe solutions!

As the number of people using public transport and trains continues to grow, manufacturers are challenged to design systems that are reliable and guarantee the long-term use of sliding doors, whatever the conditions.
In Hungary, Metal 99, a family-owned company specializing in the manufacture of windows and doors for public transport, decided to rise to the challenge by using high-quality materials and components to guarantee safety and longevity.
The company has, for example, developed tailor-made solutions for BKV (Budapest Transport Corporation) and MÁV (Hungarian Railways).

The choice of shock absorber

For the sliding doors on the trains, Metal 99 had the idea of integrating Chinese shock absorbers. But the fear of long-term failure led them to look for a more reliable solution.
BIBUS Hungary, a specialist in pneumatic and hydraulic systems in Hungary and a long-standing partner of Metal 99, proposed ACE shock absorbers, renowned for their durability and performance. The Metal 99 team was convinced by the superior quality and the tests carried out on these ACE shock absorbers.

A reliable, durable solution

The doors produced by Metal 99 for trains and public transport weigh around 55kg and move at a maximum speed of 2m/s, so dampers capable of absorbing 59 Nm/cycle were required.
ACE shock absorbers were selected to meet these requirements, as they offer high safety margins, guarantee optimum performance, withstand emergency stops and perform well over the long term.

Guaranteed optimum performance

This model of ACE shock absorber, offered by BIBUS, is perfectly adapted to the specific needs of this project and its applications.
To ensure maximum safety, ACE carried out tests on these shock absorbers. During these tests, shock absorbers were installed on a load cell and subjected to violent shocks simulating emergency stops in real-life conditions. The results of these tests were highly conclusive, as the shock absorbers effectively absorb energy and offer long-term protection against wear.
On top of this, Metal 99 added rubber buffers to offer additional protection to the doors against excessive forces and user interference.

A winning collaboration!

The collaboration between these 3 entities - Metal 99, BIBUS and ACE - has resulted in a reliable, long-lasting solution for sliding doors on high-speed trains and mass transit systems. This solution offers long-term safety and performance, two essential factors in today's transportation systems.
ACE miniature dampers, with their compact design and ability to absorb large forces over the long term, up to 25 million cycles, represent a technological breakthrough in the optimization of sliding doors in public transport.
Thanks to this solution and partnership, Metal 99 has positioned itself as a major player in the design of door systems for trains, guaranteeing safer, more comfortable journeys for passengers.