InnoTrans 2026: What caught our attention in Berlin

New ideas, smarter maintenance and opportunities for Australian rail.

The Cold Forge team headed back to Berlin in September for InnoTrans 2026, the world's largest rail industry exhibition.

With thousands of exhibitors from around the world, there's always plenty to see. This year, we came away with some particularly interesting ideas that could help Australian rail operators reduce maintenance, extend asset life and improve reliability.

From Berlin to Brisbane — see us at AusRAIL 2026

We're already reviewing several of the technologies we discovered in Berlin and exploring where they might benefit Australian rail customers.

We'll be showcasing some of these products and innovations at AusRAIL 2026 in Brisbane. We'd love to show you what caught our attention, get your views and hear what else you need.

Come and see us on Stand 158, right in the centre of the exhibition hall, opposite Wabtec, on 24–25 November.

Smarter, faster ways to tackle everyday track problems

We came across some clever approaches to familiar maintenance challenges, including:

Turnout maintenance: Reducing friction, wear and ongoing maintenance requirements.
Insulated rail joint repairs: Repairing damaged joints in situ rather than replacing the entire assembly.
Crossing durability: New approaches to extending the life of high-wear components.

Some of these developments could make repairs and installations simpler, faster and less disruptive to rail operations.

New technologies with international track experience

We also explored developments in:

Sleeper and turnout bearer materials: From corrosion-protected steel to timber alternatives and advanced composites, with different solutions for different rail environments.
Noise and vibration reduction: New approaches to managing challenging track locations.
Measurement and condition monitoring: New devices that help operators better understand track behaviour and rail stress to identify maintenance needs earlier.

Of particular interest were solutions already being used on UK, US and European rail networks, with potential applications in Australian conditions.

As always, we'll be looking closely at technical performance, local requirements and where these innovations could complement the products and solutions we already provide.

Strengthening our global partnerships

Invaluable face-to-face catchups with our longstanding manufacturing and supply partners gave us the chance to get hands-on with their latest product innovations, many of which could benefit Australian rail customers.

We also made some interesting new connections, exchanged ideas and explored emerging technologies and opportunities for Australian rail.

With global trade and transport conditions constantly changing, our focus remains on strong manufacturing partnerships, technical expertise and reliable supply for our customers.