Family - Setra
Family - Setra Family - Setra
Number 51 | Issue 1/13 www.setra-bus.com Magazine for customers and friends of the Setra brand Family Imprint Publisher: EvoBus GmbH Setra Omnibusse Carl-Zeiss-Straße 2 89231 Neu-Ulm (Germany) Tel. +49 (0)731 181-0 Fax +49 (0)731 181-2418 www.setra-bus.com Responsible for content: Dr Jens Heinemann, Head Marketing Communication Setra The following people worked on this issue: Christine Denzel, BUS/MPM-S Bernd Goy, BUS/MSG-4 Dieter Startz, BUS/MGS-N Sonja Waldenspul, BUS/MMO-R Concept, editorial work, layout: Newport3 Werbeagentur GmbH & Co. KG Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33 22041 Hamburg (Germany) www.newport3.de Repro: Final Art Production Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33 22041 Hamburg (Germany) Printing: Süddeutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Ulm Nicolaus-Otto-Straße 14 89079 Ulm (Germany) Record Run Buses 2012 The ComfortClass 500 consumption Evolution A detailed look at the Green light The first providers capitalise on the test supervised by DEKRA ComfortClass 500 cockpit deregulation of long-distance bus service Page 08 Page 16 Page 22
- Page 2 and 3: 02 | Setra Impressions Setra Editor
- Page 4 and 5: 06 | Setra Best in Class Setra Fami
- Page 6 and 7: 10 | Setra Cover Story Setra Cover
- Page 8 and 9: 14 | Setra Family News Setra Indivi
- Page 10 and 11: XX | Setra Highlight Setra Highligh
- Page 12 and 13: 22 | Setra Family News Setra Family
- Page 14 and 15: 26 | Setra Premium Service Setra Pr
- Page 16 and 17: 30 | Setra Family News Setra Family
- Page 18 and 19: 34 | Setra Family News Setra Family
- Page 20 and 21: 38 | Setra Premium Service Setra Fa
- Page 22: 42 | Setra Family News Setra Indivi
Number 51 | Issue 1/13<br />
www.setra-bus.com<br />
Magazine for customers and friends of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand<br />
<strong>Family</strong><br />
Imprint<br />
Publisher:<br />
EvoBus GmbH<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Omnibusse<br />
Carl-Zeiss-Straße 2<br />
89231 Neu-Ulm (Germany)<br />
Tel. +49 (0)731 181-0<br />
Fax +49 (0)731 181-2418<br />
www.setra-bus.com<br />
Responsible for content:<br />
Dr Jens Heinemann,<br />
Head Marketing Communication <strong>Setra</strong><br />
The following people worked on this issue:<br />
Christine Denzel, BUS/MPM-S<br />
Bernd Goy, BUS/MSG-4<br />
Dieter Startz, BUS/MGS-N<br />
Sonja Waldenspul, BUS/MMO-R<br />
Concept, editorial work, layout:<br />
Newport3 Werbeagentur GmbH & Co. KG<br />
Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33<br />
22041 Hamburg (Germany)<br />
www.newport3.de<br />
Repro:<br />
Final Art Production<br />
Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33<br />
22041 Hamburg (Germany)<br />
Printing:<br />
Süddeutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Ulm<br />
Nicolaus-Otto-Straße 14<br />
89079 Ulm (Germany)<br />
Record Run Buses 2012<br />
The ComfortClass 500 consumption<br />
Evolution<br />
A detailed look at the<br />
Green light<br />
The first providers capitalise on the<br />
test supervised by DEKRA<br />
ComfortClass 500 cockpit<br />
deregulation of long-distance bus service<br />
Page 08<br />
Page 16<br />
Page 22
02 | <strong>Setra</strong> Impressions<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Editorial | 03<br />
Dear customers and friends of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand,<br />
I am delighted to greet you here for the first time in my role as Head of Marketing, Sales<br />
and Aftersales. I have already had the pleasure of meeting many of you in person. And, on<br />
my very first day in this new position, I could distinctly feel what it means to be part of the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> family.<br />
At the very beginning of this new year, we made some changes to our sales organisation.<br />
And, a now independent EvoBus sales organisation in Germany bears witness to the significance<br />
of the German market. Axel Stokinger, a long-standing expert in the world of<br />
coaches and buses many of you have already worked with, has taken over the helm of this<br />
area. Heinz Friedrich, who you also know well, will continue to be at your service as Sales<br />
Manager for <strong>Setra</strong> in Germany. Beyond this, very little will be changing in your everyday<br />
dealings with our sales team. Almost everywhere, your contacts will remain the same.<br />
The last few months were shaped by the market launch of the new ComfortClass 500.<br />
Whether at the presentation in Stuttgart, at the IAA or other events in Europe, I repeatedly<br />
heard exceptionally positive feedback on the new series. The interest these new coaches<br />
are inciting is high and, in this issue, you will find several very interesting articles addressing<br />
the ComfortClass 500. Personally, I am especially impressed with the Record Run test<br />
drive. It proved without a doubt that we have achieved one of our key objectives with the<br />
ComfortClass 500: in spite of Euro VI, lower fuel consumption than the ComfortClass 400<br />
with Euro V. Beginning on page 8, you can read how the consumption test was run under<br />
DEKRA’s very watchful eyes. In addition to the articles on the ComfortClass 500, you can<br />
once again look forward to an exciting mix of informative service content, in-depth reports<br />
and fascinating news from the <strong>Setra</strong> family.<br />
We wish you very pleasurable and informative reading!<br />
Best personal regards<br />
Till Oberwörder<br />
Head of Marketing, Sales and Aftersales EvoBus GmbH<br />
After 7,000 kilometres during the Record Run Buses 2012, it’s clear: <strong>Setra</strong>’s new ComfortClass 500 with Euro VI<br />
combines the cleanest exhaust with the lowest consumption
04 | <strong>Setra</strong> Content<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Content | 05<br />
Record Run Buses 2012: a comparative<br />
08 test for the ComfortClass 500<br />
16<br />
The new ComfortClass 500 in detail –<br />
the cockpit<br />
Long-distance bus service now approved:<br />
22 four successful lines and their offerings<br />
26<br />
Coach financing concepts pay off for<br />
coach and bus operators<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> shuttles with tropical design set the<br />
43 stage for Tropical Islands<br />
Cover Story<br />
Best in Class<br />
Highlight<br />
<strong>Family</strong> News<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Individual<br />
08 | Record Run Buses 2012<br />
The big comparative consumption test<br />
supervised by DEKRA, the independent<br />
testing organisation<br />
06 | 20 years of coach and bus<br />
production<br />
A double anniversary at the EvoBus plant<br />
in Neu-Ulm<br />
32 | Factory tour<br />
Behind the scenes at the Neu-Ulm<br />
seat production facility<br />
40 | Travel pleasure at its best<br />
Three new bistro coaches for the GEGG<br />
company<br />
16 | The ComfortClass 500 in detail<br />
The new cockpit generation<br />
43 | To the Brandenburg tropics by<br />
coach<br />
Tropical Islands drives <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Premium Service<br />
26 | Cost-effective financing<br />
Customised Mercedes-Benz Bank financing<br />
models in practice<br />
36 | CC 500 OMNIplus service packages<br />
Transparency and planning efficiency for<br />
coach operators<br />
07 | ComfortClass 500 on tour<br />
Roadshow in Romania<br />
14 | Success in the challenging public<br />
transport market<br />
Schmetterling Reise- und Verkehrs-Logistik<br />
wins tender<br />
22 | Green light for long-distance bus<br />
service<br />
Four new long-distance bus service lines<br />
and their offerings<br />
25 | <strong>Setra</strong> customers make a difference<br />
Coach operators use their coaches for a<br />
good cause<br />
30 | <strong>Setra</strong> family get-togethers<br />
A look back at shows and fairs<br />
39 | The evolving <strong>Setra</strong> website<br />
All the information you need just<br />
a click away<br />
39 | It’s all in the family<br />
The Schmidt and Thürauf companies’<br />
cross-generational love of coaches<br />
42 | 125 years for Ruhe-Reisen<br />
Germany’s oldest bus operator celebrates<br />
milestone anniversary<br />
15 | An excursion into the underworld<br />
An S 415 GT goes underground with<br />
Sundbergs Busstrafik<br />
29 | Moving on up with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Stairs to the front right as special<br />
customer request<br />
38 | OMNIplus EcoTraining<br />
Save on fuel by adjusting your driving style
06 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 07<br />
20 years of coach manufacturing in Neu-Ulm:<br />
A double anniversary at the EvoBus plant<br />
The Neu-Ulm coach assembly plant is impressive from any point of view: 52,000 coaches completed<br />
since 1992, 3,800 employees, 640,000 m 2 of space – and 2012 marked the 20 th anniversary of<br />
coach production. What began as the Kässbohrer Fahrzeugwerke GmbH has grown into the very<br />
exceptional EvoBus success story.<br />
B<br />
ack in 1983, the first steps for planning a new coach<br />
manufacturing plant were taken, since the original plant’s<br />
capacity in Ulm was no longer sufficient. In August 1990,<br />
the first groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the new<br />
plant in Neu-Ulm took place. Just two years later, on October 5,<br />
series production began. The new plant cost the former Karl Kässbohrer<br />
Fahrzeugwerke GmbH close to 175 million German marks –<br />
an huge investment at the time, but one that would most definitely<br />
pay off over the long run. Three years following the beginning of<br />
production, Mercedes-Benz and <strong>Setra</strong> came together and formed<br />
EvoBus. This merger represented the dawn of a collaborative effort<br />
which has since then taken on a leading industry role in terms of<br />
development, production, sales and service, as well as safety and<br />
environmental technologies.<br />
Since 1995, the Daimler company has invested 190 million euros in<br />
the new manufacturing facility. For instance, power such as light,<br />
water or heating, was supplied via ceiling lines, so that assembly<br />
processes and material flow were not impeded. In addition to<br />
assembly, the Neu-Ulm plant houses seat production as well as the<br />
“paint expertise center”, in which some 300 employees carry out<br />
all painting assignments for EvoBus.<br />
At the end of 2012, EvoBus celebrated yet another anniversary: the<br />
50,000 th painted coach. The guest of honour was a <strong>Setra</strong> S 417 HDH<br />
owned by the Belgian tour operator Voyages Léonard, whose elaborate<br />
design called for high-level attention to detail. While the paint<br />
robot took on the base silver paintwork, the colour transition from<br />
silver to green and the yellow motif were lovingly designed by hand.<br />
On December 20, 2012, the customer took delivery of the anniversary<br />
coach during a festive get-together. The Voyages Léonard<br />
fleet now includes 30 <strong>Setra</strong> coaches.<br />
<br />
Romania – the ComfortClass 500 roadshow:<br />
All across the country<br />
Interest in the new ComfortClass 500 is huge, especially after the spectacular world premiere at the<br />
IAA in September 2012. In order to give as many customers as possible an opportunity to experience<br />
the coach live, a roadshow through all of Europe was planned. The first ComfortClass 500 tour led<br />
to Romania.<br />
T<br />
he roadshow was organised by EvoBus Romania and the<br />
S 515 HD visited five cities across the country. Befitting the<br />
first stop was the Romanian capital. <strong>Setra</strong> customers from<br />
Bucharest and several trade journalists enthusiastically participated<br />
in a test drive through Bucharest and its surroundings. The<br />
roadshow then travelled across the whole country. First to Sibiu at<br />
the edge of the Southern Carpathians, then further on to nearby<br />
Alba Iulia, then to Bistrita ˛ in Transylvania, to the westernmost Lipova,<br />
and finally to Timisoara, ˛ the country’s second largest city. This<br />
marked the final station of a successful debut tour for the new<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> series in Romania.<br />
Fuel consumption is key<br />
The Romanian bus operators were all fired up and ready to test<br />
drive the S 515 HD. According to Bogdan Aldea, Sales Manager<br />
Coaches, they were very taken by the coach’s modern design, its<br />
technical functionality and excellent comfort. “The new, clearly laid<br />
out cockpit was especially praised,” says Bogdan Aldea. More than<br />
anything, however, they were impressed by the low fuel consumption,<br />
which is a decisive decision-making factor among Romanian<br />
customers. Many also took advantage of the opportunity to speak<br />
about financing options with representatives from Mercedes-Benz<br />
Financial Services.<br />
All in all, it would appear very likely that the ComfortClass 500, after<br />
its five-day visit last October, will soon be returning to its new<br />
home in Romania.
36 | <strong>Setra</strong> Titelstory<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story | 09<br />
DEKRA at work for the Record Run Buses 2012 consumption test:<br />
The untouchables<br />
Lower fuel consumption than the very efficient ComfortClass 400 – in spite of Euro VI. This was the<br />
ambitious target defined for the development of the ComfortClass 500. The Record Run Buses 2012<br />
comparative test set out to prove whether this goal was realistic in practice – under the watchful eye<br />
of the DEKRA independent testing organisation.
10 | <strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story | 11<br />
B<br />
eginning in January 2014, the new Euro VI emission standard<br />
will call for dramatically reduced emissions. The only<br />
problem is that lowering harmful emissions almost automatically<br />
increases fuel consumption and therefore costs. For the<br />
new ComfortClass 500 with a Euro VI engine, the greatest challenge<br />
was to reduce the emission of soot particles and nitrogen oxides,<br />
while setting all-new standards in cost-effectiveness.<br />
The ultimate consumption test<br />
To achieve this ambitious goal, the ComfortClass 500’s new Blue-<br />
Efficiency engine generation plays a key role – by uniquely combining<br />
innovative technology and intelligent exhaust after-treatment.<br />
Along with the use of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), the<br />
engine relies on Mercedes-Benz’ BlueTec 6 technology, in which a<br />
closed particulate filter and the successful SCR system complement<br />
each other perfectly.<br />
Other important measures in the vehicle’s development were the<br />
lowering of air resistance by 20% and a significant reduction in<br />
weight – which of course has an additional positive effect on fuel.<br />
Internal <strong>Setra</strong> calculations indicated that the new Comfort-<br />
Class 500 with Euro VI should consume 5—6% less fuel than its<br />
predecessor, the ComfortClass 400 with Euro V. So far, all the<br />
basic requirements for a fuel-efficient vehicle, right? But how<br />
does the ComfortClass 500’s actual fuel consumption fare under<br />
absolutely realistic conditions?<br />
The Record Run Buses 2012 fuel comparison test from last October<br />
was intended to provide irrefutable proof that fuel economy is possible<br />
in spite of Euro VI. In this test drive, under everyday driving<br />
conditions, the ComfortClass 500 with Euro VI and the Comfort-<br />
Class 400 with Euro V were pitted against each other. And, to guarantee<br />
that the results of the Record Run Buses 2012 would be 100<br />
percent reliable, while delivering clear messages to <strong>Setra</strong> customers<br />
regarding fuel consumption, the project responsibles at <strong>Setra</strong> looked<br />
for a suitable partner. One that would embody technical expertise,<br />
strict neutrality and unconditional diligence. DEKRA, the renowned<br />
international testing, inspection and certification provider, fit the<br />
bill perfectly.<br />
DEKRA as neutral supervisory authority<br />
DEKRA is one of the world’s leading expert organisations, active in<br />
more than 50 countries. Close to 27,000 employees worldwide look<br />
after the key areas of vehicle inspections, appraisals, industrial<br />
testing services, product testing, certification and environmental<br />
protection. DEKRA teams from several different locations took part<br />
in the Record Run Buses 2012 event. The DEKRA Wiesbaden office<br />
was involved in the early planning phase and contributed their expertise<br />
to the professional preparation of the vehicles. To ensure the<br />
most transparent, certified testing, the engineers sealed all components<br />
essential for fuel consumption on both vehicles – including of<br />
course, the fuel tanks themselves. “Only when any possibility of<br />
manipulation is excluded a priori, can we assume that consumption<br />
levels are absolutely binding and watertight,” explains Bernd<br />
Pisecky, an engineer at the DEKRA office in Leipzig.<br />
Identical starting conditions – to millimetre accuracy!<br />
The DEKRA experts paid particular attention to having the two coaches<br />
take to the starting block under identical competitive conditions. The<br />
coaches were weighed – as in a boxing match. And both were fully<br />
loaded to the allowable total vehicle weight of 18 tonnes. The S 515 HD,<br />
with the new Mercedes-Benz OM 470 Euro VI engine, was pitted<br />
against the previous comparable model, the ComfortClass 400<br />
S 415 GT-HD with the previous OM 457 LA engine. Both vehicles<br />
competed with exactly the same horsepower of 315 kW (428 hp). And,<br />
finally, they were previously “broken in” with about 10,000 km.
12 | <strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story | 13<br />
The facts on the Record Run Buses 2012<br />
at a glance:<br />
• Timeframe: October 22 to 26, 2012<br />
• Vehicles:<br />
– S 515 HD<br />
(Mercedes-Benz OM 470 engine with 315 kW – Euro VI)<br />
– S 415 GT-HD<br />
(Mercedes-Benz OM 457 engine with 315 kW – Euro V)<br />
• Start and finish point: Wiesbaden<br />
• Distance covered per day/vehicle: around 1,800 km<br />
• Route per day: 881 km, Leipzig-Erfurt-Schweinfurt-<br />
Bayreuth-Dresden-Bautzen and back<br />
• Night route: 922 km, Leipzig-Potsdam-Hamburg and back<br />
• Total distance covered per vehicle: around 7,000 km<br />
• Drivers: two each per vehicle, in two shifts<br />
For more information, see our special on the web at<br />
http://www.setra.de/aktuelles/highlights<br />
ComfortClass 400<br />
with Euro V<br />
ComfortClass 500<br />
with Euro VI<br />
Litres/<br />
100 km<br />
92 % highway<br />
8 % country road<br />
Litres/<br />
100 km<br />
50 % highway<br />
50 % country road<br />
25<br />
25<br />
24<br />
24<br />
The absolute measurement<br />
values each over 7,000 km<br />
are very impressive.<br />
Both coaches excel with<br />
economic performance –<br />
and this is something that<br />
really pays off for operators<br />
22.9 l<br />
21.0 l<br />
l/100 km l/100 km<br />
-8.2 %<br />
The savings in our<br />
comparative test were based on<br />
a ratio of 92% highway to<br />
8% country road<br />
23<br />
22<br />
21<br />
20<br />
0<br />
-8.2 %<br />
CC 400 CC 500<br />
23<br />
22<br />
21<br />
20<br />
0<br />
-7.1 %<br />
CC 400 CC 500<br />
When the country road<br />
proportion increases<br />
to 50%, the savings are<br />
still mathematically an<br />
impressive 7.1%<br />
But there were other very important aspects as well. The engineers<br />
needed to be sure that the transmission and axle ratios were identical<br />
in both coaches. Even the tyres had to be identical – and their<br />
tread depth was also meticulously measured and checked by the<br />
DEKRA experts. Nothing, absolutely nothing was left to chance.<br />
The eight drivers had to ascertain that their qualifications and experience<br />
were comparable. It wouldn’t do if varying driving skills and<br />
styles made a difference in terms of consumption. Only trained test<br />
drivers and OMNIplus EcoTraining driving instructors were authorised<br />
to sit behind the wheel of the test coaches. To offset any<br />
potential driver influence, the teams alternated vehicles after each<br />
shift. Bernd Pisecky commented: “<strong>Setra</strong> made a conscious decision<br />
in our favour as a 100 percent objective partner. We are only<br />
satisfied if absolutely fair conditions prevail.”<br />
Non-stop driving for 5 days<br />
During the entire test drive, nothing was left to chance either. Traffic<br />
jams, road works, police checks – the planners from Daimler<br />
Buses played out all eventualities. “The OMNIplus service centres<br />
along the routes were briefed and ready. There are no replacement<br />
vehicles – we trust our products completely,” highlighted Andreas<br />
Türk, head of the Record Run Buses 2012 project. Between October<br />
22 and 26 last year, the <strong>Setra</strong> S 515 HD and the S 415 GT-HD<br />
both covered around 14,000 kilometres within five days. Whenever<br />
possible, the drivers travelled at the allowable speed limits of either<br />
100 or 80 km/h. The target was 1,800 kilometres a day. And every<br />
night, both <strong>Setra</strong> coaches completed the 922 km route from Leipzig<br />
to Hamburg via Potsdam and back. During the day, they drove a<br />
881 km long loop along several motorways and highways from Leipzig<br />
through Erfurt, Schweinfurt, Bayreuth, Dresden to Bautzen and<br />
back. The 5-day, gruelling, non-stop drive was only interrupted<br />
twice, during two refuelling breaks in Leipzig which were also<br />
planned to the most minute detail. “Of course, it’s exhausting,”<br />
admitted test driver Gerold Hartmann. “But first and foremost it’s<br />
incredibly exciting to take part in a consumption test as important<br />
as this one!” And before we knew it, he was back on the road again<br />
with his driving partner Bernd Gutmann.<br />
High-precision refuelling<br />
For the most part, refuelling was done late at night and at dawn. All<br />
refuelling operations during the Record Run Buses 2012 took place<br />
at the same filling station. Even the same fuel pump was always<br />
used. DEKRA expert Bernd Pisecky made sure that the drivers<br />
parked at exactly the same position, as specified by markings on<br />
the ground. “This way, both coaches could always be parked in the<br />
exact same position, standing with a similar inclination and a<br />
comparable wheel arch position during refuelling,” he explains.<br />
Another one of Bernd Pisecky’s very important tasks was to ensure<br />
that no tampering with the vehicle took place on the road. A strict<br />
control protocol was adhered to throughout in great detail. Armed<br />
with a large flashlight, he first checked the fuel cap and the fuel<br />
tank cover seal for damage before each refuelling. He then closely<br />
watched Jürgen Kramm from EvoBus, who was responsible for the<br />
proper fuelling of the coaches, at work. “I had to make absolutely<br />
sure that the filling level was respected and how much fuel was<br />
filled at what mileage,” said Pisecky. “An overflow edge on the filler<br />
neck indicated exactly how much the coach needed to be filled.”<br />
After refuelling, he securely sealed the tank flap once again with<br />
adhesive seals. Only then could the coaches continue on their way.<br />
Promise kept!<br />
The big day was October 26 when both coaches returned to the<br />
starting point in Wiesbaden, each one having covered 7,000 kilometres.<br />
And this was the moment where DEKRA took on the exciting<br />
task of officially determining the results of the test drive. To this<br />
end, the coaches were equipped with highly sensitive fuel<br />
consumption measuring instruments on board, whose data were<br />
then analysed. After painstaking analysis and statistical evaluation,<br />
the results were clear: the new <strong>Setra</strong> ComfortClass 500 with the<br />
Euro VI engine more than fulfilled its mandate. With a fuel consumption<br />
of 21.0 litres per 100 km, it performed outstandingly well.<br />
In fact, it required 1.9 litres less per 100 km than its already very<br />
fuel-efficient predecessor. That’s an impressive 8.2%. And, add to<br />
that, 48.4% less AdBlue per driven kilometre.<br />
So, yes, it is possible: Euro VI not only protects the environment<br />
and precious resources, it can also result in lower fuel consumption.<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> S 515 HD undercuts the currently valid emission standards<br />
by up to 80%, while shining with the lowest consumption values.<br />
Record Run Buses 2012 head Andreas Türk was, to say the least,<br />
proud: “The consumption figures for the ComfortClass 500 are no less<br />
than spectacular. Our developers have done a truly amazing job.” Even<br />
DEKRA expert Pisecky is very satisfied: “DEKRA also did a great<br />
job during the Record Run Buses 2012 road tests. And most importantly,<br />
coach operators can rely on these results completely.”
14 | <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Individual | 15<br />
Sweden – a <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 GT goes underground:<br />
An excursion into the underworld<br />
The Sundbergs Busstrafik bus company from Östhammar in Sweden offers an extraordinary bus tour.<br />
With <strong>Setra</strong>, tourists from around the world can visit an underground disposal site of low- to mid-level<br />
Schmetterling company wins bid:<br />
Private customer successfully asserts itself in<br />
Austria’s challenging public transport market<br />
Red, yellow, green, purple ... the 16 <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 NF low-entry buses distinguish themselves from<br />
each other in only one aspect – the colour of their grab-bars and handrails. Together they create a<br />
strong fleet, with which Schmetterling Reise- und Verkehrs-Logistik GmbH will be overcoming an<br />
equally great challenge – the operation of new scheduled connections in the Franconian districts of<br />
Forchheim and Fürth.<br />
D<br />
uring the hand-over ceremony at the <strong>Setra</strong> Customer-<br />
Center in Neu-Ulm, the 16 new vehicles with the yellow<br />
butterfly logo (“Schmetterling” in German) framed the<br />
festivities. It was a very special occasion, especially since the<br />
purchase of 19 <strong>Setra</strong> buses from the MultiClass range was the<br />
largest investment in the company’s history. This unusually large<br />
order was placed shortly after Schmetterling – a medium-sized<br />
family business in the Frankish Geschwand area – won the bid to<br />
take on public transport business. For both managing directors<br />
Elmar and Daniela Singer, who took delivery of the first 16 buses in<br />
the presence of their drivers and their families, the decision in favour<br />
of <strong>Setra</strong> was an easy one. Elmar Singer commented: “We very deliberately<br />
opted for <strong>Setra</strong> buses. We have been impressed with their<br />
quality, functionality and reliability for over 30 years. With these<br />
low-entry buses, we are certain that even once the contract is up<br />
in eight years, we will still have coaches of lasting value. The outstanding<br />
value retention of <strong>Setra</strong> buses and coaches is truly unique<br />
in the marketplace.”<br />
With heart and soul<br />
For the company, winning the bid is much more than just a competitive<br />
success. Every one of the company’s employees contributes to<br />
the well-being of passengers and customers – with heart and soul.<br />
This is something Daniela Singer appreciates greatly. She sees the<br />
win as a further success for both the company and the region: “We<br />
are especially proud that, by winning this bid, we have succeeded<br />
in securing jobs in scheduled-service transport in the region over<br />
the coming years.” The new buses will also be making a significant<br />
contribution to this success. For Heinz Friedrich, Head of <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Sales Germany, delivery of the scheduled-service vehicles equipped<br />
with 40 seats and space for 45 standing room passengers is also<br />
very significant: “This delivery demonstrates that committed operators<br />
can successfully compete with big players in the challenging<br />
public transport sector. With their outstanding passenger comfort<br />
and safety, our products are ideally equipped to deliver superior<br />
public transport service over the long-term – and even more so<br />
when cost-effectiveness is a key consideration.”<br />
The wheelchair-accessible S 415 NF buses are equipped with level<br />
entrances, folding ramps for wheelchair users, a computerised<br />
operating system (RBL) and monitors allowing passengers to conveniently<br />
follow the route.<br />
A <strong>Setra</strong> partner since 1980<br />
The Schmetterling Reise- und Verkehrs-Logistik company currently<br />
employs 240 people and is part of the Schmetterling family of companies<br />
with headquarters in the Frankish Geschwand region. The<br />
group owns a transport company with travel and logistics services,<br />
scheduled-service bus lines, taxis, car rentals and tour operators.<br />
The company which was founded in 1976 currently deploys more<br />
than 120 vehicles, including close to 80 touring coaches and scheduled-service<br />
buses. The Frankish family business has been a partner<br />
of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand since their first purchase of a <strong>Setra</strong> S 150<br />
from the 100 series in 1980.<br />
<br />
radioactive waste.<br />
T<br />
he team at EvoBus Sweden was, to say the least, astonished<br />
when the Sundbergs Busstrafik bus company from<br />
Östhammar in Uppsala County inquired about a coach for<br />
use in the Forsmark nuclear waste disposal pit. Superior reliability<br />
and a wide selection of customisation possibilities were decisive in<br />
their choosing <strong>Setra</strong>. And, since the application would imply viewing<br />
radioactive nuclear waste, nothing could be left to chance.<br />
A nuclear waste disposal site at a depth of 50 m<br />
The SFR (Slutförvar För Radioaktivt Avfall) Forsmark nuclear waste<br />
disposal site stores low- to mid-level radioactive waste. It is a good<br />
50 metres deep into the rock beneath the Baltic Sea in the municipality<br />
of Östhammar which also houses the Forsmark nuclear<br />
power plant. The majority of the waste results from the operation of<br />
Swedish nuclear power plants, and a smaller proportion from<br />
research and medicine. Two tunnels, each 1 km long, lead to four<br />
storage chambers in which the short-lived radioactive waste is<br />
stored free of radiation.<br />
An unusual tourist attraction<br />
The public interest in the site is considerable. And this is why the<br />
Sundbergs Busstrafik company came up with the idea to offer visitors<br />
this very unusual tourist attraction. However, they hadn’t anticipated<br />
just how strong the appeal would be. About 400 times a<br />
year, the <strong>Setra</strong> coach embarks on its 1 km-long journey underground.<br />
Tourists, many from Japan, as well as school groups, are<br />
enthusiastic about this amazing sightseeing highlight, and the rides<br />
are regularly booked out.<br />
The underground coach’s special safety features<br />
• Sprinkler fire protection meeting Swedish fire safety regulations.<br />
• An additional sprinkler system.<br />
• Four additional headlights in the front hatch.<br />
• Back-up lights in the rear bumper left and right.<br />
• An emergency door, rear left, which can be locked while driving<br />
and opened from the inside when the coach is standing.<br />
• Multiple smoke detectors inside with a display at the driver's<br />
work station.<br />
• A mini box with a lit stop display, for when a smoke detector or<br />
Fogmaker fire extinguishing system is activated in the vehicle.<br />
• Two emergency stop switches for the engine and electrical<br />
systems.<br />
The first Swedish disposal site for lowand<br />
mid-level radioactive waste is located<br />
at the Forsmark nuclear power plant,<br />
around 50 metres below sea level<br />
A <strong>Setra</strong> with special safety equipment<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 GT’s equipment was adapted to the special requirements<br />
of underground deployment. For instance, for use in the pit,<br />
it needs to fulfil a series of stringent fire safety requirements. The<br />
passengers are absolutely safe, insists Åke Sundberg of Sundbergs<br />
Busstrafik: “No need to be fearful entering the pit. The facility’s<br />
safety is of the highest level, and the coach is also equipped with<br />
very expensive safety features – without which we wouldn’t be able<br />
to access the pit.”
16 | <strong>Setra</strong> Highlight <strong>Setra</strong> Highlight | 17<br />
The ComfortClass 500 in detail – the cockpit:<br />
A cockpit loaded with innovation<br />
You can only achieve a perfect whole by paying attention to the smallest of details. And often, it’s<br />
the little things that significantly contribute to a coach’s cost-effectiveness, safety and comfort.<br />
In upcoming issues, <strong>Setra</strong><strong>Family</strong> will be delving into the ComfortClass 500 in all its refined detail.<br />
Our focus in this issue is on the cockpit.
XX | <strong>Setra</strong> Highlight <strong>Setra</strong> Highlight | 19<br />
The new cockpit features quick access, a clear layout<br />
and an ergonomically enhanced tactile feel<br />
An improved overview for the driver: the steering<br />
column and driver’s seat can be adjusted flexibly<br />
The electronic ignition key combines several<br />
innovative features in a single unit<br />
The workspace operating concept<br />
Our close collaboration with customers and<br />
coach drivers has resulted in considerable<br />
ongoing developmental advances even<br />
after six generations of <strong>Setra</strong> vehicles. For<br />
instance, through our enhanced understanding<br />
of what a driver needs to stay<br />
comfortably relaxed and therefore able to<br />
address the many challenges of his job –<br />
safely and confidently. The result is a cockpit<br />
which, through quick and convenient<br />
operation, ensures a clear overview and ergonomically<br />
adapted design of all controls.<br />
Central display<br />
The brilliant, high-resolution colour display<br />
and four round dial instruments show vehicle<br />
speed, as well as current levels of fuel and<br />
AdBlue. The driver can easily navigate<br />
through the various menu items using the<br />
multifunction steering wheel.<br />
Central display: safety menu<br />
More active safety: the tyre pressure monitoring<br />
system (TPMS) and Active Brake<br />
Assist 2 (ABA 2) light up on the instrument<br />
panel if required, and a coffee cup icon<br />
appears when the Attention Assist (ATA)<br />
feature advises the driver to take a break.<br />
Suspended pedals<br />
As per drivers’ requests, an ergonomically<br />
enhanced, suspended pedal system was<br />
integrated – enabling sensitive yet effortless<br />
use.<br />
Multifunction steering wheel<br />
Fewer switches on the instrument panel ensure<br />
a clearer overview. Via the keyboard,<br />
drivers can operate all driver assistance<br />
systems – such as cruise control and adaptive<br />
cruise control – without taking their<br />
hands off the wheel:<br />
• Left keypad: display menu, radio volume<br />
control<br />
• Right keypad: driver assistance systems<br />
(cruise control, limiter, settings) and<br />
phone call answer<br />
• Far left: memory function key to store a<br />
“favourite view”<br />
Via buttons on the steering wheel, the new<br />
“stacks & cards” system allows quick,<br />
efficient navigation between individual<br />
menu groupings (“stacks”) and sub-menus<br />
(“cards”). During the journey, the driver<br />
can access a variety of information in the<br />
central display and conveniently change<br />
individual settings as needed.<br />
Coach Multimedia System (CMS)<br />
Entertainment, information and functionality<br />
at the highest level. The CMS regulates,<br />
among other things, a spatial function and<br />
sound separation between the driver and the<br />
passenger compartment area. Moreover, it<br />
is equipped with radio as well as an interface<br />
for multimedia terminals, infotainment, telephony<br />
and navigation.<br />
Navigation system<br />
The standard navigation system enables<br />
drivers to specify settings such as vehicle<br />
height, width and length. Based on this<br />
information, the system suggests the ideal<br />
routes and itineraries.<br />
Steering column and driver’s seat<br />
The steering column can be adjusted easily<br />
and extensively, and the driver’s work<br />
station, which has also been raised by<br />
50 mm, ensures that the driver always has<br />
a commanding view of the road ahead. The<br />
steering column and seat can be adjusted<br />
flexibly, so that drivers of all sizes can sit in<br />
an ergonomically beneficial position.<br />
Fire extinguisher and emergency bag<br />
The fire extinguisher and the new emergency<br />
bag with two first-aid kits, a flashlight<br />
and warning light, a safety vest and warning<br />
triangle are located very close to the driver<br />
and, if necessary, can be accessed quickly.<br />
Intelligent electronic network<br />
The revised electronics system extends<br />
diagnostic capabilities and provides more<br />
ease of maintenance. Many electronic<br />
components as well as all fuses and relays<br />
which are relevant for the driver are easily<br />
accessible on the right side of the cockpit.<br />
This arrangement increases driver safety in<br />
the event of a breakdown.<br />
Ventilation<br />
Three new air vents on the driver’s side window<br />
provide fresh air, creating a so-called<br />
“air curtain”. This also ensures a comfortable<br />
interior environment in the winter, since<br />
it prevents unpleasant thermal bridges.<br />
Storage options<br />
As per drivers’ requests, further practical<br />
storage options were created for the items<br />
used most often, such as parking cards &<br />
tickets, document files and gloves. Along<br />
with a cup holder and a charger for the cell<br />
phone, there are other storage options on<br />
the driver’s table for A4 pads, pens or a<br />
phone. A multimedia interface and, optionally,<br />
12V or 24V power sockets are available<br />
for connections.<br />
Refrigerator<br />
The circulating cooling of the entire wall of<br />
the 63-liter refrigerator in the cockpit guarantees<br />
quick, uniform temperature control.<br />
Its hinged cover enables easy access for the<br />
attendant or tour guide, and serves both as<br />
a brochure or laptop tray.<br />
Electronic ignition key<br />
The updated electronic key generation combines<br />
the ignition key and remote control<br />
(optional) in a single unit, thus eliminating<br />
the mechanical steering wheel lock. Additionally,<br />
the system also features improved<br />
anti-theft protection and an electronic drive<br />
authorisation system (immobiliser with integration<br />
to on-board electronics).<br />
“Soft-touch” surface materials<br />
The use of high-quality “soft touch” surface<br />
materials contributes to a highly refined<br />
cockpit environment.<br />
The PowerShift 3 gearshift<br />
The transmission circuit for the Euro VI<br />
drivetrain is now on the steering column.<br />
A key advantage is that operation is easier<br />
and safer, since the driver’s hands remain<br />
on the wheel. Eliminating the shift knob<br />
further improves accessibility of the instrument<br />
panel while offering an additional<br />
storage option.<br />
<br />
A high-resolution colour display and multifunction<br />
steering wheel ensure an optimal overview<br />
Practical: the built-in cabinet positioned next to the<br />
attendant’s seat provides very accessible storage options<br />
The standard navigation system suggests appropriate<br />
routes based on the vehicle’s settings<br />
Harmonious design: high-quality surface materials<br />
complete the elegant decor<br />
Plenty of space: more practical storage spaces were<br />
created for all the items used most often
20 | <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 21<br />
USA – <strong>Setra</strong> and MCI come together:<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> with a strong partner<br />
s part of its growth initiative, Daimler Buses North America is<br />
A entering a strategic partnership with Motor Coach Industries<br />
International Inc. (MCI), a leading US bus manufacturer. By combining<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> with MCI’s products, services and well-developed<br />
distribution network, Daimler Buses anticipates a strengthened<br />
market presence, improved accessibility and enhanced customer<br />
service for its own brand in the US and Canada. “With MCI, we<br />
have a strong partner here with an excellent reputation in the motorcoach<br />
business. Our vehicles were always well received in the US,<br />
however, we have had some weaknesses in the service network in<br />
certain regions,” commented Till Oberwörder, Head of Marketing,<br />
Sales and Aftersales EvoBus GmbH. Jon Yarusso, Vice President of<br />
Motor Coach Industries,<br />
added: “<strong>Setra</strong><br />
is a very attractive<br />
producer for the US.<br />
We followed their<br />
market entry very<br />
attentively, and now we would like to jointly establish the brand the<br />
way it is already known in Europe. We would like to benefit from<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>’s premium positioning in the US market, by taking advantage<br />
of all the design opportunities offered through the <strong>Setra</strong> Design-<br />
Center, to satisfy individual customer wishes. Furthermore, we will<br />
continue to focus strongly on safety and technology.“ <br />
Germany – YBO get-together:<br />
Young Bus Operators<br />
he international members of the Young Bus Operators association (YBO), founded by<br />
T <strong>Setra</strong> in 2000, not only work well together, they also enjoy getting together socially.<br />
And over time, very close friendships have evolved. For instance, in June 2012, several<br />
Young Bus Operators met with Patrick Becker from Horst Becker Touristik in Spiesen-<br />
Elversberg near Saarbrücken to celebrate the operator’s 40 th birthday. YBO members who<br />
had met 12 years ago at the first YBO meeting were also present at the festivities. At five<br />
a.m., after a long night of celebrating, the group boarded a flight to Schacht-Audorf in<br />
Schleswig-Holstein for the wedding of another YBO member, Diedrich Graf von der Recke<br />
Jun. (Graf Recke GmbH). And, as you would expect, the guests were picked up at the hotel<br />
by two <strong>Setra</strong> coaches and brought to the church service. <br />
<br />
Norway – 20 <strong>Setra</strong> coaches for the Nettbuss state rail subsidiary:<br />
A Scandinavian success model<br />
he Nettbuss coach company based in Oslo is the second largest operator in Scandinavia.<br />
The subsidiary of the national Norwegian State Railways NSB was established<br />
T<br />
in 1925 and is now a transnational operation with 14 active subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden<br />
and Denmark. With the personal touch expressed in the “We drive for you” slogan, this<br />
operator makes it very clear that passengers are at the heart of the company’s philosophy.<br />
And, since 2011, new coaches from <strong>Setra</strong> ensure that passengers travel even more comfortably<br />
and more safely. In 2012, the fleet was expanded by an additional 20 new <strong>Setra</strong><br />
coaches, and in 2013, it is anticipated that more will follow. Nettbuss’ core business encompasses<br />
scheduled-service, express routes, airport transfers and touring in Norway,<br />
Denmark and Sweden – all requiring coaches and buses. As you would expect, vehicles<br />
from the MultiClass, ComfortClass and TopClass ranges were delivered to the customer.<br />
Nettbuss aims to position itself as the leading and most innovative bus operator in Scandinavia.<br />
The decision in favour of <strong>Setra</strong> was based on the brand’s unmatched quality, while<br />
the outstanding reliability of <strong>Setra</strong> vehicles is especially indispensable to the company’s<br />
express line business.<br />
<br />
Luxembourg – Sales-Lentz moves aristocracy:<br />
A royal wedding carriage<br />
Bildgröße!<br />
he entire European aristocracy was represented as Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg<br />
and the Belgian Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy tied the knot. 1,400 guests<br />
T<br />
gathered in October 2012 in the Notre-Dame Cathedral, including royals such as Queen<br />
Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Harald of Norway and Queen<br />
Margrethe of Denmark, as well as many royal children and successors to the throne. Transporting<br />
the nobility between Castle Colmar, the hotels, the Palais Grand-Ducal and the<br />
ceremony at the Cathedral was taken care of by four Sales-Lentz <strong>Setra</strong> coaches decorated<br />
with royal arms for the festivities.<br />
In 2011, the group had said “Yes” to <strong>Setra</strong> with 32 new TopClass coaches for themselves<br />
and their Belgian subsidiary Voyages Léonard. The purchase represented the largest <strong>Setra</strong><br />
order in the history of EvoBus Belgium and Luxembourg. Late last year, a somewhat less<br />
aristocratic but certainly no less festive transfer event was held at the <strong>Setra</strong> Customer-<br />
Center, as Till Oberwörder, Head of Marketing, Sales and Aftersales EvoBus GmbH, handed<br />
over 22 new vehicles to the group.<br />
<br />
Czech Republic – TAD from the Sudeten Mountains:<br />
Success in a difficult market<br />
ver the last 10 years, the TAD Czech family business (Trutnovská Autobusová Doprava)<br />
O located in the Sudeten Mountains has been living proof that durability, the latest technology,<br />
and the best quality are strong arguments in favour of <strong>Setra</strong> coaches – even in the<br />
challenging Eastern European market. Back in 2001, the Burkert family purchased its first<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> – an S 315 GT-HD – and the TAD company’s image benefitted immensely. By 2011, an<br />
additional four <strong>Setra</strong> coaches had made their way to the impressive Sudeten Mountains. In<br />
addition to regional scheduled-service, TAD’s main focus is on coach tours which are successfully<br />
organised by the company’s in-house travel agency. In 2012, TAD extended its <strong>Setra</strong><br />
touring coach fleet with a Final Edition S 415 GT-HD. With its strategically well-rounded business<br />
concept, TAD is ideally geared to long-term, sustainable cost-efficiency. <br />
France – Voyages Francony:<br />
30 years, 3 generations<br />
or three generations and 30 years, the Voyages Francony bus company from the<br />
F French Savoy region has been capitalising on the exceptional comfort and reliability<br />
of <strong>Setra</strong> coaches. The company was originally founded in 1898 and renamed Voyages<br />
Francony in 1978, and all 18 touring and intercity coaches that make up their fleet carry the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> name. Their relationship with the brand from Neu-Ulm began with two S 140 coaches<br />
and an S 212 H. In the mid-1980s, an S 215 HD followed – a real sensation at the time<br />
since it was the first coach ever with air conditioning. The firm’s most recent purchase was<br />
an S 415 H with a lift for wheelchair users. At the Autocar Expo, the company was very<br />
impressed by the new Comfort Class 500 and is now looking forward to welcoming one to<br />
their own fleet some time soon.
22 | <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 23<br />
The deregulation of line-haul bus service:<br />
A green light for longdistance<br />
bus service<br />
Due to a legal prohibition on competition, German Rail had the right of way for line-haul service<br />
for the longest time. With the approval of long-distance bus service, this is now changing, and a new<br />
and very interesting market is opening up for bus operators. <strong>Setra</strong><strong>Family</strong> took a close look at the<br />
European market and is pleased to introduce four operators who are successful with their longdistance<br />
services and with <strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
T<br />
he parliamentary factions’ bill from<br />
September 2012 was clear: “Linehaul<br />
bus service is as of now open.<br />
In the future, long-distance bus line service<br />
is possible everywhere in Germany and it<br />
may also compete with long-distance rail.”<br />
The change in law represents the end of the<br />
Deutsche Bahn’s monopoly which lasted for<br />
over 70 years. Rail travel will nonetheless<br />
continue to benefit from a certain level of<br />
protection, since bus operators can only<br />
offer their passengers service for routes of at<br />
least 50 kilometres or one hour of travel time.<br />
The deregulation of line-haul bus service<br />
enhances freedom of choice for the mobile<br />
target group who now has another possible<br />
means of transportation, along with cars,<br />
trains and planes. And, since line-haul bus<br />
service tends to be less expensive, longdistance<br />
travel is now more accessible for<br />
travellers on a budget. The Association of<br />
German Bus Operators estimates that up to<br />
100 mid-sized bus companies will be entering<br />
this new segment.<br />
The environment may also benefit from the<br />
change. Long-distance bus routes represent<br />
a clear step towards more resourceefficient<br />
mobility. Bus travel, even when<br />
used at 40 %* capacity, delivers superior<br />
environmental performance, comparing<br />
very positively with train, car or plane travel.<br />
With today’s high fuel prices, bus travel<br />
offers an environmentally friendly and costefficient<br />
alternative. Long-distance bus<br />
services may also result in less congestion<br />
on highways, as travel by car is reduced.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> coaches are already being deployed<br />
very successfully on several long-distance<br />
routes. And with good reason. Operators<br />
are capitalising on low fuel consumption,<br />
superior comfort and an outstanding security<br />
concept for both drivers and passengers.<br />
The fact that <strong>Setra</strong> is ideally positioned<br />
to support long-distance operators in bringing<br />
their business concepts to life with<br />
high-level flexibility and expertise in customised<br />
equipment also plays a key role.<br />
Operators now have an opportunity to<br />
make their offering even more attractive to<br />
specific target groups. And the extensive<br />
range of services and assistance available<br />
to bus and coach operators only adds to<br />
the appeal. With over 600 service centres<br />
in Europe, OMNIplus is the largest bus-specific,<br />
manufacturer-owned service network<br />
for <strong>Setra</strong> and Mercedes-Benz buses and<br />
coaches. In emergency situations, longdistance<br />
service operators can count on<br />
quick and highly qualified help along their<br />
routes. <strong>Setra</strong><strong>Family</strong> took a look at Luxembourg,<br />
France and Germany, and is pleased<br />
to introduce some long-distance service<br />
operators who are already capitalising on<br />
the many benefits <strong>Setra</strong> touring coaches<br />
deliver.<br />
<br />
*Source: IFEU 2009
24 | <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 25<br />
iDBUS – “Smart travel, together”<br />
In July 2012, the SNCF state rail company’s international long-distance bus line – the iD-<br />
BUS – was kicked off in France. 26 comfortable, wheelchair-accessible <strong>Setra</strong> S 416 GT-HD<br />
coaches service routes between the European cities of Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and<br />
London.<br />
With the integration of the new long-distance bus lines, SNCF was entering new territory<br />
and asked <strong>Setra</strong> for expert assistance. Special equipment needs and technical vehicle<br />
requirements were brought to life in Neu-Ulm within an individually customised vehicle<br />
concept, including three cinema double seats fixed on airline tracks which can be moved<br />
as needed to make room for an additional wheelchair space. For the corresponding handicapped<br />
lift, <strong>Setra</strong> developed a new built-in solution behind the right front axle – without<br />
affecting the amount of available space in the luggage compartment.<br />
MeinFernbus.de – “Attractive long-distance coach lines for everyone”<br />
Until recently, if you wanted to travel from Freiburg to Munich, you’d have to change trains<br />
once or twice with German Rail. Since April 2012, the new direct offer from Germany’s<br />
largest long-distance bus service provider conveniently connects Freiburg and Munich via<br />
Friedrichshafen without having to change trains. A well-equipped <strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT which is<br />
being deployed on the route provides passengers exceptional travel comfort with Wi-Fi<br />
access and comfortable seats. Up to five bikes can be taken per coach if needed. The new<br />
coach line not only stands out in terms of comfort, it also pays off for passengers. Depending<br />
on the date and rate, the coach ride is 42 to 74 percent less expensive than an equivalent<br />
train ticket. The cheapest trip to Friedrichshafen costs 8 euros, and the cheapest to<br />
Munich is 15 euros. Bookings can be made through the MeinFernbus.de website, at many<br />
sales locations and, if seats are available, directly in the coach. Avanti Busreisen and the<br />
Auto-Hummel coach service, both from Freiburg, travel for MeinFernbus.de.<br />
All for a good cause:<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> customers are making a difference<br />
Whether in your home town or on the other side of the globe, you’ll always find people who need<br />
help. And we at <strong>Setra</strong> are experiencing that bus and coach operators are very committed to making<br />
a difference. Here are three of our customers who have chosen to support a good cause.<br />
Will Markgräfler Reisen collects “Help for Patrik”<br />
Little Patrik from the Rheinschule Neuenburg on the Rhein has leukaemia.<br />
In 2012, he urgently needed a bone marrow transplant.<br />
Using typecasting to identify a suitable donor is a very expensive<br />
procedure – way too expensive for Patrik’s parents. Deeply touched<br />
by the child’s fate, Will Markgräfler Reisen from Müllheim and other<br />
companies in the region decided to get together and make a difference.<br />
The coach operator travelled to Neu-Ulm with 74 customers<br />
to pick up three new <strong>Setra</strong> coaches and take a tour of the plant. The<br />
Müllheim operator collected a € 10 token fare per participant –<br />
and topped it up to raise an impressive € 1,500. These funds were<br />
used for a typecasting event which took place at Patrik’s school. And<br />
fortunately, a suitable donor was found for the boy during the testing<br />
process. Since the transplant, Patrik has been doing much better. <br />
DeLux-Express – “Travel smart by bus!”<br />
Since March 2012, the long-distance DeLux-Express bus line, operated by Stadtwerke<br />
Trier and Voyages Emile Weber, a Luxembourg travel company, covers the Luxembourg-<br />
Trier-Frankfurt cross-border route. 24 times a week, a total of six <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 GT-HD<br />
coaches drive from the Alzette to the Main and back in 4:20 hours. The routes in the<br />
comfortably equipped touring coaches with air conditioning, electricity, WCs and beverage<br />
machines, which are targeted to students, tourists, commuters and Frankfurt Airport<br />
passengers, address a wide spectrum of users. Under the slogan “Travel smart by bus!”,<br />
tickets for the DeLux-Express can be booked via smartphone up to 30 minutes before<br />
departure.<br />
Rosà Autoservizi helps earthquake victims<br />
Suffering in times of crisis tends to draw people together. This was<br />
also the case in early 2012 when thousands of people were left<br />
homeless as the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna was hit<br />
by several devastating earthquakes. The Rosà Autoservizi bus operator<br />
from the neighbouring region of Veneto simply couldn’t stand<br />
by and watch. He soon found good use for his <strong>Setra</strong> coaches. More<br />
than 300 children who had lost their homes and were living in tents<br />
were driven to an amusement park at the company’s expense –<br />
putting their sorrows aside for a while. A great day for the kids. And<br />
an exceptionally nice gesture on the part of Rosà Autoservizi. <br />
DeinBus.de – “One ‘fanny’, one price!”<br />
DeinBus.de provides fixed long-distance bus lines that travel the Munich-Stuttgart-Tübingen,<br />
Freiburg-Singen-Konstanz and Freiburg-Villingen-Schwenningen-Tübingen-Stuttgart<br />
routes. Additionally, the DeinBus.de concept includes a “Busmitfahrzentrale” or bus-tripsharing<br />
agency with variable routes. Let’s say, someone is interested in a specific, variable<br />
trip. They can start by looking for other people wishing to travel the same route. And, if<br />
enough passengers are interested, DeinBus.de will simply organise the trip.<br />
All routes for either requested or guaranteed rides can be seen on the home page. And<br />
DeinBus.de’s catchy slogan “One ‘fanny’, one price” applies to everyone. Whether a child,<br />
retiree or student, all seats cost the same. Bus operators from all over Germany travel for<br />
DeinBus.de, including Winterhalter Bustouristik with a <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 GT-HD coach equipped<br />
with air conditioning, a galley, fridge, manually adjustable reclining seats, DVD, radio and<br />
CD as well as a WC.<br />
Happacher travels with Sindiso e. V.<br />
The Happacher coach operator from Neutraubling is very proud to<br />
show off its true colours. Large-surface advertising on their new<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> S 415 NF attractively promotes the local Sindiso club that<br />
supports social projects in Africa. The Happacher family took over<br />
the cost of the advertising for the full extent of the coach’s service<br />
life. And, as the vehicle was handed over to Happacher at the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
CustomerCenter, the social project was promoted to the local<br />
press. The new coach runs the Neutraubling-Regensburg route,<br />
displaying the club’s logo and eye-catching images of the Kenya<br />
project, which provides children with access to education and<br />
food. The coach was unveiled in the context of a festive event<br />
where donations were collected through games and activities.
26 | <strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service | 27<br />
Through its combination with a maintenance<br />
and service package, it offers the greatest<br />
possible planning security. After the agreedupon<br />
maturity of four years with fixed<br />
mileage and guaranteed redemption value,<br />
Brune can either take over the vehicle with<br />
one final payment or return it to <strong>Setra</strong> –<br />
balancing out any mileage discrepancies or<br />
damage to the vehicle by the end of the<br />
contract. Of course, it is also possible to<br />
order and take advantage of attractive<br />
financing on a new coach.<br />
For Markus Brune, working with Mercedes-<br />
Benz and <strong>Setra</strong> Sales proved successful<br />
once again. “The financing model suits my<br />
business one hundred percent.” Would<br />
he do it again? “Most definitely! We are<br />
even considering purchasing another new<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> this year, an S 416 GT-HD/3.” And of<br />
course, once again through the Mercedes-<br />
Benz Bank.<br />
<br />
Your Mercedes-Benz Bank coach and bus advisors<br />
in Germany<br />
1<br />
Jan-Peter Hintze<br />
Northern Region<br />
Telephone: +49 40 694 14 65-85<br />
Cell: +49 160 861 32 42<br />
jan-peter.hintze@daimler.com<br />
1<br />
2<br />
Ulrich Steller<br />
Central Region (East)<br />
Telephone: +49 30 200 90 31 08<br />
Cell phone: +49 160 861 35 82<br />
ulrich.steller@daimler.com<br />
Mercedes-Benz Bank/Daimler Financial Services:<br />
Customised financing<br />
Cash purchase, loan or lease – selecting the right financing when buying a coach can determine an<br />
investment’s profitability. Here, we are pleased to profile Brune Busse from Gelsenkirchen as an<br />
example of a well-suited financing model.<br />
T<br />
he Mercedes-Benz Bank is the<br />
German subsidiary of Daimler<br />
Financial Services. The Daimler<br />
Group’s global financial service provider,<br />
active in over 40 countries, is the most<br />
international automotive financial service<br />
provider worldwide. Its offering encompasses<br />
customised financial services,<br />
financing, leasing, insurance and fleet<br />
management for <strong>Setra</strong> and the Daimler<br />
Group’s other brands.<br />
Since 2002, the Brune Busse company<br />
from Gelsenkirchen has financed several<br />
minibuses for the transportation of students<br />
and disabled passengers through the<br />
Mercedes-Benz Bank. Under the motto<br />
“We move people”, Brune offers business,<br />
school, association and club trips at home<br />
and abroad. The fleet includes coaches of<br />
all sizes, with space for 8 to 60 passengers.<br />
In 2012, the first new <strong>Setra</strong> vehicle was<br />
added to the fleet.<br />
Managing Director Markus Brune had long<br />
been keeping an eye on his “dream coach”,<br />
the <strong>Setra</strong> Final Edition S 415 GT-HD. At the<br />
2012 RDA, he spoke to the Mercedes-Benz<br />
Bank about vehicle financing options. “The<br />
Final Edition is a proven, super-equipped,<br />
reliable, safe and exceptionally fuel-efficient<br />
vehicle. And that’s why it fits perfectly<br />
into my fleet,” Brune points out. “As a responsible<br />
operator, you need to take a very<br />
close look at things when making an investment<br />
like this. <strong>Setra</strong> and the Mercedes-<br />
Benz Bank deliver a very sound overall<br />
concept.”<br />
The Bank’s financing model is perfectly<br />
tailored to the needs of Brune Busse, while<br />
representing an extremely flexible solution.<br />
5<br />
The Mercedes-Benz Bank’s individual financing models<br />
Mercedes-Benz Bank bus and coach advisors offer expert advice<br />
on all matters relating to vehicle financing. In close cooperation<br />
with <strong>Setra</strong> Sales, a needs analysis is carried out for the operator, in<br />
which a customised financing plan is tailored to the customer’s<br />
financial circumstances.<br />
The financing models are based on the company’s fleet size and<br />
mobility requirements. Additionally, seasonal rates can be agreed<br />
to – whereby companies with more business in the summer would<br />
4<br />
3<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
Karl-Heinz Maurus<br />
Southern Region (East)<br />
Telephone: +49 89 638 93-85 19<br />
Cell phone: +49 160 861 30 15<br />
karl-heinz.maurus@daimler.com<br />
Ralf Fischer<br />
Southern Region (West)<br />
Telephone: +49 711 351 69-85 19<br />
Cell phone: +49 160 861 30 60<br />
ralf.fischer@daimler.com<br />
Sven Stieh<br />
Central Region (West)<br />
Telephone: +49 621 45 33 81<br />
Cell phone: +49 160 861 35 90<br />
sven.stieh@daimler.com<br />
pay higher rates throughout the summer months and lower rates<br />
during the winter months. Also, rates can be determined based on<br />
the length of the contract – the longer the contract, the lower the<br />
rates. The Mercedes-Benz Bank offers financing terms of up to<br />
10 years, significantly longer than other vehicle manufacturers. Yet<br />
another advantage: if a customer finances and insures a vehicle<br />
through Mercedes-Benz, they enjoy a discount of 10 percent on<br />
their insurance premium.
28 | <strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Individual | 29<br />
An overview of international contacts<br />
Austria<br />
Mr Florian Koch<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
Austria GmbH<br />
Telephone: +43 662 466 620 3<br />
Fax: +43 662 466 669 1<br />
Cell phone: +43 676 848 816 83<br />
florian.fk.koch@daimler.com<br />
Belgium<br />
Mr Jurgen Vermeiren<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services BeLux NV<br />
Telephone: +32 225 469 03<br />
Cell phone: +32 477 489 065<br />
jurgen.vermeiren@daimler.com<br />
Croatia<br />
Ms Branka Savora<br />
Mercedes-Benz Leasing Hrvatska d.o.o.<br />
Telephone: +385 134 412 52<br />
Fax: +385 134 412 55<br />
Cell phone: +385 913 441 285<br />
branka.savora@daimler.com<br />
Czech Republic<br />
Mr Jan Motejzík<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
Ceská republika s.r.o.<br />
Telephone: +420 271 077 670<br />
Cell phone: +420 603 299 205<br />
jan.motejzik@daimler.com<br />
Denmark<br />
Mr Michael Junker<br />
Mercedes-Benz Finans Danmark AS<br />
Cell phone: +45 262 489 77<br />
michael.junker@daimler.com<br />
France<br />
Mr Philippe Dusart<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
France S.A.<br />
Telephone: +33 130 808 438<br />
Cell phone: +33 682 577 761<br />
philippe.dusart@daimler.com<br />
Great Britain<br />
Mr Stuart Bennett<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
UK Limited<br />
Telephone: +44 128 586 626 77<br />
stuart.bennett@daimler.com<br />
Hungary<br />
Ms Erika Kimmel<br />
Mercedes-Benz Credit Pénzügyi<br />
Szolgáltató Hungary Zrt.<br />
Telephone: +36 188 060 71<br />
Fax: +36 188 060 99<br />
erika.kimmel@daimler.com<br />
Italy<br />
Ms Alessandra Benetti<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
Italia SpA<br />
Telephone: +39 064 159 583 6<br />
Fax: +39 064 159 520 0<br />
Cell phone: +39 335 617 201 9<br />
alessandra.benetti@daimler.com<br />
Luxembourg<br />
Mr Kurt Stoldt<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services BeLux NV<br />
Telephone: +352 408 014 01<br />
Fax: +352 408 014 10<br />
Cell phone: +352 621 251 252<br />
kurt.stoldt@daimler.com<br />
Netherlands<br />
Mr Martin Knijnenburg<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
Nederland B.V.<br />
Telephone: +31 306 059 827<br />
Fax: +31 306 053 075<br />
Cell phone: +31 653 273 343<br />
martin.knijnenburg@daimler.com<br />
Poland<br />
Mr Tomasz Wykrota<br />
Mercedes-Benz Leasing Polska Sp. z o.o.<br />
Telephone: +48 223 127 725<br />
Fax: +48 223 126 720<br />
Cell phone: +48 698 697 725<br />
tomasz.wykrota@daimler.com<br />
Portugal<br />
Mr Miguel  Nunes<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Portugal<br />
- Instituição Financeira de Crédito S.A.<br />
Telephone: +351 219 257 303<br />
Fax: +351 219 257 346<br />
Cell phone: +351 925 903 177<br />
miguel.nunes@daimler.com<br />
Romania<br />
Ms Daniela Lolescu<br />
Mercedes-Benz Leasing IFN SA<br />
Telephone: +40 213 060 710<br />
Fax: +40 213 060 707<br />
Cell phone: +40 752 098 314<br />
daniela.lolescu@daimler.com<br />
Russia<br />
Mr Anton Voronin<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
Rus OOO<br />
Telephone: +7 495 797 535 4<br />
Cell phone: +7 916 299 699 2<br />
anton.voronin@daimler.com<br />
Slovakia<br />
Mr Martin Pavelek<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
Slovakia s.r.o.<br />
Telephone: +421 249 294 600<br />
Fax: +421 249 294 666<br />
Cell phone: +421 908 553 57<br />
martin.pavelek@daimler.com<br />
Spain<br />
Mr David Mendoza Santos<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services España,<br />
E.F.C., S.A.<br />
Telephone: +34 917 212 906<br />
david.mendoza_santos@daimler.com<br />
Sweden<br />
Mr Magnus Granquist<br />
Mercedes-Benz Finans Sverige AB<br />
Telephone: +46 406 609 287<br />
Cell phone: +46 705 796 477<br />
magnus.granquist@daimler.com<br />
Switzerland<br />
Ms Susana Mojon<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services<br />
Schweiz AG<br />
Telephone: +41 447 559 955<br />
Cell phone: +41 791 246 653<br />
susana.mojon@daimler.com<br />
Turkey<br />
Mr Tayfun Ones<br />
Mercedes-Benz Finansman Türk A.S.<br />
Telephone: +90 212 866 656 1<br />
Fax: +90 212 858 096 6<br />
Cell phone: +90 533 622 441 2<br />
tayfun.ones@daimler.com<br />
U.S.<br />
Mr Keith Courtney<br />
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC<br />
Telephone: +1 630 215 495 6<br />
keith.courtney@daimler.com<br />
Stairs to the front right as special customer request:<br />
Moving on up with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
What may appear easy to customers often turns out to be highly complex for the development team.<br />
The ideal outcome is when a workable solution is found that satisfies both sides. The stairway<br />
positioned to the front right in an S 431 DT originated with a special customer request – one that has<br />
successfully proven itself in practice.<br />
C<br />
ustomisation is very important at <strong>Setra</strong>. In fact, there is an<br />
entire development team in Neu-Ulm dedicated to investigating<br />
and coordinating special customer requests (KSW).<br />
A major development effort<br />
So, the customer would like a double-decker coach with stairs to<br />
the upper deck positioned to the front right instead of the usual<br />
front left? The development experts immediately take on the challenge.<br />
After all, it’s their job to develop the right solutions to address<br />
unusual customer requests. In this case, the KSW team, working<br />
closely with the development department, will once again make the<br />
seemingly impossible possible. And a few months later, the first<br />
double-decker coach with a stairway to the front right leaves the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> CustomerCenter. The developers, technicians and fitters put<br />
a lot of time and energy into this particular success story. “A huge<br />
development effort goes into fulfilling a special customer request,”<br />
says Manfred Rattunde who is responsible for the S 431 DT within<br />
the KSW team.<br />
Two more seats<br />
Why a stairway to the front right? “For a number of reasons,” says<br />
general representative Martin Herrmann. “The main reason is that<br />
we can fit in an additional double seat on the upper deck, since we<br />
end up with the entire length of the coach being available on the<br />
left side. That’s a lot of room.” Moreover, a large tour group can<br />
board the coach considerably faster if some passengers can head<br />
up the stairs directly at the door. But if you believe that all you need<br />
to do is simply design a mirror image of the standard-series leftpositioned<br />
stairway and move it forward, you’re quite wrong, since<br />
the stairway to the front right calls for an entirely new design with<br />
different dimensions and components.<br />
For space reasons, the attendant’s seat needed to be completely<br />
reworked – and is now positioned a little further back than its series<br />
counterpart, it has an armrest on the left, and its seat automatically<br />
folds up when you stand up to make room for the incoming passengers.<br />
“Existing passenger seating components were modified and<br />
combined to create the new attendant’s seat.”
30 | <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 31<br />
A look back:<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> get-togethers<br />
2012 was the year of the ComfortClass 500. After its launch in Germany and high profile at the IAA,<br />
the new series celebrated its premiere in several other countries – and was the absolute highlight<br />
at every event.<br />
TRANSEXPO, Kielce (Poland),<br />
10/10–12/2012<br />
A spectacular show was staged in Kielce for<br />
the premiere of the ComfortClass 500 with<br />
about 500 invited guests. Early on, key<br />
milestones throughout the history of <strong>Setra</strong><br />
were presented, accompanied by dancers<br />
dressed in the styles of the times. The<br />
crowning of the <strong>Setra</strong> success story: the<br />
unveiling of the ComfortClass 500.<br />
TTG Incontri, Rimini (Italy),<br />
10/18–20/2012<br />
For the presentation of the new Comfort-<br />
Class 500 at the international B2B trade<br />
fair for tourism in Rimini, <strong>Setra</strong> came up<br />
with a very special idea. First, an S 516 HD/3<br />
was revealed at the stand. And then, an<br />
S 515 HD was given an opportunity to<br />
show off its sporty side on the Misano<br />
race track. Also represented in Rimini: an<br />
S 415 GT-HD.<br />
VIP visit to the <strong>Setra</strong> stand FIAA in Madrid: the<br />
Spanish Transport Minister Ana María Pastor Julián<br />
was shown the new ComfortClass 500 in great detail<br />
and took a seat in the passenger compartment<br />
FIAA, Madrid (Spain),<br />
10/23–26/2012<br />
At the international FIAA bus and coach<br />
fair, <strong>Setra</strong> presented the ComfortClass 500’s<br />
modern design, outstanding driver and<br />
passenger comfort, as well as its Euro VI<br />
technology – embodied in an S 515 HD and<br />
an S 517 HD. In addition to the more than<br />
200 visitors, the Spanish Transport Minister<br />
Ana María Pastor Julián was welcomed<br />
to the <strong>Setra</strong> stand where she was clearly<br />
impressed by the new series’ innovations.<br />
Also at the stand: the OMNIplus service<br />
brand and FleetBoard, Daimler’s fleet management<br />
system.<br />
Omnibus 2012, Kloten (Switzerland),<br />
11/1–2/2012<br />
At the BusWorld Home in Kloten, visitors to<br />
the show experienced the Swiss premiere<br />
of the new ComfortClass 500 and the introduction<br />
of intercity coaches with Euro VI<br />
engines. Another highlight was the new<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> “Ambassador” 2 + 1 seat generation.<br />
Test Drive, Maastricht (Netherlands),<br />
11/5–10/2012<br />
The event in Maastricht, which was targeted<br />
at Dutch and Belgian customers, included<br />
a tour of the Mercedes-Benz Customer<br />
Assistance Center in Maastricht, the central<br />
contact point and service centre for<br />
customers from all over Western Europe.<br />
Close to 110 guests from both countries<br />
were welcomed and offered an opportunity<br />
to test drive the new coaches. A new<br />
ComfortClass S 515 HD, a TopClass<br />
S 411 HD and a MultiClass S 417 UL were<br />
exhibited.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Open House, Ragana (Latvia),<br />
11/6–7/2012<br />
In Latvian Ragana, just north of the capital,<br />
Riga, 120 <strong>Setra</strong> customers came together<br />
from across the Baltic region to experience<br />
the presentation of the new Comfort-<br />
Class 500. The offer for test drives in the<br />
S 516 HD/2 was accepted enthusiastically.<br />
At the evening event, the guests enjoyed<br />
the opportunity to share their thoughts and<br />
experiences in a relaxed atmosphere.<br />
Best Bus Vienna, Vienna (Austria),<br />
11/8–10/2012<br />
Also in the Austrian capital on the Danube,<br />
all eyes were on the <strong>Setra</strong> highlight – the<br />
ComfortClass 500 – and its sensational<br />
presentation.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>Show, Neu-Ulm, 11/17–18/2012<br />
In 2012, the 20 th <strong>Setra</strong>Show attracted<br />
2,100 visitors – in fact, a third more guests<br />
to the <strong>Setra</strong> CustomerCenter in Neu-Ulm<br />
than in the previous year. Of course, the<br />
ComfortClass 500 series was a major focal<br />
point. The MultiClass 400 S 412 UL and<br />
S 416 H models with Euro VI engine technology<br />
celebrated their premiere. A special<br />
booth provided information on the results of<br />
the Record Run Buses 2012, while exhibiting<br />
the test vehicle which consumes 8.2%<br />
less diesel than its predecessor. Moreover,<br />
test drives of the ComfortClass 500, a tour<br />
of the coach production and demonstrations<br />
of Active Brake Assist (ABA2), the<br />
advanced emergency braking system, were<br />
real highlights at the <strong>Setra</strong> family's annual<br />
get-together.<br />
Persontrafik, Gothenburg (Sweden),<br />
11/27–29/2012<br />
The Persontrafik is one of the largest trade<br />
shows in the Swedish transport sector. Visitors<br />
from all parts of the country experienced<br />
the official Swedish premiere of the<br />
ComfortClass 500 at the <strong>Setra</strong> stand. The<br />
guests, who were all positioned around the<br />
highlight of the <strong>Setra</strong> stand, an S 516 HD,<br />
could book test drives and discuss business<br />
in a relaxed atmosphere. Another<br />
benefit of the extremely positive visitor<br />
response: the dates for the roadshow which<br />
took place in January 2013 were completely<br />
booked by the end of the event – and the<br />
roadshow was met with great success.<br />
20 th IGOM International Used Bus and<br />
Coach Fair, Neu-Ulm,<br />
1/4–5/2013<br />
The IGOM fair, the traditional kick-off to the<br />
new year, has evolved into a very important<br />
platform for contacts with international<br />
flair. Next to the <strong>Setra</strong> UsedVehicle Center,<br />
renowned used vehicle dealers, general<br />
representatives and EvoBus subsidiaries<br />
once again presented their used coaches<br />
and buses. But a new vehicle was also very<br />
present at the event this year: in response<br />
to great demand, visitors enjoyed yet<br />
another opportunity to test drive the<br />
ComfortClass 500.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>Show, Vetlanda (Sweden),<br />
1/18–19/2013<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong>Show in Vetlanda, in the Swedish<br />
province of Småland, was held in the new<br />
home of EvoBus Sweden. An S 516 HD from<br />
the new ComfortClass 500 series was<br />
shown and available for test drives on day<br />
two of the event. Interesting seminars and<br />
an OMNIplus presentation completed the<br />
programme.<br />
At the TRANSEXPO in Kielce (Poland), the ComfortClass 500<br />
proved its exceptional appeal to visitors at the <strong>Setra</strong> stand<br />
AUTOCAR EXPO, Bordeaux (France),<br />
10/17–20/2012<br />
The largest French coach and bus show –<br />
AUTOCAR EXPO – is an extremely important<br />
event for the industry and its brands.<br />
It is held every two years and is entirely<br />
organised by 10 French coach and bus manufacturers,<br />
including <strong>Setra</strong> and Mercedes-<br />
Benz.<br />
The October event date is closely aligned<br />
to the special needs of the French market.<br />
During the year’s last quarter, French coach<br />
operators traditionally order their new<br />
coaches and, prior to making their decisions,<br />
they like to discuss new vehicles on<br />
offer with their peers. It is therefore an ideal<br />
time to present the new ComfortClass 500<br />
to a receptive audience at the 1,280 m² exhibition<br />
space, and to offer test drives. The<br />
S 516 HD/2 on display was a true highlight<br />
at the EvoBus France exhibition stand. An<br />
S 416 UL with Euro VI engine, also a French<br />
premiere, also attracted many visitors to<br />
the stand. Seven other <strong>Setra</strong> coaches were<br />
also on display at the stand and on the outdoor<br />
show grounds.<br />
This popular industry get-together was held<br />
for the third time – with great success, as<br />
proven by a good 200 exhibitors and more<br />
than 2,700 visitors. Before Bordeaux, the<br />
AUTOCAR EXPO was held in Nice in 2008<br />
and 2010. The dates and location for the<br />
2014 event stand firm: October 15–18 in<br />
Lyon.
32 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class | 33<br />
Factory tour – seat production:<br />
“Passengers measure travel<br />
quality by a coach’s seats”<br />
<strong>Setra</strong><strong>Family</strong> spoke with Heimgard Bonzel, tour guide at the plant, about handwork, quality standards<br />
and production processes, and how comfort used to be defined during Otto Kässbohrer’s times.<br />
Ms Bonzel, Daimler Buses is the largest<br />
manufacturer of seats for coaches and<br />
buses in Europe. Why has <strong>Setra</strong> opted<br />
for this seemingly complex approach,<br />
rather than simply purchasing seats?<br />
Because <strong>Setra</strong> customers are individualists!<br />
And we can only meet the individual needs<br />
and wishes of our customers – as well as<br />
our own quality standards – by producing our own seats. Our customers<br />
really enjoy looking around our seat production facility. And<br />
they expect to be able to design their own seats according to their<br />
specifications and tastes, from the upholstery all the way through<br />
to footrests. By the way, seats for <strong>Setra</strong> coaches and buses are<br />
manufactured exclusively in Neu-Ulm.<br />
Individualists certainly have their own specific tastes.<br />
How many different fabrics can <strong>Setra</strong> customers select from?<br />
Our current collection includes 85 fabrics for seat covers. If you<br />
include the fabrics we have for curtains and interior trim, it adds up<br />
to 300 different types of fabrics. The selection ranges from synthetics<br />
through wool blends to genuine and exceptionally hardwearing<br />
nappa leather.<br />
How much actual handwork goes into one of these seats?<br />
Quite a lot. Of course, with some high-tech support, but human<br />
input is vital to the process – beginning with measuring, trimming<br />
and cutting the fabric. The knife automatically cuts the electronically<br />
programmed pattern, and high-speed industrial sewing machines<br />
are used, but they are all professionally operated by a total of 16<br />
expert seamstresses. We have 32 people responsible for padding<br />
and upholstering by hand, each of whom guarantees their work<br />
with their personnel number.<br />
And what about the seat frames?<br />
A machine handles the frames, just because it’s so much faster.<br />
A frame’s 32 different components are assembled in only<br />
72 seconds. This is how we can produce between 700 and 900<br />
seats a day. The exact number depends on the vehicles being<br />
manufactured on that specific day.<br />
So what comes next, how do the frame and the upholstery<br />
come together?<br />
We refer to this process as the “seat wedding”: at a production<br />
“rondel”, which revolves around its axis every 12 minutes, 10 workers<br />
at 10 workstations bring together a frame and upholstery for a<br />
double seat. The circular movement of the rondel enables the<br />
workers to access the various parts of their seats. So, with each<br />
revolution, each worker finalises “their” seat, for which they are<br />
responsible.<br />
Is it always the same procedure?<br />
Yes. Except for a club corner or special designs for a trade show. In<br />
cases such as these, more of the work is performed manually.<br />
And then the seat still has to be placed in the coach.<br />
You’re absolutely right. On small trolleys, the finished double seats<br />
are transported by elevator down to the production line in the<br />
assembly hall. What’s really important here is the correct sequence,<br />
according to the seat configuration which varies depending on the<br />
vehicle. Greater legroom, special fittings, etc. must also be taken<br />
into account. The seats are then moved into the coach through the<br />
windscreen opening.<br />
So how long does it take to produce one double seat?<br />
About 70 minutes per double seat. A total of six people will have<br />
been involved in the seat’s production – measuring, operating the<br />
cutting machine, sewing, upholstering, assembling, plus an additional<br />
person who is responsible for transport between stations.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> customers have come to expect a unique level of quality.<br />
Is this also reflected in seat manufacturing?<br />
Most definitely. And the bar is being raised continuously, especially<br />
in the key area of safety. The seats have a clearly defined impact<br />
zone, and energy-absorbing materials are used. At the same time,<br />
the seats are becoming increasingly lightweight and more comfortable.<br />
Operating them has become intuitive. And ultimately,<br />
passengers will measure the quality of a journey first and foremost<br />
by a coach’s seat.<br />
Speaking of safety, what kind of testing is a seat put through<br />
before it can be installed?<br />
We adhere to the EU norms and the even stricter EvoBus standards.<br />
Fabrics are put through 25 different tests. For example, fastness to<br />
rubbing is tested via 50,000–70,000 rubs, light fastness is also<br />
checked, and fire prevention dictates that the coach interior be as<br />
flame-resistant as possible. And this doesn’t even include the<br />
extensive ergonomic testing we do. It used to be a lot easier. If Otto<br />
Kässbohrer, who was of an average size, found a seat comfortable,<br />
then it was quite simply approved for production.
34 | <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 35<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> coach and bus stories:<br />
Real-life <strong>Setra</strong> stories<br />
To commemorate the 60 th anniversary of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand, we collected stories about <strong>Setra</strong> coaches<br />
and buses from all around the world – at times touching, at times funny, and always entertaining. In<br />
this issue of the <strong>Setra</strong><strong>Family</strong>, we are delighted to present two more of these very unique anecdotes.<br />
Through the desert in a <strong>Setra</strong><br />
A café on wheels<br />
I<br />
f<br />
Heinz Dysli hadn’t chosen to be a bus<br />
driver, he might have gone into the<br />
food-service business. He could easily<br />
imagine being the friendly owner and host<br />
of a small corner café – where people<br />
would come in and immediately feel at<br />
home with friends. It would suit his relaxed<br />
personality quite well. But he is now a bus<br />
driver – and has never regretted his decision.<br />
And you know what? There are times<br />
when you can actually combine both professions,<br />
as he experienced one day in<br />
2008 on the autobahn between Salzburg<br />
and Vienna. That winter had hit really hard,<br />
with snow, storms and ice rain. The autobahn<br />
was like a parking lot, nothing was<br />
moving – for well over four hours!<br />
As is so often the case in situations like<br />
these, people get closer – and this time<br />
quite literally – since his coach with its<br />
35 passengers was spontaneously transformed<br />
into a café for freezing car drivers.<br />
Some headed straight for the lavatory,<br />
others drank a hot coffee, enjoying a bit of<br />
warmth and a good chat. In spite of the<br />
difficult circumstances, it was really very<br />
pleasant and a lot of fun in the coach.<br />
About a month later, he received several<br />
letters and postcards from his “guests”.<br />
They thanked him for his hospitality and<br />
asked when his “café on wheels” would be<br />
passing through again. <br />
Submitted by Heinz Dysli, Bern/Switzerland<br />
A<br />
s<br />
a <strong>Setra</strong> sales representative and<br />
later on as a distributor, Peter<br />
Strobl has been around a lot. He<br />
used to travel regularly in Africa and the<br />
Middle East. And yes, he’s slept in crowded<br />
hotel lobbies more often than he’d like to<br />
remember. In 1982, he embarked on one<br />
of the most daring adventures in modern<br />
times: riding on a coach in Sudan.<br />
The group of tourists was travelling in an<br />
old <strong>Setra</strong> through fascinating landscapes<br />
and on roads that didn’t even deserve the<br />
name – and nothing at all could upset the<br />
local driver’s sunny mood. Every few minutes,<br />
he would turn around, give a ‘thumbs<br />
up’ and pronounce with a brilliant smile:<br />
“<strong>Setra</strong>, very good!” The fact that the fuel<br />
pump filter was plugged didn’t seem to<br />
bother him at all. The resourceful man just<br />
kept going until the coach couldn’t source<br />
any more fuel, at which point he had a very<br />
practical solution in mind. As the bus slowly<br />
advanced, a 13-year-old boy would jump<br />
off the coach, run alongside it, open the<br />
engine flap and activate the fuel pump<br />
manually. As soon as the engine would start<br />
running again, the boy would rush to jump<br />
back onto the coach. The group finally<br />
reached its destination in Kosti on the<br />
White Nile, where Peter Strobl spent the<br />
night under the stars with one of his business<br />
partners. But that, as you may suspect,<br />
is a whole other story. <br />
Submitted by Peter Strobl, Dessau/Germany
36 | <strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service | 37<br />
New OMNIplus service contracts for the Comfort Class 500:<br />
Cost-efficiency – with predictability<br />
Buying a ComfortClass 500 is a considerable investment for any business owner. But it’s one they<br />
know they can count on well into the future. Key to this are the new OMNIplus service contracts.<br />
Transparency and the ability to plan ahead significantly facilitate vehicle operation over time. And the<br />
service contracts are calculated to make them especially attractive to customers. <strong>Setra</strong><strong>Family</strong> is<br />
pleased to present the two versions being offered.<br />
T<br />
he two new service contracts for<br />
the ComfortClass 500 deliver ongoing,<br />
professional service and<br />
support from OMNIplus to ensure highlevel<br />
vehicle availability. The “BasicPlus”<br />
service contract covers, for instance, common<br />
wear and tear repairs on the brake<br />
system or shock absorber replacements.<br />
The “Premium” service contract includes<br />
all repairs to the vehicle (see details in the<br />
chart to the right). OMNIplus offers the new<br />
service contracts at an attractive fixed<br />
price – protecting you from unwanted<br />
financial surprises, such as unexpected<br />
repair costs. Additionally, the regular maintenance<br />
and support covered by both contract<br />
versions pay off over the long term<br />
with a higher coach resale value.<br />
A very convincing offer<br />
Along with the benefits of risk minimisation<br />
and enhanced planning, you’ll also benefit<br />
from a financial perspective: the contract<br />
services featured in the package are actually<br />
less expensive than the sum of individual<br />
services. Your coach’s annual mileage and<br />
the contract duration can also be customised<br />
to suit individual customer needs. You<br />
can take advantage of the agreed-on benefits<br />
at every BusWorld Home or at authorised<br />
OMNIplus service centres in Germany.<br />
The cost “risk” for maintaining your coach<br />
is therefore non-existent. For now, this is<br />
available to German customers only. A<br />
European rollout is planned soon. <br />
Expert Felix Troeger, Head of Service<br />
Contracts at OMNIplus, will be pleased to<br />
answer all your questions on the new<br />
ComfortClass 500 service contracts.<br />
Tel.: +49 731 181-55 95<br />
felix.troeger@daimler.com<br />
An overview of OMNIplus service contracts:<br />
BasicPlus service contract:<br />
Felix Troeger’s expert tip: “This is the<br />
ideal service contract for operators who<br />
want optimal basic service and support<br />
for their vehicle. Our coach and bus<br />
specialists take care of the vehicle’s<br />
basic servicing needs (maintenance and<br />
common spare parts) allowing our customers<br />
to focus on their core business:<br />
Driving!”<br />
• Vehicle maintenance as per<br />
manufacturer specifications<br />
• Repair or replacement of*<br />
- Brake pads, brake discs<br />
- Dampers, bellows<br />
- Belt drive<br />
- Clutch (if installed)<br />
- Heating/ventilation/air filter<br />
replacement<br />
- Wiper blades<br />
Premium service contract:<br />
Felix Troeger’s expert tip: “This is the<br />
ideal service contract for operators who<br />
want all-inclusive service and support for<br />
their premium vehicle performed by coach<br />
and bus specialists. Long-term planning,<br />
maximum availability, and all-inclusive risk<br />
coverage are what this service contract<br />
version is all about – with real benefits for<br />
professional operators.”<br />
In addition to the advantages of the<br />
BasicPlus service contract for all repairs<br />
of the entire vehicle.* / **<br />
*Excluded are impact damage, equipment which is not permanently<br />
mounted to the vehicle, paint care and cosmetic repairs, advertising,<br />
daily inspection work as per the operating instructions and materials<br />
required for this, surcharges and follow-up costs arising through the<br />
repair company, towing costs.<br />
**Excluded are legally required tests, tyres, rim damage, spare bulbs,<br />
broken glass, upholstery, seat covers and floor covering.<br />
The advantages of OMNIplus service<br />
contracts at a glance:<br />
• Protection of the cost risk through<br />
contractual fixed prices.<br />
• Lower package price compared to<br />
individual workshop servicing.<br />
• Highest safety for passengers and drivers<br />
thanks to an optimally maintained vehicle.<br />
• Maximum availability through preventive<br />
controls and compliance with the highest<br />
quality standards for parts and service.<br />
• More secure value retention through a timely<br />
and comprehensive range of services.<br />
Welcome to the <strong>Setra</strong> family<br />
Germany: Bednara, Dortmund • Brune, Gelsenkirchen • Cohrs-Kurier, Munster • Dähne, Lichtenau • Dietz, Rodenbach • Domhardt-<br />
Reisen, Waldau • Dr. Engel GmbH, Heidenheim • DRK-Kreisverband, Geithain • Fraunholz, Eschenbach • Frey, Pollenfeld-Preith •<br />
Grüner, Rudelzhausen • Hammon, Weidenberg • Haslach, Kempten • Hilgen, Edewecht • Hochfellner, Limburg • Hollinger, Bad Aibling •<br />
Johannsen, Hollenstedt • Käberich, Niederaula • Kaltofen, Grimma • Klemm, Ebermannstadt • Köberich, Markränstadt •<br />
Kotsch, Bad Arolsen • Kraus, Wernberg • Landgraf, Rückersdorf • Lücke, Nordkirchen • Maier, Vilsbiburg • Mechler, Mudau • Mobil-<br />
Reisen, Bernburg • Nagl, Moosen • Prüser, Neuenkirchen • Reisedienst Lange, Dortmund • Rödel, Berg • Scheibchen, Markneukirchen •<br />
Schiwy, Hattingen • Schneider, Hüffenhardt • Schreiber, Gießen • Seubert, Kreuzwertheim • Stielow Tours, Schafflund • Südth-Busges.,<br />
Hildburghausen • TJS-Reisedienst, Zschorlau • Wanger, Seeg • Watzinger, Siegenburg • Weinreich, Hemfurth • Werntal-Reisen, Thüngen •<br />
Westend, Wiesbaden • Ziegler Reisen, Niederstetten • Zimmermann, Wipperfürth • Poland: RAF-TRANS Sp. z o.o., Warszawa •<br />
Wawrzynowicz Sp. z o.o., Srem • Sweden: Axelssons Turisttrafik, Västerås • Bonnstabussen, Kil • Karlsson Buss Gotland, Stånga •<br />
Lönns Buss, Söderhamn • Sorsele Buss och Taxi, Sorsele • Sölvesborgs Taxi, Sölvesborg • Stockholmsbuss, Sollentuna • Suderbuss,<br />
Hemse • Sundströms Buss, Färila • Tottes Bussar, Visby • Switzerland: Bührer, Hirzel • GBS, Susten • Gloor, Veltheim • Marchetti, Airolo •<br />
Strickler, Neuheim • Twerenbold, Rütihof
38 | <strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 39<br />
Learning how to drive economically:<br />
Save while driving with EcoTraining<br />
Accelerating, braking, clutching, shifting ... everything a coach driver does automatically impacts on<br />
fuel consumption and parts wear. However, you can save money and go easy on the environment by<br />
adopting a consistently economical driving style. This is something that the OMNIplus EcoTraining<br />
programme proves with every one of its courses.<br />
J<br />
ust a few kilometres beyond Ulm’s<br />
city limits, the K9904 county road<br />
leads up a long mountain incline to<br />
Harthausen. The bus driver at the wheel of<br />
the S 415 GT-HD accelerates only slightly<br />
before the incline, on the assumption that<br />
this approach is the most fuel-efficient. He<br />
can feel Norbert Stember’s eyes on him,<br />
who sits directly behind him in the front row<br />
of the <strong>Setra</strong> touring coach and diligently<br />
takes notes on, for example, the number of<br />
gear-switching operations. A digital meter<br />
placed next to the trainer records distance,<br />
average fuel consumption and travel time.<br />
The trainer won’t be commenting on this<br />
trip. On the next round, in the afternoon,<br />
things will be different. Then, Mr Stember<br />
will take a seat next to the driver and offer<br />
his advice.<br />
Tips on saving fuel<br />
Release the gas pedal early and take advantage of “rolling”: When leaving the<br />
highway, entering city limits or heading towards a red light, release the gas pedal and<br />
take advantage of the coach’s natural momentum.<br />
Avoid standing still: When heading towards traffic lights, roundabouts and exits, try<br />
to keep rolling instead of standing completely still. Ideally, the wear-free brake will be<br />
at work.<br />
Drive at uniform instead of top speeds: In heavy traffic, if you overtake at every<br />
turn, you’ll hardly arrive at your destination any sooner, but your fuel consumption<br />
will increase significantly.<br />
Make targeted use of your cruise control and distance control systems: When<br />
driving along flat roads, use your cruise control to keep your speed as constant as<br />
possible. On more hilly terrain, however, switch off the cruise feature, and use the<br />
momentum on a downward slope to pick up speed for the next incline.<br />
Develop a relaxed attitude: Learn to accept headwinds, construction sites or<br />
heavy traffic. They’ll keep you from driving at record speeds.<br />
Set goals using sound judgment: Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure.<br />
Every half litre saved is a worthy success in itself.<br />
Each of the two two-hour practical<br />
segments of the EcoTraining programme,<br />
offered by the OMNIplus service brand,<br />
provides bus drivers with the basics of economical<br />
driving, or enables them to refresh<br />
their skills. Between the two practice sessions,<br />
participants will swap the steering<br />
wheel for the OMNIplus training room in<br />
Ulm. There, they will find out everything<br />
there is to know about legal requirements,<br />
drive technologies and gear types before<br />
they head out to the streets again with their<br />
newly acquired knowledge.<br />
“The overriding objective of the EcoTraining<br />
programme is to equip participants to<br />
master an economical and environmentallyaware<br />
driving style, and therefore saving<br />
fuel, and protecting tyres, brake and clutch<br />
linings, without necessarily driving more<br />
slowly,” explains Goerdt Gatermann. Over<br />
the past ten years, the OMNIplus Driver-<br />
Training team leader and his team have<br />
trained close to 800 drivers a year. He<br />
knows exactly where the participants’ problems<br />
lie: “It’s a long-term development<br />
process. Economical driving needs to be<br />
practiced every day, drivers need to be<br />
sensitised to it and they have to really<br />
understand the economic aspect in all its<br />
dimensions. All too soon, many drivers<br />
lapse into their old, habitual driving style.”<br />
Forward-looking, environmentallycompatible<br />
and passenger-friendly<br />
Especially in times of ever increasing fuel<br />
prices, it is even more important to drive in a<br />
way that is economical, environmentally<br />
aware and forward-looking. Especially those<br />
companies on extremely tight budgets will<br />
be grateful to their drivers. And, keep in<br />
mind that a prudent driving style also means<br />
arriving at your destination more safely and<br />
more comfortably.<br />
<br />
Enhanced web presence – www.setra.de and www.setra-bus.com:<br />
Just a mouse click away<br />
ave a look at the <strong>Setra</strong> website, you’ll<br />
H find it’s very much worth your while.<br />
It includes the latest news and important<br />
information on the brand, services, events<br />
and models. For example, you’ll experience<br />
the new ComfortClass 500 touring coaches<br />
in all their facets through extensive information<br />
windows and virtual camera tours.<br />
You’ll also have an opportunity to find out<br />
about the fascinating results of the big Record<br />
Run Buses 2012 test drive.<br />
18 regional and language versions<br />
Via the country and language selection, you<br />
can choose between the different versions<br />
for Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic,<br />
Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands,<br />
Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain,<br />
Sweden, Switzerland and of course Germany.<br />
Schmidt co. in Gülchsheim/Thürauf co. in Bad Windsheim:<br />
It runs in the family<br />
hen Rudolf Schmidt, son of the<br />
W coach operator Karl Schmidt in<br />
Gülchsheim, and Anette Thürauf, daughter<br />
of coach operator William Thürauf in Bad<br />
Windsheim, met for the first time, Cupid<br />
was most definitely at work. The two companies<br />
were located in two Franconian<br />
villages no more than 30 km apart and the<br />
two young people were destined to meet.<br />
Today, Rudolf Schmidt, together with his<br />
brother-in-law Christof, runs the very successful<br />
Thürauf GmbH, Reisebüro und Busreisen,<br />
the largest bus operation in Middle<br />
Franconia. With their children, Nicole and<br />
René Schmidt, the third generation is now<br />
active in the family business. But Karl<br />
Schmidt, founder of Schmidt-Reisen, had<br />
no reason to be discouraged following his<br />
son’s departure. His daughter Heidi joined<br />
the company which she now runs with her<br />
husband, Richard Pregitzer. And, a deeply<br />
felt passion for <strong>Setra</strong> coaches continues to<br />
be intrinsic to the company’s culture. As a<br />
special highlight, Schmidt-Reisen offers a<br />
nostalgic coach tour through the Franconian<br />
Turkey and Russia will follow shortly. Users<br />
from different countries can easily access<br />
the information that is relevant to their specific<br />
country: contact partners, technical<br />
data and brochures on the various models.<br />
And it’s all just a click away! <br />
mountains in a 1965 <strong>Setra</strong> S 9. In 1994,<br />
the company discovered the vintage coach<br />
in Bavaria and lovingly restored it to its<br />
original glory.<br />
<br />
Even in snowstorms, several generations of the<br />
Schmidt family come together in Neu-Ulm to take<br />
over their newly purchased coaches: Karl Schmidt<br />
(2 nd from r.) with grandson René Schmidt (r.), son<br />
Rudolf Schmidt (2 nd from l.) and Christof Thürauf<br />
(l.) picking up their new S 415 UL
40 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News | 41<br />
1<br />
2<br />
Austria – three new bistro coaches for GEGG:<br />
Travel pleasure at its best<br />
The GEGG bus company from Wettmannstätten in Styria, Austria, has upgraded its fleet with three<br />
luxurious <strong>Setra</strong> double-decker buses. Purchasing the S 431 DT bistro coaches with their state-ofthe-art<br />
equipment was the largest investment to date in the company’s history.<br />
3<br />
1 – Please board the coach: during the roadshow, many customers took advantage<br />
of the opportunity to test drive the coach<br />
2 – Cutting-edge: with this high-profile event in the United Arab Emirates and<br />
Dubai, <strong>Setra</strong> showed its true colours in the Middle East<br />
3 – Panel discussion: Kerem Tas, Sales Manager Daimler Middle East, is seen here<br />
discussing with partners and customers<br />
4 – All on board: a ride like this in an air-conditioned, luxuriously equipped <strong>Setra</strong><br />
says more than 1,000 words<br />
5 – Visiting customers: the roadshow through Abu Dhabi included visits to<br />
companies from a wide variety of business areas<br />
E<br />
ven the advertising slogan reflects<br />
the Styrian bus company’s promise<br />
to deliver only the highest standards<br />
of comfort and service with its coaches:<br />
“Prepare to experience the ultimate in class!”<br />
During their journeys through Europe, passengers<br />
can choose between the quiet<br />
zone in the upper deck or the convivial<br />
atmosphere in the lower deck. The new<br />
coaches – equipped with glass ceilings –<br />
can each accommodate a total of 62 passengers.<br />
The upper deck:<br />
relaxation in the quiet zone<br />
In the upper deck, passengers can enjoy<br />
leather seats with comfortable leg rests<br />
and a full metre of space between them.<br />
This ensures great freedom of movement,<br />
while the leg rests enhance circulation in<br />
the legs. Each seat is equipped with an onboard<br />
information and entertainment system,<br />
customised specifically to GEGG’s<br />
guidelines. Here again, customers can<br />
choose between entertainment and tranquillity,<br />
thanks to the headphones features.<br />
During the trip, the entertainment system<br />
can also be used as a mobile office. And,<br />
the TopAir air conditioning system, exclusively<br />
built in to TopClass 400 coaches,<br />
ensures a pleasant interior climate.<br />
The lower deck: a convivial bistro area<br />
The lower deck, with its four premium club<br />
tables, is conducive to more social interaction<br />
– with opportunities for a hearty round<br />
of cards and a fresh draught beer upon<br />
request. Families will also enjoy the ride<br />
with generous freedom of movement and<br />
storage space. Whether large or small, the<br />
galley equipped with a coffee maker, convection<br />
oven with extractor hood, sausage<br />
maker, or draught beer dispenser also goes<br />
a long way towards ensuring a pleasurable<br />
journey. The bistro coaches from GEGG<br />
make it all possible. <br />
<br />
UAE and Dubai – launch event and roadshow:<br />
New markets in the Middle East<br />
n May 2012, a roadshow with a S 415 HD through Abu Dhabi,<br />
I capital of the United Arab Emirates, marked the starting point<br />
for heightened activities in the Middle East. The TopClass was specially<br />
fitted and designed to meet very exclusive customer requirements.<br />
The TopClass went on tour with an integrated hot-climate<br />
air conditioning system, a galley, 2+1 Ambassador leather seats<br />
with leg rests, a FleetBoard system, Lane Assist feature, as well as<br />
a video system with five monitors. The customers visited included<br />
4<br />
5<br />
the Emirates airline and the luxury five-star Emirates Palace hotel,<br />
which places great emphasis on personal service and wishes to<br />
offer its guests elegant transportation. Other roadshow stops were<br />
VIP service firms as well as oil and gas companies. Following the<br />
roadshow, a 1-day launch event took place in Dubai, where a<br />
German delegation and <strong>Setra</strong>’s Emirates Motor Company (EMC)<br />
general distributor presented the TopClass S 415 HD to selected<br />
customers and prospects.
42 | <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>Family</strong> News <strong>Setra</strong> Individuell Highlight | 43 17<br />
125 th anniversary of Ruhe-Reisen:<br />
From 1 to 428 HP<br />
The Ruhe-Reisen bus company from the Lower Saxony town of Hagen celebrated its 125 th anniversary<br />
in 2012. The oldest bus company in Germany began with a horse-drawn tram. The latest addition to<br />
its fleet in 2012 was a <strong>Setra</strong> S 416 GT-HD.<br />
A<br />
s Christian Ruhe opened his business on April 18, 1887, it<br />
was still driven by horsepower, in the truest sense of the<br />
word. In addition to a wage wagon and a horse bus, the<br />
company ran the “Strassenbahn Stadthagen”. The tram ran on<br />
rails, was towed by a horse and enjoyed great popularity in the city<br />
at the time, also thanks to “Fat Frederick,” the very entertaining<br />
conductor.<br />
A new era in engine power<br />
In the early 20s, Christian Ruhe’s son Heinrich took over the operation<br />
and soon thereafter, he purchased his first motor coach – for<br />
trips to the Schaumburg Land region. Then, the Second World War<br />
interrupted the company’s emerging development. It was only in<br />
the 50s that things started to look up again and the first <strong>Setra</strong> was<br />
purchased in 1963. With over 100 hp, it rang in a new era of engine<br />
power in the Ruhe company.<br />
A focus on comfort and service<br />
When Christian Ruhe passed away in 1964, Hildegard Ruhe took<br />
over the helm and has been supported by her nephew Johannes<br />
Wilkening-Ruhe since 1982. Together they set the company’s<br />
growth course with a focus on upscale comfort and versatile service.<br />
Ruhe-Reisen offers a variety of experience-oriented excursions<br />
and ski trips as well as study tours. Cruises and air travel have also<br />
been on the programme for several years. During their anniversary<br />
year, for the first time, they even offered a trip to the USA.<br />
Again and again <strong>Setra</strong><br />
The first <strong>Setra</strong> in Stadthagen from the year 1963 was followed by<br />
45 more, including 35 new vehicles. To celebrate its centenary in<br />
1987, the first <strong>Setra</strong> with luxury amenities, generous legroom, air<br />
conditioning, a galley and video equipment was purchased – the<br />
very first of its kind in the district of Schaumburg. In the 2012 anniversary<br />
year, the fleet was enhanced by an extremely comfortable<br />
S 416 GT-HD touring coach, which was picked up by a whole tour<br />
group in Neu-Ulm. With 428 hp, this coach features at least “400<br />
horses” more than Christian Ruhe could offer when the company<br />
was founded in the late 19 th century.<br />
Comfort creates growth<br />
Investing in state-of-the-art coaches clearly pays off, as this<br />
company’s evolution demonstrates. Discerning customers appreciate<br />
upscale travel comfort and enjoy coming back. Carefree travel<br />
with Ruhe-Reisen – a well-rounded business concept which has<br />
brought with it great success over 125 years. The <strong>Setra</strong><strong>Family</strong> says<br />
“Congratulations!” and “Keep it up!”<br />
<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> goes tropical:<br />
By coach<br />
to the Brandenburg tropics<br />
I<br />
n<br />
the largest self-supporting hall in the world, with over<br />
66,000 m² of floor space, you’ll find a unique tropical getaway<br />
where the plant worlds of Asia-Pacific, Africa and South<br />
America meet. Up to 6,000 people can embark on a tropical holiday,<br />
without long flight times, and explore the world’s largest indoor<br />
rainforest on a surface of 10,000 m², with close to 50,000 plants,<br />
or whiz down the highest water slide in Germany (27 m).<br />
A holiday mood in the <strong>Setra</strong> tropical shuttle<br />
Recently, two <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 UL and S 415 NF coaches were added to<br />
the Tropical Islands fleet. The shuttles pick up tourists at the nearby<br />
Brand train station and quickly immerse them in a holiday mood<br />
during their no-cost ride to the recreation park. The coach’s exterior<br />
is graced with a tropical island design which gives passengers<br />
the impression of entering a jungle. Even the fabric of the ‘transit’<br />
seats perfectly suits the concept. And, since temperatures can rise<br />
in a jungle bus, the air conditioning system will ensure an atmosphere<br />
that is always comfortable. Additionally, an infotainment<br />
system with two monitors at the front and rear is installed in the<br />
new vehicles. On one of them, the Tropical Islands corporate video<br />
can be enjoyed as it sets the mood for the passengers’ holiday at<br />
Tropical Islands, while the other one provides information on routing<br />
and stops.<br />
Fully accessible transportation<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 NF is equipped with a wheelchair ramp, since the<br />
Tropical Islands getaway also offers barrier-free accessibility. The<br />
low-entry coach facilitates passenger access with pushchairs and<br />
heavy luggage, since for the most part, families take advantage of<br />
this unique opportunity to reach the tropics by bus instead of by<br />
plane.