Annual Report 2012 - Knorr-Bremse AG.

Report
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largest mass transit operator in the USA, providing around seven million rides a day. Before they can
supply the New York City Subway, suppliers must first undergo a lengthy qualification process. One
part of this involves comprehensive test operation under real working conditions. Knorr-Bremse braking
systems have already successfully completed these tests. The year under review brought the start
of field testing with Merak HVAC systems and door systems manufactured by Knorr-Bremse’s Austrian
subsidiary IFE.
For these tests, five metro cars were equipped with door systems and one car with an HVAC system.
For the doors, IFE provided its proven S3 system, while for the HVAC system Merak supplied a unit
custom-developed to meet NYCT requirements. The qualification process for the door systems is
scheduled for completion in 2014, with the HVAC system tests being completed a few months later.
Aftermarket strategy achieves success in China
The aftermarket strategy pursued by Knorr-Bremse has led to several success stories in the Asia Pacific
region, too. In 2012, the company obtained its first aftermarket order for Chinese high-speed train
equipment covering overhaul of the braking and HVAC systems of the CRH5 high-speed fleet for the
Chinese Ministry of Railways.
Two factors were decisive in securing this contract: firstly, some 80% of the CRH5 brake systems and
around 50% of the door systems and 30% of the HVAC systems were originally supplied by Knorr-
Bremse. And secondly, the Knorr-Bremse RailServices team put in a superb performance supporting
the operator of the CRH5 fleet on site.
The CRH5 high-speed
fleet and metros in
Shanghai and Tianjin
rely on Knorr-Bremse’s
comprehensive
aftermarket service.
With its products present in more than 10,000 metro cars in China, Knorr-Bremse has also won some
significant maintenance contracts in the metro segment. The most substantial orders for the year
under review came from the metro operators in Shanghai and Tianjin. Both opted to rely on the expertise
of Knorr-Bremse to overhaul the brake system, HVAC system and the bogie equipment on
their vehicles.
Knorr-Bremse expands field service support in China and Australia
In response to a rising demand for on-site support by many of the rail vehicle operators in the Asia
Pacific region, Knorr-Bremse has significantly reinforced its field service support organization especially
in China and Australia.
For example, the field service support team in China, spread across many operational depots and car
builders’ workshops, has been enlarged from 230 to over 260 employees. These service specialists
help ensure the smooth everyday operation of the braking, doors and HVAC systems in the many
different types of rail vehicles fitted with Knorr-Bremse equipment throughout China. In the background,
Knorr-Bremse’s newly rebuilt and enlarged Service Centre in Suzhou has played an important
supporting role for our field service personnel providing a rapid turnaround for repairs and parts
needed back in revenue service. Not only that, but the enhanced service support organization was
the key to winning maintenance contracts for compressors and brake calipers from the CRH1 highspeed
trains, and for overhaul of the CCBII brake control systems in the large and still growing Chinese
locomotive fleet.
With the integration of HVAC manufacturer Sigma into Knorr-Bremse Australia, the company is pursuing
a multi-product service strategy here too, from which customers in Australia are already deriving
a benefit. As a result of combining and expanding its field service support organization, in both China
and Australia, Knorr-Bremse is now in a position to provide full life cycle management for the Group’s
products from a single source.