Alex Tech Bits
Railway Engineer
Trains & other stuff
Confucius said: "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life".Approximately that summarize my daily work, however, in my freetime I have some hobbies that I like to hang out, for example, travel, practicing fencing, etc. for further information please go to Places or Projects & Hobbies.
In the following paragraphs you will find summarizes some of my works in the railway field:
Teamleader
I have managed work teams in practically all the companies in which I have collaborated. From small work teams of 2 or 3 engineers, to the 14 designers that made up the electrical design team at Sogeti (now Capgemini).
Additionally, the groups have been very diverse, some were made up of technicians, operators and engineers and others were exclusively engineers.
I have also had to manage teams located in various locations, sometimes a work center was thousands of kilometers away.
Perhaps the most notable project was during my time at Sogeti HT (Capgemini), since I participated from the beginning and was involved until the last installment. Sogeti proposed a very ambitious hiring plan, in which I actively collaborated, getting to incorporate more than 40 people into the project in just over 2 months. Finally, with this team, Sogeti was going to be in charge of approximately 50% of the engineering load of the project, dividing it into 8 areas managed by 5 team leaders.
Working with the customer, all Sogeti teams designed a Very High Speed train. In particular, I was in charge of the Electrical Design. I was in charge of up to 14 designers, whom I had to train in railway electrical design, with CAD programs (3D & 2D) and CAE programs (electrical diagrams). I had to managed the team, made the internal and customer reporting, team training and technical support for the project itself.
Sales
I have participated in the collection of data and making offers, both technical and economic, in most of the companies in which I have worked. Additionally, due to my extroverted character and my technical abilities, I have also done a good commercial job accompanying and doing commercial work with clients.
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Albatros: RENFE, ADIF, Metro, Actren,...
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CWI: ENR, Talgo, CAF,...
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ALVErs: RENFE, MultiRail, Actren, Metro,..
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Satys: Alstom, Talgo,...
In 2016 I joined the Sanhua International Europe team, as a full-time Technical Sales Manager, in charge of:
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Distribution in Iberia
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Portuguese OEMs
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Transportation equipment OEMs
I made hundreds of visits and thousands of kilometers to reach my objectives, as well as hundreds of quotes and resolution of many other technical issues.
In 2021 I came back to Sanhua, with a similar portfolio:
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Distribution in Iberia
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Heat Pump OEMs in Iberia
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Transportation equipment OEMs
Once again I am on the road, at street level with clients, solving doubts and giving the best possible service.
Project Manager
During my career I have worked in one way or another as a Project Manager because I have always managed the jobs in which I have been involved, controlling time, planning, processes, costs, etc., as far as it was possible.
At Colway in particular, I managed two large projects (€ 2.2M & € 1.6M), not only with the manufacture of electrical cabinets, but also in their design and assembly them on trains and much more other stuff.
With Sogeti HT, I have managed the electrical design of the great project that is the design of a very high speed train.
PMP
Due to my constant interest in improving, I have studied different project management tools, the most remarkable is the study of the PMI method, very interesting and useful when managing projects and processes as best as possible.
HVAC&R (Railway & Ind.)
During my passage through the multiple stages of my working life I have acquired many and varied knowledge, however there are some fields that have technically stood out.
The Air conditioning and Refrigeration is a clear example, already in Albatros SI I participated in the maintenance and repair of railway equipment (HVAC & R), I collaborated in the design of a climatic chamber, I was trained with testing tools (ClimaCheck) or I developed an HVAC generic for tests.
Colway gave me the opportunity to redesign a small complete and compact rail HVAC team and an independent control for a retrofit.
In Sanhua I had the opportunity to soak up the knowledge of installers and manufacturers. I took the opportunity to carry out, at my own risk, a course in Refrigeration Experts and be able to keep up with my clients.
Electricity
Within my wide knowledge of railways and other areas, it could said that I have specialized in electricity, like in schematics drawings, 3D design or in assembly itself.
Firstly in Albatros SI I was hired as an electrical engineer, a role that I carried out continuously and in which I developed quickly.
The projects that I managed and developed in Colway was the Electrification of Rail Coaches and the Design of their Electrical Frames.
Finally, the most important role I have performed as electrical designer it was in Sogeti HT, I was in charge of a team of engineers and designers for the Electrical design of a Very High Speed train, cars and locomotive, where I applied all my knowledge and experience and of course I have expanded them during the execution of the project.
Refrigeration
At Satys (Satys Interiors Railway Spain - SIRS) kitchens and galleys for trains are designed and manufactured. Within the general product is the electrical design of the installation and the refrigeration equipment (condenser and refrigerated cabinets). In particular, my job is to manage the Systems Department, where we take care of the following sectors:
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Refrigeration systems
Condenser, refrigerated cabinet, systems with secondary fluid,... -
Electric design
Electrical panel, harnesses and hoses,... -
Water circuit
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Drinking water and gray water
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Ventilation
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Pneumatic systems
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Control and Monitoring
The Systems department has many other tasks, supporting the factory during the assembly or repair of equipment, carrying out technical assistance, carrying out Type tests under specific conditions in the laboratory (-25ºC - + 45ºC), researching new technologies and gases for the improvement of products and their adaptation to current regulations.
As an addition to indicate that I personally successfully implemented new technologies:
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Integration of MCHE capacitorsReducing the gas load by 50%
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New very low GWP refrigerants:
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R1234yf (For inside cars)
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R290 (For ouside)
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Use of electronics expansion valves.
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Last but not least, design of railway refrigeration equipment with secondary fluid (unique in the railway sector).
Working Trips
I love traveling and I it doesn't matter to me if it's for work. I do not like to be displaced for a long time (one week is ideal, 2 is also good if I can use, at least, part of the weekend to sightseeing).
Traveling always represents an opportunity to learn something, to visit the workshop or the facilities of the client in first person, to be in trade fairs, to do fieldwork or simply to visit a new city, a new culture.
Although almost never there is time to sightseeing, at least I try to walk a around, enjoy the local cuisine or visit a supermarket to see the differences with what is already known, that it is always refreshing. In addition to the multitude of places I've been to, my record has Cairo, with about 16 visits in just over two years.
Technical Asisstance
One of my most outstanding facets that I have developed in most of the jobs, is the Technical Assistance works, it is also a work that I love.
We could talk about different types of Technical Assistances, such as Start-up, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Testing, Modifications, etc. Of course my main field of action is the railway, but I have also been in photovoltaic installations and airplanes.
Although in general being in a technical assistance means working under a lot of pressure and with extreme delivery times, in most cases I have developed perfectly, solving all the problems or at least the enough to be able to pass the milestone. (Sometimes you have to know how to prioritize by completing the essentials and leaving for later what doesn't block the project)
Technicals Colaborations
Among my interestings are always to learn, new techniques, new processes, new systems, etc.
Always respecting the interests of the company in which I am working and putting them before of mine, I have collaborated with other people in the realization of different projects.
For example, I collaborated briefly with a person who had developed electronics for the control of a prosthetic arm. Unfortunately, the complexity of the project, the distance (it was from the USA) and my limited participation, forced me to cancel it.
I design 3D models on request for their subsequent manufacture with 3D printers.
Another example was my collaboration with former colleagues in the startup process of their company, lending my railway knowledge, 3D design and electronic design.
Electronics & Systems
Electronics issue is something special, part mainly because of my skills and my passion for it.
Before starting my degree I was already doing my own electronic designs and in the following working years I have incorporated my knowledge to the companies where I have worked to open new markets.
Both in Albatros and in Colway, I would set up electronic design departments (with more or less success), always starting from my experience and knowledge and later incorporating new colleagues that complement me.
Personally and as a hobby, I have never stopped designing, manufacturing and assembling my own electronic circuits, always trying to keep up with technology.
I have also integrated on many occasions systems for projects on trains, video on demand systems, CCTV, WiFi and on-board Internet, PAS (Passengers Anouncement Systems), PIS, ...