"The RAILALERT is a team product"

A lot of development work goes into creating a successful product. That's reason enough to introduce the mastermind behind the RAILALERT, the innovative train pre-warning system: Tobias Berger, a passionate product engineer at FRIKE.

Tobias Berger's office in Hüntwangen is neatly lined with cables, lamps and all kinds of electronic devices. Hardly an inch of the white office desk is unoccupied. In the midst of this organised chaos, the 29-year-old product engineer leans over a circuit board and works on it intently with a soldering iron. He has been responsible for research and development at FRIKE electronic AG since 2021. ‘The work is very varied, every day is different. I really appreciate that,’ says the trained electronics technician with a bachelor's degree in systems engineering mechatronics.

Prototypes developed

In addition to conceptual work, the all-rounder programs new software, designs circuit boards, tests, repairs and installs systems on site and coordinates with suppliers. Tobias Berger: "This balance between creative problem-solving, structured work and concrete implementation suits me and helps me gain a clear understanding of customer needs."

This dedication is evident in RAILALERT, the automatic train pre-warning system for temporary construction work. A few years ago, Peter Baur, founder and long-standing CEO of FRIKE, realised that existing advance warning solutions were expensive and complex. Too complex, so that they were often stored in warehouses and rarely used. Peter then began developing the first prototypes, including his own sensors, alongside his son, current owner and CEO, Tim BaurThe goal was to make the product as user-friendly and affordable as possible for small railway companies and those in emerging markets.

Successful breakthrough

The early RAILALERTS models were promising, but the company's own sensors were susceptible to electromagnetic interference from the rails. When Tobias Berger joined FRIKE with his extensive experience from working in a development company, the breakthrough finally came: the in-house sensor had to be replaced by an established product. ‘As a developer, you choose the best possible solution, even if it means integrating an external component,’ he explains calmly. This is often the more economical option. Thanks to this decision, the development accelerated. A dynamic development: "I initially wanted to invest more time in planning, but I realised that this would not be effective. I didn't want to develop something entirely abstract, I needed to engage directly with the users."

Tobias Berger instructing the RAILALERT. (Image: FRIKE)

Off into the field

Tobias spent countless hours in the field, putting RAILALERT through its paces with employees from prestigious Swiss railway companies. He meticulously recorded every piece of feedback. Back at headquarters in Hüntwangen, he implemented the feedback with his colleagues. ‘The RAILALERT is a team product. Everyone contributed their expertise. For example, our workshop manager Alexander Hupfer came up with ideas for the rail holder,’ says Berger. Making the impossible possible and always putting the end user at the centre is one of FRIKE's strengths. This project exemplifies that perfectly.

Tobias Berger (right) with workshop manager Alexander Hupfer during a test run. (Image: FRIKE)

Simple and safe

Peter Baur's vision has finally become reality. The RAILALERT impresses with its simple installation and effectiveness. ‘We have achieved the balance of designing a product that ensures the safety of track workers while being unmatched in ease of use. Just fantastic - simple and safe,’ smiles Tobias Berger and turns his attention back to his circuit board.