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