At InnoTrans 2026, Mersen is presenting three major innovations. Alongside the winter-proof pantograph coating ‘Mersen Arc Protect’, the company is showcasing the compact ‘MODUS’ isolator for rail vehicles and the innovative graphite material ‘AR229’ for long-lasting contact strips. Mersen is the only global manufacturer to cover the fields of power transmission, energy management and power protection. The specialists support railway operators and rail vehicle manufacturers in improving the reliability, safety and operational availability of their systems.
AR229
AR229 was developed for current collection in AC rail transport. During the material’s development, the focus was on extending service life through optimised mechanical properties and consistent sliding behaviour. The graphite improves the pantographs’ resistance to wear and mechanical stress, thereby extending the service life of the components. The material’s sliding properties also enable more controlled interaction with the overhead line, thus helping to protect the contact strips and the infrastructure.
Mersen Arc Protect
Mersen Arc Protect prevents damage caused by arcing, which is frequently triggered in winter by ice formation on the contact wires. Arcing can damage the aluminium supports of the pantograph contact strip, thereby causing service interruptions. By protecting the aluminium supports from extreme thermal stresses, Mersen Arc Protect helps to prevent costly pantograph replacements and unplanned service disruptions.
Mersen MODUS Disconnector
Visitors to the Mersen stand can also expect to see a new generation of the compact MODUS isolator for rail vehicles.
Maxence Beroujon, Design Engineer at Mersen, said:We developed the MODUS isolator with a view to sustainable, reliable mobility and have made it even easier to maintain and more reliable.
The reduced installation depth offers vehicle manufacturers greater flexibility when integrating high-voltage equipment into roof and on-board architectures that are becoming increasingly compact. The isolators incorporate recyclable materials and are also largely made from recycled materials.
In Hall 9, visitors can also discover how Mersen supports rail vehicle manufacturers throughout the entire power conversion chain. The company supplies high-speed fuses to protect critical circuits, capacitors for energy storage and filtering, advanced liquid and air cooling technologies for thermal management, and laminated busbars for compact, high-current connections. Together, these solutions help to improve the efficiency of converters, system reliability and operational availability in both traction and auxiliary power applications.
Visit Mersen at InnoTrans
From 22 to 25 September in Berlin
Hall 9 at Stand 220
About Mersen
Mersen is a world-leading supplier of electrical energy and advanced materials for high-tech industries. With over 135 years’ experience, the company operates from more than 50 industrial sites and 24 research and development centres across 32 countries.
Mersen offers a broad product portfolio in the fields of electrical protection and control technology, as well as solutions for energy management applications. Mersen’s teams work with customers around the world to develop and deliver bespoke solutions and key products for various key markets, including retail, industry, renewable energy, power electronics and e-mobility. Mersen’s mission is to make its customers’ applications safer and more reliable.
This article was originally published by Mersen.
