The future of rail freight is already in motion

From 22 to 25 September 2026, Berlin hosted InnoTrans, one of the world's most important events for rail and transport technology.

Among the innovations presented were freight-wagon automation solutions developed by the Slovenian company REALTRONIK together with its global technology partner Schaeffler.

At the centre was ITRS – Innovative Technology for Railway Systems: a modular system that marks an important step towards energy-autonomous, digitally connected and automated freight wagons.

Rail freight is changing. Demands for greater efficiency, digitalisation, automation and reliability are becoming ever more important.

But real technological transformation does not begin with big promises. It begins with engineering — with understanding the challenges, developing electronics, software and intelligent systems, and testing technology in real conditions.

This is the foundation of the collaboration between Realtronik and Schaeffler. Schaeffler contributes technology that harvests energy from the rotation of the wagon axles; Realtronik develops the key solutions for energy management and storage, and the electronics behind automated functions.

The result is a more complete approach to modernising freight wagons — bringing new functions even where no conventional electrical infrastructure exists.

ITRS is not a single electronic device. It is a modular technology platform for a new generation of railway systems, combining autonomous power, energy management, electronic control and automation.

• Autonomous power — generating electricity while running and storing it for later use
• Intelligent management — electronic control of power and of individual systems
• Automation — support for electrically driven mechanisms for opening, closing and other functions
• Digital connectivity — the basis for sensors, condition monitoring and data exchange
• Modularity — solutions adapted to the different needs of the rail industry

For Realtronik, InnoTrans 2026 is an important step in establishing its own development capabilities in the international rail industry.

As a Slovenian company specialising in electronics, embedded systems, software and industrial solutions, Realtronik shows that a company's size is not the measure of its technological capability. Knowledge, adaptability, precision and the ability to integrate different technologies into working systems matter more.

This is not only technology of the future. The first pilot projects are already running in real conditions and provide valuable experience for further development.

InnoTrans 2026 was an opportunity to present technologies that push the limits of traditional rail freight — and, for Realtronik, a confirmation of its strategic direction: developing intelligent, reliable and adaptable electronic systems for the next generation of industrial solutions.

The future of rail freight will be more automated, more connected and more intelligent. Realtronik is helping to build it with its partners today.

REALTRONIK — Engineering intelligence. Powering progress.