RAIL
VALTHERMO
Low-maintenance and cost-effective products for your overhead line system
VALTHERMO - THE ECONOMICAL ALTERNATIVE FOR CU-ETP AND CUAg0,1 IN YOUR OVERHEAD CONTACT LINE SYSTEM °
The innovative, heat-resistant copper-tin alloy CuSn0,1 VALTHERMO enables significantly lower maintenance and thus more cost-effective system operation compared to conventional overhead line products. This results in fewer disruptive service interruptions during railway operations and consequently greater economic efficiency for the railway operator. VALTHERMO products can be used in AC and DC systems in local and mainline traffic for speeds of up to 250 km/h. Other fields of application can be found, for example, in trolley bus systems, port railways or in mining.
The conformity of VALTHERMO products with regard to the relevant international standards for contact wires (EN 50149 or IEC 62917) and catenary wires (IEC 63190) is fully given and thus ensures conformity with the regulations for overhead contact line systems (EN 50119 or IEC 60913), but also TSI conformity (Technical Specifications for Interoperability).
CONTACT WIRE MADE OF VALTHERMO CuSn0,1 ACCORDING TO EN 50149 AND IEC 62917 Values for VALTHERMO CuSn0,1 alloy (high tensile strength) NOMINAL CROSS SECTION mm2
TECHNICAL DATA 80
100
107
120
150
Minimum tensile strength 2)
N/mm²
375
375
360
360
360
Minimum breaking load 1)
kN
29,1
36,4
37,4
41,9
52,4
Percentage elongation after fracture
%
3-8
3-8
3-8
3-8
3-8
Elastic modulus
kN/mm²
120
120
120
120
120
Half hard temperature
°C
≥ 300
≥ 300
≥ 300
≥ 300
≥ 300
Electrical conductivity at 20 °C
m/(Ω mm²)
≥ 56,3
≥ 56,3
≥ 56,3
≥ 56,3
≥ 56,3
Electrical conductivity at 20 °C
% IACS
≥ 97
≥ 97
≥ 97
≥ 97
≥ 97
Electrical resistivity at 20 °C
10¯⁸Ω m
≤ 1,777
≤ 1,777
≤ 1,777
≤ 1,777
≤ 1,777
Electrical resistance per kilometre 1)
Ω/km
≤ 0,229
≤ 0,183
≤ 0,171
≤ 0,153
≤ 0,122
Temperature coefficient of electrical resistance 10¯³/K
3,8
3,8
3,8
3,8
3,8
Ampacity 3)
A
510
590
615
662
765
Temperature coefficient of linear expansion
10¯⁵/K
1,7
1,7
1,7
1,7
1,7
Density
10³kg/m³
8,89
8,89
8,89
8,89
8,89
Minimum mass per kilometre
kg/km
690
862
923
1035
1293
Maximum mass per kilometre
kg/km
733
916
980
1099
1374
1) Calculated with minimum cross section. 2) Different tensile strength on request. 3) Calculated at wind 1 m/s, sun radiation 1000 W/m², 35°C ambient teperature, max. permanent operating temperature 100°C, new contact wire. All values refer to new unworn contact wires. Valthermo products are available for all common contact wire profiles and cable configurations. For non-standard products, please inquire about technical and commercial availability.
OVERVIEW THERMORESISTANT STRANDED CONDUCTORS VALTHERMO MAINLY ACCORDING TO DIN 48201 NOMINAL CROSS SECTION
REAL CROSS SECTION
NUMBER OF WIRES
WIRE Ø
CONDUCTOR Ø
WEIGHT
mm
mm
kg/km
kN
Ω/km
A
CALCULATED ELECTRICAL BREAKING LOAD RESISTANCE
AMPACITY 1)
mm²
mm²
10
10,02
7
1,35
4,1
90
4,09
1,816
141
16
15,89
7
1,70
5,1
143
6,49
1,145
188
25
24,25
7
2,10
6,3
218
9,91
0,750
245
35
34,36
7
2,50
7,5
309
14,04
0,529
306
50
49,48
7
3,00
9,0
446
20,21
0,368
385
50
48,35
19
1,80
9,0
438
19,75
0,378
380
70
65,81
19
2,10
10,5
596
26,88
0,278
462
95
93,27
19
2,50
12,5
844
38,10
0,196
577
120
116,99
19
2,80
14,0
1059
47,79
0,156
666
150
147,11
37
2,25
15,8
1335
60,09
0,125
771
185
181,62
37
2,50
17,5
1648
74,19
0,101
881
240
242,54
61
2,25
20,3
2204
99,08
0,076
1060
300
299,43
61
2,50
22,5
2721
122,32
0,061
1212
400
400,14
61
2,89
26,0
3636
163,46
0,046
1458
500
499,83
61
3,23
29,1
4542
201,33
0,037
1682
1) Guide values for ampacity calculated at wind 1 m/s, sun radiation 1000 W/m², 35°C ambient teperature, max. permanent operating temperature 100°C. Calculation for other conditions on request. All values refer to new stranded conductor. Other specifications according to international standards and customer requirements on request.
VALTHERMO - PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES: OPERATOR-FRIENDLY - less operational disruptions in railway operations and, consequently, significantly higher availability for the overhead contact line, resulting from higher wear resistance and the associated longer service life - full compatibility with all Cu-ETP and CuAg0,1 contact wires COST-SAVING - savings in contact wires changes over the systems’ service life due to lower wear - higher energy transmission capacity than Cu-ETP - Life Cycle Costs and CO2 savings potential (proven in a joint study with the Chair of Elektrische Bahnen at the Technical University of Dresden) INSTALLATION-FRIENDLY - reduced to negligible need for adjustment due to reduced creep compared to pure copper - known handling during installation, analogous to Cu-ETP and CuAg0,1 TECHNOLOGIC - high-strength CuSn0,1 alloy with the same properties as high-strength CuAg0,1 contact wire - same high conductivity as technically pure copper - significantly lower wear compared to copper and copper-silver contact wires - at least 50 % lower creep strain than Cu-ETP - higher permissible permanent operating temperature (100 °C instead of 80 °C for Cu-ETP) and temperature peaks (EN 50119 /IEC 60913)
VALTHERMO - OVERHEAD CONTACT LINE PRODUCTS USED COMMERCIALLY SINCE 2012 » over 9.200 tons of contact wires and stranded conductors supplied » approx. 100 customers in more than 10 countries » local and mainline transportation, trolleybus applications and overhead conductor rail applications Since its commercial market launch in 2012, VALTHERMO has contributed to the electrification of a wide variety of railway applications and is now internationally established.
VALTHERMO has been used in the following projects in recent years: » GZU Freight train bypass of St. Pölten in Lower Austria on the western line of ÖBB Infrastruktur, Austria » Electrification of Graz-Köflacher-Bahn, Austria » SBB-PROJEKT FFWF - Contact wire renewal Frauenfeld-Weinfelden, Switzerland » Alp-Transit-Gotthard AG used in Ceneri-base tunnel; usage for overhead conductor rail, Schweiz
» Elektrification of the “Südbahn Ulm-FriedrichshafenISLE OF MAN
CANADA
FINLAND
NETHERLANDS ESTONIA
GERMANY
CZECH REPUBLIC
FRANCE BOLIVIA
Lindau“, Germany » New line of Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG from Radebeul-West to Weinböhla, Germany » Tallina Linnatranspordi AS, expansion of the largest tram network in Estonia » VALTHERMO for the light rail in Edmonton / Alberta, Canada
» Various uses in France in Grenoble local transport network, Strasbourg, Saint-Etienne and Lyon
AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND
AUSTRALIA
» Australien Canberra Light Rail » Renewal and new construction of the Waldenburger Bahn
MILESTONES SO FAR
(WB), Switzerland » Project new high-tech tram network in Cochabamba, Bolivia » TEC Charleroi, Belgium » Renewal of the Isle of Man Tram Line
SEPTEMBER 2012
JULY 2017
SINCE JANUARY 2013
AUGUST 2017
Field testing in the DB Netz area (VALTHERMO compared with Cu, CuAg0,1 und CuMg0,2) Component compatibility testing (system-specific)
MAY 2014
First comparative wear measurement as part of field testing at DB Netz, Germany
AUGUST 2014
Grenoble‘s public transport system switches from Cu-ETP to VALTHERMO for maintenance First deliveries of 95 mm² VALTHERMO catenary wire for various railway operators in Switzerland
NOVEMBER 2017
Approval by SBB-Infrastruktur for contact wire CuSn0,1 AC-107 mm²
Approval by DB Netz, inclusion of contact wire CuSn0,1 AC-100 mm² in the Deutsche Bahn Ebs-Zeichnungswerk
NOVEMBER 2018
JANUARY 2015
JUNE 2019
1st Deutsche Bahn project delivery
MARCH 2015
Approval by ÖBB-Infrastruktur for catenary wire CuMg0,2 Tragseil 70 mm²
Infrabel in Belgium and SNCF France agreed on performing field trials First installation of VALTHERMO contact wire AC-100 mm² and VALTHERMO catenary wire 150 mm²-37x2,25 mm in DC application at Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG
JULY 2021
FEBRUARY 2016
Approval by ÖBB-Infrastruktur for CuSn0,1 contact wires Profilfahrdrähte 100 mm² and 120 mm²
Second comparative wear measurement as part of field testing at DB Netz and publication of eb- Elektrische Bahnen - Statistical evaluation of the wear of contact wires made of different materials after 5,5 years of service
SEPTEMBER 2016
MAY 2022
VALTHERMO considered for the Deutsche Bahn Innovation Award (VALTHERMO positioned in the top 10 innovations at the InnoTrans trade fair 2016)
Approval by DB Netz, inclusion of contact wire CuSn0,1 AC-120 mm² in the Deutsche Bahn Ebs-Zeichnungswerk
THE MOST IMPORTANT ARGUMENTS FOR VALTHERMO The VALTHERMO contact wire has been used commercially by Deutsche Bahn AG since 2014 and by Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB since 2027 as an alternative to other materials and is now also used commercially by many other railway operators. This results in significant advantages for VALTHERMO contact wires and catenary wires compared to Cu-ETP:
» at least twice the expected service life for contact wires » approx. 20% higher ampacity than Cu-ETP » a creep strain that is lower in a ratio of around 1:3 to 1:2 LIFETIME IN COMPARISON TO CU-ETP [%] LOCATIONS OF MAX. WEAR
LIFETIME IN COMPARISON TO CU-ETP [%] MEAN VALUE OF 5 LOCATIONS WITH CRITICAL WEAR
Cu-ETP
Cu-ETP
CuAg0,1
CuAg0,1
VALTHERMO
VALTHERMO
Source: E. Helwig, A. Stephan, F. Pupke; Lebenszykluskosten von Fahrdrähten – neue Erkenntnisse aus mehrjährigen Betriebserprobungen; eb Elektrische Bahnen 115, Heft 2-3 (2017), S. 60 - 68
Source: T. Bregulla, F. Aufschläger, A. Stephan, F. Pupke, T. Nickel; Statistische Auswertung des Verschleißes von Fahrdrähten unterschiedlicher Werkstoffe; eb Elektrische Bahnen 119, Heft 7-8 (2021), S. 282 - 290
CREEP STRAIN OF AC-100 after 90 D WITH 10kN LOAD [‰]
SUSTAINABILITY - THE ECOVADIS ASSESSMENT OF ELCOWIRE RAIL GMBH WAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2023. THE AIM IS TO CONTINUE THIS SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT.
Cu-ETP CuAg0,1 VALTHERMO Source: Elcowire Rail GmbH
Please contact us if you would like to receive a special print of the eb publications.
TRUST. RESPONSIBILITY. RESPECT. PASSION. CONTACT Elcowire Group AB Elektrogatan 20, 251 09 Helsingborg, Sweden
© 2026.V2, Elcowire Group AB
Elcowire Group | LinkedIn elcowire.com
Elcowire takes no responsibility for the information being correct, complete or current.