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Schaltbau ALTE secures major order

Barcelona / Munich, April 2016

  • Supply of complete sanitary system modules to Alstom/Bombardier consortium for new SNCB double-deck coaches in Belgium
  • Order volume will help considerably improve order situation going forward

The Barcelona-based Schaltbau ALTE has gained its most significant order since being acquired by the Schaltbau Group two years ago. Bombardier Transportation has awarded the wholly owned subsidiary of the Schaltbau Group an order to supply complete toilet system modules for its new M7 double-deck railway coaches. A consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation and Alstom Transport recently entered into a framework agreement with the Belgian national railway company SNCB-NMBS to build up to 1,362 double-deck passenger vehicles, 445 of which are already contractually binding.

The toilet modules consist of cabin, door, sanitary and tank system. Schaltbau ALTE also integrates components bought in from sub-suppliers. The ALTE sanitary modules meet all requirements set out in the TSI 2014 standard, including their suitability for use by people with disabilities. The first modules are scheduled for delivery in early 2017. The entire order is likely to take almost ten years to fulfil and will play an essential role in utilising the production and engineering capacities that have been modernised at ALTE during the last two years.

“The major order, which we managed to secure despite competition from other well-known manufacturers, is evidence of the increased confidence that rolling stock producers have in the greatly improved quality of Schaltbau ALTE along the entire value-added chain,” said Michael Hengst, CEO of Schaltbau ALTE. “Our investment in leaner, more efficient processes and the focus on system integration is now beginning to bear fruit.”

Ralf Klädtke, Member of the Executive Board of Schaltbau Holding AG, commented: “We are very pleased about this order, which is the largest that Schaltbau ALTE has obtained for many years. It shows the potential that can be leveraged within the Schaltbau Group through coordinated development, production and sales activities in the field of rolling stock.”

Philip Lowndes, Lead Buyer Interiors at Bombardier Transportation, went on to say: “We see this order as affirmation of a win-win global partnership with a strengthened, reliable Schaltbau ALTE and as cementing our cooperation with the Schaltbau Group as a whole.”

The new trains will increase the total capacity of the SNCB-NMBS network by an additional 145,000 seats. They will be capable of travelling at speeds up to 200 km/h and are scheduled for use on all Belgian main lines as well as in cross-border traffic to the Netherlands and Luxembourg.


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