Shielding the Flow: How Taipei Metro Secured Critical Switching Points with PFLITSCH EMC Solutions
The secret to moving millions? Technology you can't even see. YA DANCE CO., LTD and PFLITSCH are the invisible forces behind the world's safest commutes, using high-performance engineering to bring passengers home, silently and securely
Taipei is considered one of Asia's most vibrant cities – and one of the best organised. Passengers using the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TAIPEI METRO) experience a system almost proverbial for its punctuality, cleanliness and efficiency. Since its foundation in 1994 and the start of operations in 1996, the network has expanded to 152.9 kilometres, 131 stations and seven lines. It is the invisible infrastructure in the background that ensures that millions of people arrive safely at their destinations every day.
But even in the most modern underground system, challenges can lie in wait – especially in an area that passengers rarely notice: switch technology, i.e. the automated track switches that direct trains to the right lines. And this is precisely where the EMC cable gland success story of our Taiwanese partner YA DANCE CO., LTD with PFLITSCH's UNI Dicht TRI and blueglobe TRI EMC begins.
A distributor with a mission: YA DANCE CO., LTD
YA DANCE CO., LTD, a Taiwanese specialist in professional cable management and protection systems founded in 2018, had deepened its partnership with PFLITSCH in 2024. The company supplies Taiwan's high-tech, mechanical engineering and energy sectors – and over the years has earned a reputation as a partner that sells one thing above all else: reliability.
When metro operator TAIPEI METRO was faced with a critical infrastructure problem, it was YA DANCE CO., LTD, which had already been in contact with the customer on previous projects, that proactively offered to solve the challenge – backed by technical expertise, experience and PFLITSCH's EMC cable gland portfolio.
The challenge: electromagnetic interference fields in the track area
The smooth operation of a metro depends on switches that function correctly at the right moment. But right next to trains weighing several tonnes, powerful conductor rails and densely packed electrical engineering, there is a problem lurking: electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can distort or disrupt signals.
In a high-frequency transit network such as Taipei, the risk is particularly high. A faulty signal can lead to delays – or, in the worst case, to safety-critical situations. The customer TAIPEI METRO needed a system with maximum shielding, extreme vibration resistance and absolute reliability.
The solution: UNI Dicht TRI and blueglobe TRI
YA DANCE CO., LTD presented the customer with the right solution for this challenge: the blueglobe TRI and UNI Dicht TRI brass cable glands with high-quality EMC shielding and equipped with fire protection sealing inserts – certified according to EN 45545-2, which are ideally suited for use in this application environment. Further advantages offered by the cable glands: The UNI Dicht TRI is available as a fire protection version in sizes M12 to M50, and the blueglobe TRI even up to M63. While the UNI Dicht TRI offers strain relief up to class A according to EN 62444, the blueglobe TRI fire protection version achieves the higher class B – ideal when cables or wires are exposed to particularly high tensile forces.
An unbeatable team
Not only did the UNI Dicht TRI and blueglobe TRI impress as a team, but the strong partnership and solution-oriented approach of YA DANCE CO., LTD and PFLITSCH also contributed to the success of the project. The joint, precise technical advice and high level of application know-how, in addition to the suitable product properties, were decisive factors in TAIPEI METRO's decision to collaborate with YA DANCE CO., LTD and PFLITSCH on this project.
Safely arrived at the destination
The most emotional moment of the project did not occur in a meeting room or during a digital meeting. Instead, it happened outside, on the tracks.
After installation and testing, the very first train rolled in exactly over the right switch – perfectly switched, cleanly, safely. A small technical victory that makes a big difference in the everyday lives of millions of people.
The result: greater safety, greater stability, greater confidence
With PFLITSCH EMC solutions, TAIPEI METRO was able to:
- further increase system reliability
- eliminate electromagnetic interference (EMI)
- ensure stable and safe switch control
- minimise maintenance costs
For a metro system of this size, this means noticeable quality gains – even if passengers will never consciously notice them.
Conclusion
This success story shows how technological precision and partnership-based cooperation can achieve a common goal: making critical infrastructures more reliable, safer and more future-proof. Successful projects such as this one reinforce YA DANCE CO., LTD's role as best partner for Taipei Metro in matters relating to electrical control systems and were just one reason why they were awarded for “Best Supplier Award 2024”.
