New seat generation - Setra
New seat generation - Setra
New seat generation - Setra
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www.setra.de<br />
Imprint<br />
Publisher:<br />
EvoBus GmbH<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Omnibusse<br />
Carl-Zeiss-Straße 2<br />
89231 Neu-Ulm<br />
Germany<br />
Tel. +49 (0)731 181-0<br />
Fax +49 (0)731 181-2418<br />
www.setra.de<br />
Responsible for magazine content:<br />
Michaela Schneider,<br />
Manager Marketing Communication <strong>Setra</strong><br />
The following people worked on this issue:<br />
Christine Denzel, BUS/MPM-S<br />
Hermann Fröhlich, BUS/MSE<br />
Bernd Goy, BUS/MSP5<br />
Sonja Waldenspul, BUS/MSP-D<br />
Concept, editorial work, layout:<br />
<strong>New</strong>port3 Werbeagentur GmbH & Co. KG<br />
Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33<br />
22041 Hamburg<br />
www.newport3.de<br />
Repro:<br />
Final Art Production<br />
Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33<br />
22041 Hamburg<br />
Printing:<br />
Süddeutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Ulm<br />
Nicolaus-Otto-Straße 14<br />
89079 Ulm<br />
Number 46 | Issue 2/10<br />
Magazine for customers and friends of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand<br />
IAA Commercial Vehicles<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> presentation in<br />
the new Daimler Hall<br />
Page 12<br />
<strong>New</strong> <strong>seat</strong> <strong>generation</strong><br />
Innovations from <strong>seat</strong><br />
manufacturing in Neu-Ulm<br />
Page 16<br />
Family<br />
Sportsmanship<br />
Top athletes love<br />
travelling with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Page 32
02 | <strong>Setra</strong> Impressions<br />
Dear customers and friends<br />
of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand,<br />
having for the most part overcome the financial<br />
crisis, the automotive sector is now<br />
breathing more easily again. The trend is<br />
most definitely looking up. This positive<br />
mood was also felt at the IAA Commercial<br />
Vehicles show in Hanover, where for the<br />
first time we presented the <strong>Setra</strong> brand in<br />
association with the complete Daimler<br />
concern. In view of the truly outstanding<br />
communication we presented at the show,<br />
as Head of <strong>Setra</strong> Sales I am very satisfied<br />
with my first IAA – to be associated with a<br />
coach brand that fulfils and lives its brand<br />
claim “Best in Class” every day.<br />
With our new <strong>seat</strong>ing <strong>generation</strong>, we once<br />
again exhibited a world premiere at the IAA.<br />
There is so much expertise and hard work<br />
that went into these state-of-the-art <strong>seat</strong>s.<br />
In fact, it took four years of development<br />
until we could fully bring to life our “Best in<br />
Class” philosophy. The results are <strong>seat</strong>s<br />
that are even more comfortable and lightweight,<br />
with extended functionality, more<br />
safety, and an unmatched selection of<br />
models and versions. A further highlight at<br />
the IAA was our first bus with the “Blue Angel”<br />
environmental seal. The “Blue Angel”<br />
seal on the <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 NF we exhibited<br />
makes it clear for your passengers as well,<br />
that this bus not only fulfils EEV emission<br />
standards – if required, even without diesel<br />
An invitation to take a <strong>seat</strong> – the new <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>seat</strong> <strong>generation</strong> at the IAA<br />
particulate filter – but also protects the environment<br />
through materials used and proven<br />
environmentally friendly production.<br />
But there is even more good news. As you<br />
most probably know, long-distance coach<br />
tours are making great strides. In this key<br />
area, <strong>Setra</strong> has long been competitive, and<br />
especially the flagship of the <strong>Setra</strong> fleet,<br />
the S 431 DT, stands to greatly benefit from<br />
the increasing popularity of European longdistance<br />
travel. In the future, you can look<br />
forward to a lot going on in this area, also<br />
since the Federal Administrative Court in<br />
Leipzig finally decided that bus operators<br />
can charge less than the German railway.<br />
With this development, an important requirement<br />
has been met for the approval of<br />
a long-distance line network and the road<br />
ahead for German bus operators is now<br />
wide open. I am very excited to find out<br />
more about the new routes German bus<br />
operators will be including in their offers.<br />
A further and very special highlight we have<br />
been preparing for quite intensively is the<br />
60th anniversary of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand! On<br />
this occasion we wish to once again underline<br />
our commitment to our “Best in Class”<br />
standard. One we have actually been<br />
applying for the last 100 years – in reality<br />
we have been developing and building<br />
coaches and buses that long! I would be<br />
delighted if you would celebrate with us. Be<br />
our guest and look forward to what we have<br />
been preparing for you!<br />
On a closing note, please allow me to highlight<br />
just a few more recent achievements.<br />
After nine months in the company I have<br />
gained good insight into our brand and have<br />
found my place in the <strong>Setra</strong> family. Over the<br />
last few months, we enjoyed an increase in<br />
both sales and market share compared to<br />
last year. As well, our sales processes and<br />
cost structures have been further opti-<br />
mised, enabling us to achieve vital cor-<br />
porate objectives for <strong>Setra</strong>. The reasons for<br />
our success are – in the past, today, and in<br />
the future as well – great products, highly<br />
motivated, committed employees, outstand-<br />
ing partners at headquarters and in the<br />
markets, and of course you, dear customers<br />
and friends of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand, our<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> family. I wish to thank you sincerely<br />
for the confidence you have placed in me<br />
and in all of us at <strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
Lothar Holder<br />
Managing Director Sales <strong>Setra</strong> Buses &<br />
Coaches EvoBus GmbH<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Editorial | 03
04 | <strong>Setra</strong> Content<br />
For the first time, <strong>Setra</strong> presented itself at<br />
12 the 63rd IAA in the new Daimler Hall<br />
Cover Story<br />
12 | <strong>Setra</strong> at the 2010 IAA<br />
Premiere of the <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>seat</strong> <strong>generation</strong> at<br />
the world’s largest show for commercial<br />
vehicles in Hanover<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> puts its buses through endurance<br />
43 testing in Turkey<br />
Best in Class<br />
20 | <strong>Setra</strong> Collection update<br />
Every two years <strong>Setra</strong> introduces all-new<br />
fabrics and materials<br />
21 | <strong>New</strong> paint colours for the IAA<br />
How <strong>Setra</strong> bus colours come to be<br />
38 | The <strong>Setra</strong> safety concept<br />
How <strong>Setra</strong> implements its “Best in Class”<br />
promise when it comes to safety<br />
43 | Endurance testing in Turkey<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> buses defy even the most extreme<br />
climates and challenging road conditions<br />
46 | With the environment in mind<br />
<strong>New</strong> at <strong>Setra</strong>: Blue Angel and EEV<br />
without filter<br />
Avanti Reisen travelled from Freiburg to<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> is profiting from growing European<br />
Top athletes enjoy the comfort and many<br />
49 Shanghai in a <strong>Setra</strong> 09 long-distance line operation 33 equipment features <strong>Setra</strong> offers 45<br />
Highlight<br />
26 | An American with a German heart<br />
Facelift for the North-American version of<br />
the <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass S 417<br />
49 | From Freiburg to Shanghai<br />
A very special offer from Avanti Reisen for<br />
adventurous passengers<br />
Premium Service<br />
30 | Currency for service and support<br />
An overview of <strong>Setra</strong> and OMNIplus<br />
ServiceCards<br />
31 | The Oscar for technicians<br />
Mechanics from all over Europe compete<br />
for the OMNIplus BusTech Master<br />
Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
09 | Clearing the way for long-distance<br />
bus travel<br />
The S 431 DT is way ahead in this highpotential<br />
area<br />
19 | Interview with Holger Suffel<br />
Head of EvoBus Sales comments on<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>’s brand promise<br />
24 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family get-togethers<br />
A look ahead and a look back at shows<br />
and exhibitions<br />
27 | Recruitment bus in Canada<br />
First into the <strong>Setra</strong>, then into the navy<br />
34 | Success within the network<br />
How three bus companies control public<br />
local transit in Upper Hesse<br />
28 | Goodbye Mr <strong>Setra</strong><br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> Family bids “Auf Wiedersehen“<br />
to Werner Staib<br />
32 | Sporty, sportier, sportiest …<br />
With <strong>Setra</strong> towards new heights<br />
34 | Success within the network<br />
How three bus companies control public<br />
local transit in Upper Hesse<br />
36 | <strong>Setra</strong> in Scandinavia<br />
Success stories from the great North<br />
37 | <strong>New</strong> customers on board<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> Family grows and grows ...<br />
41 | Comedy Tour<br />
A most entertaining tour of Berlin’s sights<br />
Handicapped-accessible bus equipment<br />
enables barrier-free travel<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Individual<br />
22 | The “Wish experts” from <strong>Setra</strong><br />
<strong>Setra</strong>’s commitment to satisfying individual<br />
customer needs and wishes<br />
30 | Let it roll with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Customised company presentations with<br />
the on-board video<br />
40 | Bodyshells instead of bodyguards<br />
Two <strong>Setra</strong>s customised for prisoner<br />
transport<br />
45 | Barrier-free travel<br />
Rauch Reisen with a special offer for<br />
people with limited mobility<br />
47 | Looking for bus stories<br />
We’re collecting stories on the <strong>Setra</strong> brand<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Content | 05
24 | <strong>Setra</strong> Familien <strong>New</strong>s<br />
Sicily: <strong>Setra</strong> Expo Sicilia:<br />
Pole Position for <strong>Setra</strong><br />
In February the Autodromo di Pergusa race track hosted buses rather than the usual race cars.<br />
In Enna, EvoBus Italia organised an exciting and memorable customer event.<br />
o strengthen <strong>Setra</strong>’s brand presence<br />
T in Sicily and Calabria, EvoBus Italia<br />
organised a series of successful events at<br />
unusual locations.<br />
For instance, in the context of Expo Sicilia,<br />
EvoBus Italia brought five <strong>Setra</strong> coaches<br />
from all series to the Autodromo di Pergusa<br />
race track. Bus operators and other visitors<br />
to the event really enjoyed the opportunity<br />
to get behind the wheel of one of<br />
the <strong>Setra</strong>s. They were offered extensive<br />
information on services and support as<br />
well as ecological and safety training by<br />
OMNIplus and the Sicilian service partner<br />
Comer Sud S.p.A. As an added plus, a<br />
bus-specific box stop was set up where<br />
companies could have their buses go<br />
through an inspection – at no cost. �<br />
Austria: <strong>Setra</strong> regional line buses strengthen Austrian public transit (ÖPNV): Prince Philippe from Belgium celebrates his 50<br />
47 buses for the Austrian NÖVOG A royal appearance with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
th birthday:<br />
The trend towards regional European transit companies expanding their public transit is still going<br />
strong. And the Lower Austrian Public Transit organisation (NÖVOG) is a strong partner for <strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
T<br />
he expansion of the Austrian Public<br />
Passenger Transit (ÖPNV) brought<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> one of its largest orders it has experienced<br />
over recent years. A total of 47<br />
vehicles were ordered for the all-new fleet<br />
of the Lower Austrian Public Transit organisation<br />
(NÖVOG), the competence center<br />
for all public transit issues in Austria’s largest<br />
province.<br />
These buses epitomise bus transportation<br />
at its most comfortable. Proven models<br />
from the <strong>Setra</strong> product portfolio are de-<br />
ployed, now in their third <strong>generation</strong>. They<br />
range from the double-axle MultiClass<br />
400 S 415 UL and the triple-axles S 417 UL<br />
and S 419 UL as well as six units of the<br />
TopClass, the S 431 DT – the flagship of<br />
the <strong>Setra</strong> product range.<br />
The buses are all equipped with low-emission<br />
and cost-efficient Euro V OM 457 hLA<br />
engines with 260 kW or 300 kW and OM 502<br />
LA with 370 kW in the double-decker. �<br />
Steinbrück Reisen drives for ARD/ZDF children’s channel:<br />
When television hits the road<br />
I<br />
t could not have been a more perfect fit<br />
that his highness Philippe Léopold Louis<br />
Marie Prince of Belgium, Duke of Brabant –<br />
affectionately referred to as Filip – and his<br />
birthday guests were chauffeured from their<br />
hotel to the Royal Palace in a <strong>Setra</strong>. After all,<br />
the <strong>Setra</strong> is often referred to as the “crowning<br />
glory among coach royalty”. So it came<br />
as no surprise that the many passengers<br />
from the European nobility felt very well taken<br />
care of in <strong>Setra</strong>’s flagship. �<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 07<br />
Every summer, the KI.KA children’s channel travels through Germany celebrating in various cities with<br />
parties of between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. For three years, a <strong>Setra</strong> from the Steinbrück<br />
company has been part of the programme.<br />
On April 15, 2010 the Belgian heir to the throne celebrated his 50th birthday. The illustrious guests<br />
were driven to the Royal Palace in a <strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT.<br />
F<br />
or the seventh time, Juri, Singa, and<br />
Bernd – well-loved characters from<br />
the children’s – went on their summer tour<br />
through various cities. And the little KI.KA<br />
fans are delighted to meet their stars every<br />
Sunday and to have fun during an actionpacked<br />
program that includes climbing, surfing,<br />
and dancing. Since the tour’s third season,<br />
the forty-person KI.KA crew has been<br />
transported by tour operator and travel agent<br />
Wolfgang Steinbrück, and this year in the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> S 416 GT-HD they just purchased. “As<br />
the largest bus operator in the region, we<br />
are very pleased that KI.KA opted for us”,<br />
says junior manager Christian Steinbrück.<br />
“And since we knew that outstanding safety<br />
and a comfortable interior are so important<br />
for KI.KA, it was clear that nothing less than<br />
a <strong>Setra</strong> would do for the tour.” �
08 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT establishes itself in the growing long-distance line travel segment:<br />
Clearing the way for long-distance bus line travel!<br />
In many European countries long-distance bus line travel is a way of life. And there, <strong>Setra</strong> has long<br />
been able to prove its competitiveness. Especially the flagship of the <strong>Setra</strong> fleet, the S 431 DT, is<br />
delighted with its popularity on European long-distance routes. Also in Germany things are moving<br />
in the direction of liberalising long-distance bus line travel.<br />
U<br />
p until now, the bus has played a<br />
minimal role in German longdistance<br />
line travel, primarily<br />
due to strict regulations which still apply<br />
to buses as an alternative to cars and<br />
trains in the context of the 1925 Passenger<br />
Transportation Act. Based on a valid<br />
coalition agreement, the government is<br />
planning to soon liberalise long-distance<br />
bus line travel in Germany.<br />
In a concrete case, the Leipzig Federal Administrative<br />
Court for the first time ever,<br />
decided that a lower price would qualify as<br />
an improvement of transport service. This<br />
fulfils the requirement for buses running<br />
parallel to rails – slowly clearing the way<br />
for long-distance bus line travel.<br />
More passengers in long-distance<br />
long haul<br />
According to national statistics, 125 million<br />
passengers travelled by bus and train in<br />
Germany in 2009. The coach and bus segment<br />
accounted for 2 million passengers.<br />
In long-distance travel in 2009, an average<br />
285 kilometers per journey were driven.<br />
Whether private bus companies will further<br />
benefit from long-distance line haul remains<br />
to be seen. Currently the right to<br />
serve long-distance routes still remains in<br />
the hands of the German railway.<br />
Success model Spain<br />
Also in other countries the trend towards<br />
long-distance bus travel is uninterrupted.<br />
The Spanish example shows especially well<br />
that buses and trains don’t necessarily<br />
have to be competitors on long-distance<br />
routes but rather that they can complement<br />
each other well. In Spain, ALSA, EvoBus<br />
Iberica’s largest customer, administers the<br />
complete network of regular national bus<br />
connections, with which practically all autonomous<br />
regions on the Iberian peninsula<br />
are linked. Within Spain, ALSA deploys the<br />
S 419 GT-HD for its long-distance routes:<br />
the 15 m long bus has been built since<br />
2008 especially for this application and has<br />
been deployed in many other countries as<br />
well since then.<br />
S 431 DT is “Best touring bus”<br />
The flagship of the <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass,<br />
the S 431 DT, was selected as “Best<br />
touring bus” at the beginning of 2010<br />
by readers of the Bus Driver (Busfahrer)<br />
trade magazine. The readers<br />
were especially taken in by the<br />
coach’s safety features, its design,<br />
styling, and innovation. The S 431 DT<br />
is especially successful in long-distance<br />
line travel due to the fact that,<br />
like no other, it combines the luxury<br />
of a club bus with the cost-effectiveness<br />
of 89 <strong>seat</strong>s.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 09<br />
ALSA is also present in Portugal, France,<br />
Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, and is a<br />
member of the Eurolines network of European<br />
bus carriers. The company offers a<br />
differentiated service package, including<br />
direct urban connections. In Europe, ALSA,<br />
using its 65 international accreditations,<br />
maintains an extensive network of inter-<br />
European connections, which connect Spain<br />
with most countries in the European Union<br />
and North Africa.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT is a clear step ahead<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT epitomises the concept<br />
of comfortable travel in Europe. Passengers<br />
enjoy the exclusive atmosphere it offers<br />
with its luxury <strong>seat</strong>s, tables, on-board kitchen<br />
and lavatory, and of course the quiet<br />
that reigns in the upper panorama deck.<br />
The upper and lower decks can be positioned<br />
and equipped for first- and secondclass<br />
service, as required. But travelling in<br />
a <strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT is not only more comfortable.<br />
It is also more cost-effective and<br />
more environmentally friendly than trains<br />
and cars. Per passenger, a long-distance<br />
bus which is two-thirds full, only causes<br />
half the CO2 liability caused by a comparable<br />
train ride – and only a seventh of the liability<br />
resulting from a comparable journey<br />
in a car. �
10 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> is on the success track in the European<br />
long-distance line haul business<br />
Many long-distance line models all over<br />
Europe bear witness to the success <strong>Setra</strong><br />
enjoys in long-distance line haul applications.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>Family took a close look at developments<br />
in a number of countries and<br />
identified the routes where it is proving its<br />
benefits.<br />
Czech Republic: TOuRING BOHEMIA<br />
establishes a Business Class<br />
For 18 years, the TOURING BOHEMIA company,<br />
also a member of Eurolines, has been<br />
travelling with a fleet of <strong>Setra</strong> buses between<br />
the Czech Republic and over 20 European<br />
countries.<br />
In July 2009, the Business Class pilot project<br />
was initiated to address a new target<br />
group with a focus on luxurious interior<br />
equipment. On the Prag–Brno–Bratislava<br />
line, luxurious S 416 GT-HD buses were<br />
taken on: more spacing between <strong>seat</strong>s,<br />
large wheel-away tables, a multi-channel<br />
audio system with headsets and 4-channel<br />
selection, high-speed WiFi and 220 V outlets<br />
transform a trip in the Business Class<br />
into pure pleasure. And the concept is<br />
being very well received: due to the exceptional<br />
early success of the project, operations<br />
will be extended at the end of 2010 to<br />
cover the Brno–Prag–Ústí nad Labem–<br />
Dresden–Berlin route – which will also be<br />
covered in premium coaches from <strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
Austria/Italy: Austrian national rail<br />
(ÖBB) travels to Venice<br />
Following the withdrawal of the Italian state<br />
railroad, the ÖBB intercity bus connections<br />
more than doubled, and now travel daily<br />
every two hours from Klagenfurt through<br />
Villach and Udine to Venice. Two comfortable<br />
double-decker S 431 DT buses were<br />
purchased in 2008 for the new line, and<br />
two additional ones extended the fleet in<br />
September 2009. The buses offer a total of<br />
74 <strong>seat</strong>s in first and second classes. The<br />
first class is fully accessible and equipped<br />
with a space for wheelchairs.<br />
Switzerland: Auto uri and Lucerne<br />
Public Transportation Services go<br />
for <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Since February 2010 a second double-<br />
decker <strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT has been deployed<br />
on the Tellbus line between Altdorf and<br />
Lucerne. The new “Tellbus” has 91 <strong>seat</strong>s as<br />
well as a wheelchair space, and is now used<br />
by Auto AG Uri instead of two smaller buses<br />
which previously served the route. A second<br />
S 431 DT covers the route for the Lucerne<br />
Public Transportation Services.<br />
Germany: Regional transport Münsterland<br />
is extending its network<br />
The Münsterland regional transport company<br />
(RVM), a subsidiary of the Westfälischen<br />
Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (WVG), recently<br />
added further S 431 DT buses to its line network.<br />
Now, three double-deckers cover the<br />
the Vreden–Münster line, and the new ones<br />
will be deployed on the route from Lüdinghausen<br />
to Münster. For RVM, along with the<br />
comfort and outstanding handling <strong>Setra</strong> offers,<br />
the possibility of <strong>seat</strong>ing 83 passengers<br />
was another major reason why they opted<br />
for the flagship of the <strong>Setra</strong> product range<br />
and the largest coach in the <strong>Setra</strong> family for<br />
their line business.<br />
Turkey: VARAN is pioneer in longdistance<br />
line haul<br />
Since in Turkey close to 90% of all long-distance<br />
travel takes place on the road, there<br />
are over 400 bus operators who drive to<br />
most destinations. VARAN is the model<br />
company when it comes to long-distance<br />
line haul. Half of its 200-vehicle fleet are<br />
buses from the <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass. VARAN carries<br />
close to 2.5 million passengers a year<br />
and serves international routes from Istan-<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 11<br />
bul to, for instance, Berlin, Salzburg, Vienna,<br />
and Sofia. Service and comfort are top priority<br />
for VARAN: in the buses, hostesses<br />
serve refreshments and snacks – which are<br />
in fact included in the price. On high-frequency<br />
routes, VARAN even operates its<br />
own motorway service stops and restaurants.<br />
VARAN was the first operator to offer<br />
online ticket buying, and VARAN is the only<br />
operator that has its own dispatching terminal<br />
in Istanbul. Personnel training is also<br />
exemplary with VARAN. Moreover, it is also<br />
very important for the vanguard company<br />
to offer exclusive vehicles, e.g. with 2+1 <strong>seat</strong>-<br />
ing, monitors on <strong>seat</strong>backs and Internet as<br />
well as SAT television. �
12 | <strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover:<br />
Hall of Fame<br />
Between September 23 and 30, the 63rd International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) for Commercial<br />
Vehicles was held in Hanover. For the first time in the Daimler Hall, along with the truck, van, bus, and<br />
special-application vehicle segments from Mercedes-Benz and FUSO which were exhibited, <strong>Setra</strong> was<br />
represented with a large stand and six of its coaches. A clear focus of the <strong>Setra</strong> presentation was its<br />
new <strong>generation</strong> of <strong>seat</strong>s.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story | 13
T<br />
he world’s largest trade show for<br />
commercial vehicles, which takes<br />
place every two years at the Hanover<br />
fair grounds, was held this year under<br />
the slogan “Commercial Vehicles: Efficient,<br />
Flexible, Future-Proof”. 1,751 exhibitors presented<br />
their wares to over 240,000<br />
visitors, showing just how much dynamic<br />
potential the sector has to offer. For many<br />
bus operators, a visit to the IAA is an absolute<br />
must. As it is for Mario Piovesan, Managing<br />
Director of La Marca from Treviso in<br />
Italy, who upon entering the grounds, headed<br />
directly towards Hall 14/15: “<strong>Setra</strong><br />
coaches make up a large part of our fleet.<br />
Today we are here to have a look at the new<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> models, since we are constantly<br />
trying to further improve our coach fleet. Of<br />
course that can be best done with <strong>Setra</strong>.”<br />
A prominent <strong>Setra</strong> presentation in the<br />
Daimler Hall<br />
In Hall 14/15 there was to say the least a lot<br />
of visitor traffic. And it was no wonder, the<br />
view was truly impressive: over 50 vehicles<br />
were beautifully positioned and exhibited in<br />
the enormous Daimler Hall. Thematically<br />
arranged rows upon rows of trucks, buses,<br />
vans, and special-application vehicles con-<br />
veyed an impressive aura of advanced,<br />
powerful distinction. The six <strong>Setra</strong> coaches<br />
in elegant red were especially eye-catching.<br />
They were painted along a “Four seasons”<br />
theme – a subtle reminder that with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
you are ideally equipped for all seasons and<br />
applications. The completely new gener-<br />
ation of <strong>Setra</strong> passenger <strong>seat</strong>s was in the<br />
foreground of the presentation.<br />
The new <strong>seat</strong>s from <strong>Setra</strong>: a new standard<br />
in comfort and technology<br />
At <strong>Setra</strong>, good is never good enough. To<br />
make sure that the new passenger <strong>seat</strong>s<br />
fulfil the brand’s “Best in Class” promise,<br />
they were conceived and developed in<br />
Neu-Ulm over a four-year period. The targeted<br />
performance dimensions of the new<br />
<strong>seat</strong> <strong>generation</strong> were defined in close collaboration<br />
between development, sales,<br />
aftersales, and production. And they are<br />
even more comfortable and lighter, offer<br />
even more advanced functionality, more<br />
safety, and unmatched variability. In short:<br />
the new <strong>seat</strong> <strong>generation</strong> sets all new standards.<br />
The development resulted in the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Route <strong>seat</strong> series for buses in the<br />
MultiClass, and <strong>Setra</strong> Voyage for touring<br />
coaches in the ComfortClass and TopClass,<br />
as well as two even more luxurious versions<br />
Voyage Plus und Voyage Supreme. The new<br />
<strong>seat</strong> design and the extended spectrum of<br />
fabrics open up close to unlimited variations<br />
in design and colour. <strong>Setra</strong> will be<br />
phasing in the new <strong>seat</strong>s through spring<br />
2011 for all bus types. The Transit <strong>seat</strong> for<br />
scheduled services as well as the Ambassador,<br />
for exclusive luxury applications for<br />
2+1 or even 1+1 <strong>seat</strong>ing configurations, will<br />
remain as they are.<br />
A perfect interplay of design and functionality<br />
The new <strong>seat</strong>s proved to be a real focal<br />
point for visitors to the IAA stand. Many<br />
visitors wanted to try out how the new design<br />
feels – with its lightweight materials –<br />
and how the large and very visible side<br />
compensator for cross adjustment and<br />
<strong>seat</strong>back adjustment actually works. Renate<br />
Kröger from Kröger Reisen in Harsefeld<br />
also enjoyed a welcome break for her<br />
tired feet, as she rested her arms on the<br />
ergonomically designed support surface of<br />
the <strong>seat</strong>’s elegant arms. “Very comfortable”,<br />
she said with appreciation as she<br />
moved the simple mechanism to adjust the<br />
<strong>seat</strong>back, cleanly positioned under the side<br />
panel. “We have just ordered a <strong>Setra</strong><br />
S 415 GT-HD with the new Voyage Supreme<br />
luxury <strong>seat</strong>s. And yes, you really do feel a<br />
difference compared to other <strong>seat</strong>s.”<br />
More comfort, less weight<br />
A number of visitors appeared to be<br />
enjoying the comfortable <strong>seat</strong>s, with their<br />
spring-mounted construction, so much so<br />
that they didn’t want to leave them. With a<br />
heavy heart, bus operator Kröger did how-<br />
ever manage to get up – what was made<br />
easier thanks to the steeper angle of the<br />
<strong>seat</strong>back in its neutral position. If the <strong>seat</strong>back<br />
has been leaned backwards by a<br />
passenger, if requested, it can be “pro<br />
Real stone floors in the coaches<br />
When it comes to designing the interior<br />
of its coaches, <strong>Setra</strong> has never been<br />
afraid of pursuing completely new directions,<br />
delighting customers looking for<br />
something ultra-special. At the show,<br />
visitors were amazed upon entering a<br />
grammed“ to automatically return to its<br />
neutral position upon leaving the <strong>seat</strong>. Also<br />
practical: the <strong>seat</strong> cushions can be re-<br />
moved with two simple handgrips to clean<br />
them or repair any damages incurred. The<br />
aisle-side arrangement of all <strong>seat</strong>belts is<br />
also new, and facilitates emergency-personnel<br />
access in the case of an accident.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story | 15<br />
“The new <strong>seat</strong>s with their easier operation will be received<br />
very well by passengers.”<br />
Stefan Lay, Managing Director of Lay Reisen - on Tour GmbH, from Püttling near Saarbrucken<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> with a real stone floor. The stone<br />
surface is Asian shale and is applied to a<br />
5 mm thick, sound-absorbing rubber<br />
supporting layer. Thanks to a special<br />
surface finishing treatment, the stone<br />
floor is also extremely wear-resistant.<br />
With the new <strong>seat</strong>s, a 12 m long tour bus<br />
with three-star equipment is an impressive<br />
70 kg lighter – which of course has a positive<br />
impact on overall cost-effectiveness.<br />
As standard equipment, the <strong>seat</strong>s are<br />
equipped with a two-point <strong>seat</strong>belt. As an<br />
option, the three-point <strong>seat</strong>belt version is<br />
also available. �
16 | <strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story<br />
The new <strong>seat</strong> <strong>generation</strong> from <strong>Setra</strong><br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Route, the passenger <strong>seat</strong> for the<br />
MultiClass<br />
A <strong>seat</strong> everyone can enjoy: as the name<br />
suggests, the <strong>Setra</strong> Route <strong>seat</strong> was con-<br />
ceived for vehicles used for combined<br />
applications and for MultiClass buses. Designed<br />
with functionality in the foreground,<br />
it features standard, distance-optimised<br />
fixed <strong>seat</strong>backs, shorter <strong>seat</strong> cushions and<br />
an aisle-side grip. Nonetheless with many<br />
equipment options, such as variable armrests,<br />
adjustable <strong>seat</strong>backs, side adjustment,<br />
footrests, a variety of additional<br />
mounted components, as well as a selection<br />
of upholstery and fabrics.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Voyage, the passenger <strong>seat</strong> for the<br />
premium class<br />
Now this is comfort: the high-quality <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Voyage <strong>seat</strong> has standard adjustable <strong>seat</strong>backs,<br />
side adjustment, two grips, an aisleside,<br />
fold-down armrest, and a baggage<br />
net. Moreover, it features a well conceived<br />
modular system, along with a wide spectrum<br />
of combinations: with piping in fabric<br />
or leather, leather headrests, head flaps,<br />
details such as bag hooks or waste containers,<br />
or extras such as audio systems<br />
with a headset connection. In a <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Voyage <strong>seat</strong> you can’t help but feel at home<br />
and relaxed.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Voyage Plus and <strong>Setra</strong> Voyage<br />
Supreme: unmatched comfort<br />
With these <strong>seat</strong>s, your guests may never<br />
leave your coach: the <strong>Setra</strong> Voyage Plus is<br />
ultra-comfortable thanks to an extra layer<br />
of upholstery, and with its quilting and<br />
colour combinations, a real eye-catcher.<br />
This is only outdone by the even more<br />
Facts & figures on <strong>seat</strong> manufacturing in Neu-ulm<br />
10.000.000<br />
500.000<br />
200.000<br />
5.000<br />
3.000<br />
1.500<br />
124<br />
70<br />
opulent cushioning offered with the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Voyage Supreme, which promises to seduce<br />
even the most discerning travellers.<br />
With over 80 different fabrics and more<br />
than a dozen types of leather, which can be<br />
combined endlessly, tour operators looking<br />
for a truly distinctive look will be amazed.<br />
combination possibilities exist, if you consider all types of <strong>seat</strong>s pro-<br />
duced in Neu-Ulm along with all possible feature and material versions<br />
m 2 of fabric, leather, and artificial leather are handled yearly –<br />
the equivalent of a surface covering 70 football fields<br />
bus and coach <strong>seat</strong>s are produced yearly to meet customer wishes<br />
m 2 is the size of the <strong>seat</strong> manufacturing facility<br />
stitches per minute is the performance achieved<br />
with the pneumatically powered industrial sewing machines<br />
<strong>seat</strong> units are produced per day (maximum)<br />
employees work in <strong>seat</strong> production<br />
kg of weight are saved thanks to the new <strong>seat</strong>s in a 12 m long<br />
touring bus with three-star equipment<br />
Daimler Buses is Europe’s largest manufacturer of coach and bus <strong>seat</strong>s. Along with<br />
those in Mannheim and Turkey, the Neu-Ulm location is key to <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>seat</strong> production<br />
and also delivers wares to other European locations such as France and Portugal.<br />
Customised, in-house production guarantees <strong>seat</strong>s that are “Best in Class”, and that<br />
leave no wishes open in terms of comfort, safety, and individuality.<br />
A “<strong>seat</strong> advisor” keeps things in check<br />
It is easy to be overwhelmed with the many<br />
combination possibilities offered by all <strong>seat</strong><br />
types and all feature and material versions.<br />
No problem: thanks to the “<strong>seat</strong> advisor”,<br />
visitors to the IAA could simply select a<br />
<strong>seat</strong> by touchscreen and then have a look<br />
at what features are available for this spe-<br />
cific <strong>seat</strong>. The desired combination could<br />
then be printed out. Selecting various<br />
cost-effectiveness resulting from low operation<br />
costs and high resale value.<br />
The TopClass 400: scented impressions<br />
Of course at a trade show you expect to be<br />
bombarded with countless visual impres-<br />
sions. You also know you’ll be able to feel<br />
different materials, fabrics, and surfaces.<br />
What you don’t necessarily expect is, upon<br />
entering a bus, to be surprised and pam-<br />
“I’m on the road in many European cities, so EEV is a very relevant<br />
topic for me. It’s great that I no longer have to worry about spending<br />
money on maintaining the diesel particle filter.” Martin Kern, bus driver from Hamburg<br />
fabrics came next with the help of the design<br />
consultants. There was certainly a lot<br />
to do. And it’s no wonder that so many visitors<br />
wanted to find out more about the new<br />
<strong>generation</strong> of <strong>seat</strong>s which open up close to<br />
endless <strong>seat</strong>ing concepts that are even<br />
more closely tailored to their specific applications<br />
and needs.<br />
Six buses – six highlights<br />
When looking at the six elegant <strong>Setra</strong><br />
coaches, you could almost believe that they<br />
were actually proud of their heritage. The<br />
TopClass, ComfortClass, and MultiClass<br />
series all head their respective segments,<br />
and all of them are characterised by the<br />
ultimate in comfort, the greatest possible<br />
safety, elegant design, and outstanding<br />
pered with a spring-scented environment.<br />
Like the one <strong>Setra</strong> offered its visitors to this<br />
year’s IAA for the first time ever in the<br />
triple-axle super high-decker S 416 HDH.<br />
The design consultants invited guests to<br />
test a variety of air scents, and then to<br />
assess their acceptance via questionnaire.<br />
But the S 416 HDH has a lot more to offer<br />
than an attractive scent. The TopClass is<br />
impressive not only due to its outstanding<br />
safety equipment, but also with its state-ofthe-art<br />
comfort and its new Voyage Supreme<br />
luxury <strong>seat</strong>s. On the inside, for the first time<br />
ever in the coach world, <strong>Setra</strong> installed a<br />
floor with a real stone surface. During<br />
breaks, the passengers are invited to enjoy a<br />
refreshing drink at the fold-out counter outside<br />
the coach. They can also let themselves<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story | 17<br />
be pampered in the TopClass double-decker<br />
S 431 DT, which easily competes with<br />
airplanes and trains. Its upper deck is a<br />
spacious, four-star equipped business class<br />
environment, while the lower deck offers<br />
first class all the way with its premium fivestar<br />
<strong>seat</strong> spacing. Both decks are equipped<br />
with the new <strong>Setra</strong> Voyage Plus luxury<br />
<strong>seat</strong>ing, with headrests in distinctive ostrich<br />
leather look. And just as impressive is the<br />
infotainment system in the lower deck with<br />
fold-out monitors at the tables, WiFi router<br />
and a server solution for a wide selection of<br />
information and entertainment programming.<br />
ComfortClass 400: safe and environmentally<br />
friendly<br />
At the core of the <strong>Setra</strong> program is the<br />
ComfortClass, with coaches that fulfil the<br />
requirements of excursion applications<br />
along with scheduled-service applications,<br />
as well as classical tour and long-distance<br />
business. The <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 GT-HD high-<br />
decker exhibited at the IAA proves that<br />
safety also has top priority in the Comfort-<br />
Class and that highly discerning environmental<br />
standards are met as well. All <strong>Setra</strong><br />
scheduled-service buses and touring<br />
coaches with the 457 LA/hLA six-cylinder<br />
in-line diesel engine now meet the most<br />
stringent, current, voluntary EEV emissions<br />
level. What is new is the fact that this<br />
standard can be achieved without a diesel<br />
particle filter (recognisable by its green EEV<br />
plate lettering) – a further advantage in costeffectiveness.<br />
�
18 | <strong>Setra</strong> Cover Story<br />
MultiClass 400: a multi-talent with an<br />
environmental seal<br />
There were three MultiClass buses to experience<br />
at the IAA. After all, the series had a<br />
lot to show and tell. From the low-entry to<br />
the classical regional scheduled-service<br />
bus to the high-floor vehicle, the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
MultiClass is deployed for demanding regional<br />
scheduled-service and excursion<br />
applications. The <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 NF we exhibit-<br />
ed is one of the first <strong>Setra</strong>s to have received<br />
the “Blue Angel” seal, mostly known among<br />
consumers. It not only fulfils the EEV emissions<br />
norm, but also serves the environment<br />
well through materials used and ecologically<br />
friendly production. The seal is<br />
also visible for all passengers to see. The S<br />
415 NF surprised its visitors with a grassgreen<br />
lawn flooring – which humorously<br />
depicted the bus’ “green“ background<br />
while showing off just one of the countless<br />
customisation possibilities available with<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
The second IAA member of the MultiClass<br />
family is the <strong>Setra</strong> S 417 UL, the classical<br />
double-earner. The touring front, podium,<br />
and <strong>seat</strong>ing with <strong>Setra</strong> Route from the new<br />
<strong>seat</strong> <strong>generation</strong> make it ideal for excur-<br />
sions. The new <strong>Setra</strong> Route <strong>seat</strong>ing as well<br />
as an automatic transmission underline the<br />
outstanding comfort it offers in airportshuttle<br />
applications, for instance.<br />
Seeing each other again in two years<br />
For the event organiser, the Association of<br />
the Automotive Industry, the 2010 IAA was<br />
a complete success. And Lothar Holder,<br />
Head of Sales at <strong>Setra</strong> Buses & Coaches<br />
EvoBus GmbH, is also more than satisfied:<br />
“The concept of a Daimler Hall with its<br />
multibrand presentation worked beautifully,<br />
and proved to be a real attraction for the<br />
public. Moreover, at our <strong>Setra</strong> stand, we<br />
had an ideal environment and many possibilities<br />
to present our innovations and to<br />
welcome our many family members from all<br />
around the world.”<br />
A current trend: leather embossing<br />
With their amazing flexibility and unmatched<br />
comfort, the distinctive <strong>seat</strong> covers of the<br />
new <strong>generation</strong> of <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>seat</strong>s never fail to<br />
attract attention. With eye-catching leather<br />
embossing in ostrich and ray looks, used<br />
for the first time in coaches, <strong>Setra</strong> once<br />
again proves its “Best in Class” standard<br />
in terms of offering customer-oriented,<br />
individual interior design solutions. While<br />
developing its elegant embossed looks,<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> let itself be inspired by current trends<br />
exhibited in luxury cars.<br />
And they did feel welcomed. Beatrice Ogunnowo,<br />
Head of Marketing at the Daimler<br />
distributorship in Nigeria, expressed what<br />
many visitors to the <strong>Setra</strong> stand felt: “Even<br />
though I travelled a great distance to come<br />
here, as soon as I arrived, I felt as if I had<br />
just come home. I am already looking<br />
forward to getting together with the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
family again at the next IAA.”<br />
Well then, we’ll see you at the next IAA in<br />
2012, or perhaps even sooner at one of the<br />
many upcoming <strong>Setra</strong>Shows. �<br />
Interview with Holger Suffel:<br />
“The <strong>Setra</strong> brand makes a<br />
clear performance promise”<br />
Holger Suffel has been with the company since 1977, with only a brief interruption, and is now Head<br />
of Marketing Sales and Aftersales at Daimler Buses as well as Head of Sales at EvoBus GmbH.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>Family met with him at the IAA show.<br />
Mr Suffel, for you as Head of Sales, the<br />
IAA for Commercial Vehicles must be<br />
the highlight of the year.<br />
Absolutely. When I look around, I am so<br />
pleased to see just how outstanding the<br />
complete presentation of our brands in the<br />
Daimler Hall looks and feels. This very unique<br />
combination of elegance, power, and scope<br />
makes my sales heart beat quite a bit faster.<br />
You have been with the company for 29<br />
years, and with EvoBus for the last 7<br />
years. From your perspective, how have<br />
the brands at EvoBus evolved?<br />
Mercedes-Benz and <strong>Setra</strong> are the most valuable<br />
coach and bus brands around<br />
today. And of course we are very proud of<br />
this fact. The development is the clear result<br />
of strategically consistent brand manage-<br />
ment over many years. Every day, we create<br />
the platform for our customers’ experience<br />
with the brand tomorrow. And we are very<br />
conscious of this responsibility.<br />
Are there other reasons for this outstand-<br />
ing brand development?<br />
Well, a company needs many ingredients to<br />
achieve success: satisfied customers, com-<br />
mitted employees, strong brands, and attractive<br />
products. Here at EvoBus, these<br />
ingredients come together in a very harmonious<br />
way. With our authentic brand commu-<br />
nication the market experiences every day,<br />
we are creating confidence, trust, and a sus-<br />
tainable brand identity. The fact that we are<br />
innovation leaders on the one hand, and a<br />
company with extraordinary heritage on the<br />
other, is also a big part of the story.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 19<br />
And does all this justify a higher price?<br />
It certainly does. Our customers know exactly<br />
that the purchase price only represents<br />
about 15% of their coach’s overall lifecycle<br />
costs. And that over the long run, the less<br />
expensive products can be very costly. And<br />
that with <strong>Setra</strong>, they can look forward to<br />
being very successful over the long run.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> has established itself as premium<br />
brand in your company. What is it that<br />
makes <strong>Setra</strong> so special?<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> brand is a promise, a promise of<br />
performance and achievement. The brand<br />
slogan “Best in Class” says it best. <strong>Setra</strong><br />
stands for comfort, elegance, individuality,<br />
and value retention. With <strong>Setra</strong>, the brand<br />
experience begins as early as during the<br />
equipment selection, where we customise<br />
the coach to our customer’s wishes. With<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>, there is no doubt as to what the<br />
brand stands for – and for what it doesn’t.<br />
Ultimately what is important is that we successfully<br />
fulfil our customers’ expectations.<br />
No more and certainly no less!<br />
Do <strong>Setra</strong> customers have different expectations<br />
from their buses as customers<br />
of other brands?<br />
Yes, they definitely do. Because with <strong>Setra</strong>,<br />
it’s all about “more”: more customisation,<br />
more customer support, more comfort, and<br />
the list goes on. When you talk about <strong>Setra</strong>,<br />
you’re talking about a “tour de force”, a mas-<br />
terpiece. One that exceeds all expectations.<br />
In other words, simply <strong>Setra</strong>!<br />
Mr Suffel, thank you so much for this<br />
interview!
20 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
In constant evolution: The <strong>Setra</strong> Collection:<br />
The stuff dreams are made of<br />
Every two years just in time for the IAA, at the <strong>New</strong>-Ulm DesignCenter, the <strong>Setra</strong> Collection goes<br />
through a major update whereby close to half the 85 upholstery fabrics are changed. The result is a<br />
wide spectrum of passenger <strong>seat</strong>s that always reflect the latest trends and fashions, while fulfilling<br />
discerning requirements in comfort and functionality.<br />
E<br />
xciting times at the <strong>Setra</strong> Design-<br />
Center: just in time for the IAA,<br />
not only fabrics, but also flooring,<br />
curtains, wall coverings, and even lavatory<br />
cladding are put through a stringent refresher<br />
course. Doris Born, textile designer<br />
at the DesignCenter, explains why:<br />
“On the one hand, over a two-year period<br />
there are many trends or mini-trends that<br />
develop, and on the other hand, during<br />
this time we learn a lot about our customers’<br />
wishes and preferences.” Satisfying<br />
customer wishes is absolutely top<br />
priority at <strong>Setra</strong>, and to make this happen,<br />
a whole team of fabric experts come to<br />
gether. Working closely with weaving mills,<br />
materials are selected, altered, or even<br />
created from scratch. In order to become<br />
part of the new collection, fabrics and<br />
materials need to go through extensive<br />
testing and quality assessments addressing,<br />
for instance, seam strength, abrasion<br />
resistance, hot light resistance, as well as<br />
resistance to cleaning products and aging.<br />
Only once they have passed all these tests<br />
with flying colours, are they taken on in<br />
the new collection for the new models and<br />
given the honour of being presented to IAA<br />
visitors. �<br />
For every fabric the right care<br />
To ensure that the fabrics keep their beautiful<br />
appearance for a long time to come, we<br />
include handy cards with cleaning tips in<br />
every new coach delivered. For example, a<br />
stain on <strong>seat</strong>ing upholstery is best treated<br />
from the edge towards the center, and the<br />
cleaner is not poured directly onto the fabric,<br />
but rather onto a cotton cloth first.<br />
Stains on microfibers can best be removed<br />
with mild soap suds on a sponge using circular<br />
motion, again from the outside to the<br />
inside. You’ll be most successful at cleaning<br />
leather with a soft, lint-free cloth and<br />
distilled water.<br />
<strong>New</strong> paint colours for the IAA:<br />
Amazing tones!<br />
T<br />
here are many factors that influence<br />
just how a new paint colour<br />
comes to life. The customer advisors<br />
at the <strong>Setra</strong> DesignCenter of course<br />
know exactly which new colours and tones<br />
are ‘hot’. But parallel to this, <strong>Setra</strong> also<br />
takes into account the customer’s wishes.<br />
Should customers ask repeatedly for a colour,<br />
the DesignCenter quickly takes action<br />
and researches the colour with manufacturers’<br />
development departments. In cases<br />
where the customer-inspired colours har-<br />
monise well with trends and other key<br />
factors, an idea for a new colour tone is the<br />
result. The team at the <strong>Setra</strong> DesignCenter<br />
defines the new colour spectrum and gives<br />
the colours suitable names. The new tones<br />
are then painted on sample sheets in the<br />
paint shop, and the recipe is optimised by<br />
the paint experts in terms of rough or fine<br />
metallic proportions. At the same time, colour<br />
nuances are developed to ensure that<br />
the colours interact harmoniously – just<br />
like the three red metallic tones shown at<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class | 21<br />
At the <strong>Setra</strong> DesignCenter customers are given extensive advice on selecting paint colours for their<br />
new <strong>Setra</strong>. What has been known to happen is that our colour consultants and customers, together,<br />
create all-new tones that had never previously seen the light of day.<br />
Nebbiolo Pinot Noir Sangiovese<br />
the IAA. The results were definitely a sight<br />
to see at the IAA: EVO 5048 Nebbiolo,<br />
EVO 5057 Pinot Noir, and EVO 5067 Sangiovese<br />
are the mouth-watering names<br />
given to the new paint colours which contributed<br />
to the elegant presentation at the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> displays. Sonja Waldenspul from the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> DesignCenter is convinced of their<br />
success: “These colours were inspired by<br />
our customers’ wishes, so we can be sure<br />
that they will be well received by our bus<br />
operators.” �
22 | <strong>Setra</strong> Individual<br />
Individual equipment concepts:<br />
Customer wishes become<br />
reality<br />
Individual equipment customisation is intrinsic to what <strong>Setra</strong> is all about. Every <strong>Setra</strong> customer is<br />
given a bus that meets his very specific needs and wishes. The team that makes sure this happens<br />
is the Kundensonderwunsch (KSW) or the special customer wish group. <strong>Setra</strong>Family made a visit to<br />
the “Wish experts” at <strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
S<br />
etra customers are very discerning.<br />
And what they want is a bus that is<br />
made to measure to suit their needs<br />
and their tastes. This is why there is a team<br />
dedicated to making this happen. Working<br />
closely with bus construction and colleagues<br />
from <strong>Setra</strong> sales, KSW employees take care<br />
of and manage the special wishes of <strong>Setra</strong><br />
customers.<br />
The team is led by Andreas Arnold for whom<br />
collaboration within the team is very important:<br />
“Close cooperation enables a good<br />
The KSW team leaders: (left to right, above) Steffen Stolz,<br />
Herbert Bacher, Andreas Arnold, Horst Müller – (left to right, below)<br />
Thomas Felk, Manfred Rattunde, Jürgen Schuster<br />
flow of information – and ultimately it is also<br />
important for the KSW team to find out about<br />
all changes that are made to standard vehicles,<br />
so that they can then more optimally<br />
assess customers’ special wishes.”<br />
A team of specialists<br />
In his KSW team there are experts who are<br />
specialised on one model series: Alexander<br />
Eberhardt, Thomas Felk, Jürgen Schuster,<br />
Herbert Bacher, Manfred Rattunde, Horst<br />
Müller, and Steffen Stolz.<br />
24,000 special customer wishes per year<br />
Each member of the team is a specialist in<br />
his area. “Our staff knows their vehicles inside<br />
and out. They have acquired their expertise<br />
over many years and are indispensable<br />
to my team”, proudly says Arnold. Every<br />
year, 24,000 special customer wishes are<br />
brought to life at <strong>Setra</strong>. “It never gets boring<br />
here”, he adds, smiling. Close to 20 special<br />
customer wishes that are worked on daily<br />
Simply brilliant, the combination of hub and swing flap<br />
are so technically challenging that they are<br />
passed on to the experts from the KSW<br />
team, who work closely with specialised developers,<br />
from for example, electrical, interior<br />
equipment, bodyshell or frame, to organise<br />
and coordinate the technical implementa-<br />
tion in the desired vehicle.<br />
An example: a flap solution<br />
An interesting recent special customer wish<br />
was to develop a special flap solution for a<br />
S 416 GT-HD/2 equipped with a lift for handicapped<br />
passengers, for French customer<br />
Kéolis France. The customer wanted a<br />
solution whereby when removing luggage,<br />
he wouldn’t have to open the complete sidehinged<br />
lift flap, on the lower section in front<br />
of the lift. The idea behind the solution is as<br />
simple as it is brilliant: the flap was split horizontally.<br />
The result is a combination of a hub<br />
flap and a swing flap. The handicapped lift<br />
disappears behind the lower swing flap<br />
enabling problem-free access to the luggage<br />
compartment. The customer, Kéolis France,<br />
is very pleased with his solution and with the<br />
great functionality of the two new flaps. The<br />
KSW experts from <strong>Setra</strong>, working together<br />
with specialists and coordinating with sales,<br />
developed an attractive and practical solution,<br />
with which the flap when open is at the<br />
same level as the others. And once again in<br />
the development department at EvoBus, yet<br />
another customer wish became reality. �<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Individual | 23
24 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
A look back and a look ahead at trade shows and exhibitions:<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> get-togethers<br />
The year is almost over, and we look back at many events with impressive innovations. But also in<br />
the coming months, the trade show landscape features several events you wouldn’t want to miss.<br />
A look back:<br />
Danube Roadshow<br />
For the first time in April this year, following<br />
the slogan “<strong>Setra</strong> meets friends”, two<br />
vehicles travelled on the Danube Roadshow<br />
through Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia,<br />
Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. On drives<br />
through the Danube’s largest tide locks,<br />
Gabcikovo, passengers could test the<br />
OMNIplus BusFleet fleet management<br />
system and then partake in lively discussions<br />
on the buses’ handling.<br />
RDA Workshop<br />
The focus of <strong>Setra</strong>’s presentation at this<br />
year’s Bus Tourism Show in Cologne was<br />
tourism. For this reason, the triple-axle S 416<br />
HDH and the S 411 HD Club bus were ex-<br />
hibited as representatives of the TopClass<br />
400. Tourism was also a central focus in<br />
assessments from RDA visitors. Specialities<br />
from classic bus touring countries Switzerland,<br />
the Baltic and South-East Europe were<br />
offered.<br />
IAA Commercial Vehicles, Hanover<br />
The second largest commercial vehicle<br />
trade show took place in September this<br />
year with the slogan “Commercial vehicles:<br />
Efficient, Flexible, Future-Proof” in the fore-<br />
ground. Accordingly, the new <strong>generation</strong> of<br />
passenger <strong>seat</strong>s was a key focus of <strong>Setra</strong>’s<br />
presentation. For the first time, <strong>Setra</strong> exhib-<br />
ited inside the Daimler Hall with its<br />
impressive and very eye-catching exhibits.<br />
(see full report beginning on page 12).<br />
A look ahead:<br />
Autocar Expo, Nice, France<br />
The largest French coach and bus show<br />
will be organised for the second time by<br />
ten bus manufacturers, including <strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
The objective is to repeat the resonant<br />
success from 2008 with at least 5,000<br />
visitors.<br />
20.–23.10.2010<br />
Parc des Expositions Nice Acropolis<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>Shows Plattling, Germany<br />
Like every year, the <strong>Setra</strong> Family “Get-together”<br />
will be held in late autumn. The safety<br />
topic will be focused on during the show in<br />
Plattling.<br />
30./31.10.2010<br />
BusWorld Home, Plattling<br />
Euro Bus Expo, Birmingham, England<br />
Close to 250 manufacturers and suppliers<br />
will be exhibiting at the coach and bus trade<br />
show for right-hand drive vehicles.<br />
02.–04.11.2010<br />
NEC, Birmingham<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>Show Neu-ulm<br />
Here, the focus will be on “Customisation<br />
and cost-effectiveness”, where the new<br />
<strong>generation</strong> of passenger <strong>seat</strong>s will be playing<br />
a starring role. Another highlight in<br />
Neu-Ulm is the <strong>Setra</strong> GrandPrix 2011 qualifying<br />
event, for which two places will be<br />
awarded. The challenge: to drive through a<br />
skill-testing track in the shortest amount<br />
of time while making the fewest errors.<br />
06./07.11.2010<br />
CustomerCenter Neu-Ulm<br />
OMNIBuS 2010, Kloten, Switzerland<br />
At the <strong>Setra</strong> in-house show in Kloten in<br />
Switzerland, a number of the impressive<br />
IAA exhibition coaches will be presented –<br />
along with many other topics and displays.<br />
04./05.11.2010<br />
EvoBus CH, Steinackerstr. 13,<br />
Kloten, Switzerland<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 25<br />
International used Coach & Bus Show,<br />
Neu-ulm<br />
At the beginning of 2011, right next to the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Used Coach & Bus Center, used<br />
coach and bus dealers, <strong>Setra</strong> distributors<br />
as well as EvoBus subsidiaries will once<br />
again offer over 250 coaches and buses of<br />
all brands. Event organisers are expecting<br />
over 2,000 visitors, including a large professional<br />
representation, for which the<br />
show offers a uniquely large selection of<br />
used coaches and buses.<br />
05.–07.01.2011<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> GebrauchtWagenCenter (Used<br />
Coach & Bus Center), Plant 5, Neu-Ulm<br />
BestBusVienna, Vienna, Austria<br />
The exhibition for Austria, the Czech Repub-<br />
lic, Slovenia, and Bulgaria takes place in the<br />
Wiener Neudorf market township. Here,<br />
both new and pre-owned vehicles will be<br />
shown.<br />
11.–13.11.2010<br />
EvoBus Austria, Industriezentrum NÖ-Süd<br />
Straße 4, Wiener Neudorf<br />
FIAA, Madrid, Spain<br />
The international trade show for touring<br />
and line buses is the most important platform<br />
for the bus sector and a key meeting<br />
point for decision makers.<br />
16.–19.11.2010<br />
Feria de Madrid
26 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
USA: Facelift for the TopClass S 417:<br />
A full-blooded American with a German heart<br />
The all-new North American version of the <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass S 417, featuring over 30 innovations, was<br />
premiered at this year’s UMA Motorcoach Expo in Las Vegas. Since 2003 the TopClass has been<br />
delivered to North America and it is now a clear leader in the luxury tour segment.<br />
S<br />
ince its successful introduction in<br />
the USA, Canada, and Mexico,<br />
close to 800 units have been built<br />
especially for these markets. They have<br />
achieved an amazing 30 percent of the premium<br />
segment. Reason enough to upgrade<br />
the North American version, following the<br />
introduction of the new TopClass 400 in<br />
Europe. Enhanced safety was a top priority<br />
for the launch. And in North America, safety<br />
reached an all-new dimension with the<br />
S 417. With the Front Collision Guard, both<br />
passive and active safety components such<br />
as the cornering lights and light/rain sensors<br />
were introduced. As well, with the new<br />
docking lights on the sides, the bus driver<br />
can enjoy excellent visibility when loading<br />
or unloading luggage in dark parking areas.<br />
Moreover, the driver capitalises on further<br />
innovations that make his cockpit and work-<br />
ing space even more attractive. Just a few<br />
examples: the leather-covered multifunctional<br />
steering wheel, with integrated key<br />
functions and a new 3D colour display.<br />
What is certainly unusual for German drivers<br />
is the fact that the North American<br />
TopClass features only one door at the front<br />
right of the vehicle. With the space saved,<br />
56 passengers can be <strong>seat</strong>ed in the motorcoach.<br />
Even the environment stands to gain<br />
from the new TopClass. It already fulfils the<br />
American EPA 10 emission regulations, the<br />
European equivalent of regulations to be introduced<br />
in 2014. Ultimately, no matter<br />
how many updates and innovations the<br />
North American version of the TopClass<br />
S 417 will see, one key feature will always<br />
remain German: the engine. At the heart of<br />
every <strong>Setra</strong>. �<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass ranks among the most coveted motorcoaches with<br />
drivers and operators – from Canada all the way through to Mexico<br />
Canada: <strong>New</strong> <strong>Setra</strong> business in North America:<br />
Upswing for <strong>Setra</strong> in North America<br />
Lothar Holder, Head of Sales at <strong>Setra</strong> Buses & Coaches EvoBus GmbH, is pleased with <strong>Setra</strong> deliveries to<br />
Canada, which he sees as a very positive sign for the development of the brand abroad: “We hope that<br />
these great orders represent a further strengthening of our market position in North America.”<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> ahoy!<br />
Countries without compulsory military service<br />
have to come up with interesting<br />
approaches to attract their youth to a career<br />
in the military. The Canadian navy chose to<br />
add very unusual recruiting buses to their<br />
arsenal of tactics. The three <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass<br />
100th <strong>Setra</strong> delivered to Canada<br />
A <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass S 417 was also delivered<br />
to Ambassatours Gray Line. This fully<br />
equipped <strong>Setra</strong> is the 100th <strong>Setra</strong> sold in<br />
Canada. For Patrick Scully, Vice President<br />
Sales at Daimler Buses North America, it is<br />
a clear sign of the Canadian market re-<br />
gaining strength. The motorcoach will be<br />
used by the well-known St. Francis Xavier<br />
University in Halifax for students, athletes,<br />
and other university transit applications. �<br />
S 417 motorcoaches delivered to the Canadian<br />
navy in Ottawa were specifically de-<br />
signed for recruiting new members – and<br />
they truly are spectacular-looking. The paint<br />
jobs highlight the navy ships and marines at<br />
work. On the inside, they feature electronic<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 27<br />
kiosks where viewers can find out about career<br />
possibilities in the navy. And, it is also<br />
the very first time that a S 417 TC was delivered<br />
to this customer equipped with a rear<br />
entrance. Usually vehicles for the North Ameri-<br />
can market only have a front entrance. �<br />
This <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass S 417, with its distinctive paint job, is a real eye-catcher
18 | <strong>Setra</strong> Familien <strong>New</strong>s<br />
Goodbye Mr <strong>Setra</strong>:<br />
“Thank you Werner Staib”<br />
The slogan chosen for the event to bid farewell to Werner Staib really says it all. The farewell event<br />
for <strong>Setra</strong>’s brand speaker on February 26 was a large, international “Thank you” and a real family<br />
party with many highlights.<br />
B<br />
efitting his many years of service<br />
to the company, Werner Staib<br />
was picked up on the day of his<br />
celebration by a vintage <strong>Setra</strong>, which carried<br />
him for the last time to the <strong>Setra</strong> CustomerCenter.<br />
There, as he so often did, he<br />
enjoyed a unique opportunity to set the<br />
tone once again, but this time not in terms<br />
of brand strategy, but rather as director of a<br />
musical band. A task he performed with his<br />
usual expertise and finesse. From that<br />
point on, the event proceeded seamlessly.<br />
In the afternoon, he was chauffeured to<br />
what was his workplace for so many years,<br />
the former Kässbohrer head office, and<br />
then he was off to the <strong>Setra</strong> Museum.<br />
In the early evening, once this first part of<br />
the celebration program was completed,<br />
Werner Staib and his wife were taken to the<br />
banquet hall where a wonderful reception<br />
had been meticulously prepared for the<br />
couple. You could tell that the otherwise<br />
very pragmatic Mr Staib was taken over by<br />
surprise. They had all come to bid him fare-<br />
well: former colleagues and supervisors,<br />
the entire <strong>Setra</strong> sales team, German and<br />
international distributors, and all of the<br />
EvoBus senior management. The evening’s<br />
motto “Thank you Werner Staib” couldn’t<br />
have been more suitably executed and<br />
filled with life. The festive ambiance, the<br />
heart-warming poems and songs all contrib-<br />
uted greatly to this very unique and memorable<br />
farewell celebration in honour of<br />
Werner Staib.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 29
30 | <strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>Card<br />
ServiceCards from <strong>Setra</strong> and OMNIplus:<br />
The currency for all-around service<br />
Beginning in October 2010, our open-order benefits (Obligo) and 24h SERVICE in the case of breakdown<br />
will undergo some changes. Here, <strong>Setra</strong>Family offers an overview on the various ServiceCards available.<br />
Max Muster MusterReisen GmbH<br />
3700 1234 5678 04/08 03/12<br />
ith every purchase of a new <strong>Setra</strong><br />
W vehicle, you can receive a <strong>Setra</strong><br />
ServiceCard. It is valid over four years and<br />
The customised <strong>Setra</strong> on-board video:<br />
Let it roll with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
n just about four minutes, the film in-<br />
I forms passengers on the many benefits<br />
of travelling in a <strong>Setra</strong> with useful tips on<br />
operating lighting, ventilation, and <strong>seat</strong>s.<br />
This makes the driver’s job just a little bit<br />
easier, while ensuring that passengers can<br />
take full advantage of all the comfort a<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> offers. The film is handed over with<br />
every delivery of a TopClass or Comfort-<br />
Class coach and can be ordered via the<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> homepage as required.<br />
covers an open order in the case of a breakdown<br />
and for repairs, depending on whether<br />
you select one with or without refuelling.<br />
For all others the following applies: in the<br />
future, whoever does not wish to miss out<br />
on open-order benefits and the 24h SERV-<br />
ICE needs the basic OMNIplus Service-<br />
Card. In combination with the basic mobility<br />
package, it offers a bus-specific, starting<br />
open-order of 2,500.— €, which can be extended<br />
online. The OMNIplus ServiceCard<br />
Premium offers even more convenience:<br />
with it, you can also cover costs for filling<br />
up, tolls, and ferries. It replaces the proven<br />
and still valid OMNIplus ServiceCard.<br />
The <strong>Setra</strong> on-board video is being very well received – by both operators<br />
and passengers. As of mid-November, <strong>Setra</strong> will be offering a further<br />
service enabling you to incorporate your own company messages to the<br />
film. It’s time to make the film your very own!<br />
As a pioneer in customer-orientation, <strong>Setra</strong><br />
now offers you the opportunity to customise<br />
the on-board film to your specific needs.<br />
For instance, you can include your own<br />
company messages however you would like<br />
to – with your logo, as a slide show, or even<br />
a film – it’s completely up to you. The result<br />
is a well presented, brief orientation on<br />
your company and your coach brand, which<br />
your passengers will enjoy as their journey<br />
with you begins.<br />
Whichever ServiceCard you’re travelling<br />
with, it gives you access to a series of<br />
services for unlimited mobility. Select the<br />
card and the service that best suits your<br />
needs. Whether fast, expert help in the<br />
case of a breakdown, cashless payment<br />
for service work and parts needed, gas<br />
station service at over 28,000 stations in<br />
Europe, replacement buses including driver,<br />
or 24h Tyre service – with <strong>Setra</strong> and the<br />
OMNIplus Service brand, you can count on<br />
receiving the right services and support to<br />
meet your needs and requirements. You’ll<br />
find more information at www.servicecard.<br />
omniplus.de. �<br />
If you are interested in receiving a custom-<br />
ised on-board video, simply get in touch<br />
with your local representative beginning<br />
in mid-November, and have a look at<br />
the online ordering platform. There you<br />
can see sample films, receive information<br />
on various possibilities and costs for<br />
different customisation versions. You can<br />
then order directly, upload your data, or<br />
simply get in touch with us for further<br />
assistance. �<br />
OMNIplus BusTech Challenge 2010:<br />
The Oscar for top service technicians<br />
Under the maxim “Demonstrate your expertise”, mechanics and service technicians from all Euro-<br />
pean OMNIplus service points competed for the OMNIplus BusTech Master award. The goal of the<br />
competition is ongoing improvement of the service quality offered by OMNIplus.<br />
A<br />
competition like this one in the bus<br />
world is something very special:<br />
622 service technicians from 17<br />
European countries gave their best to put<br />
their knowledge and expertise on the entire<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> and Mercedes-Benz product spectrum,<br />
including the various engines and<br />
transmissions, to the test. With this competition<br />
OMNIplus assesses its own quality<br />
standard, increases employee motivation<br />
and rewards passion for excellent<br />
service work. Following an analysis of results,<br />
the 646 service points in 37 European<br />
countries with their over 6,000<br />
employees could be further optimised.<br />
Participating service station employees<br />
could become aware of their own strengths<br />
and weaknesses and could then be trained<br />
further in a targeted way – which is indispensable<br />
considering the fast-paced developments<br />
in modern coach and bus technology.<br />
“Best in Class” service technicians<br />
In order to qualify for “Best in Class”, participants<br />
had to overcome a series of hurdles.<br />
At the end of 2009, the preliminary country<br />
rounds took place, in which 622 partici-<br />
pants answered online questions on key<br />
areas like engine/transmission, frame/<br />
brakes, electrical components, comfort,<br />
body, IT systems in aftersales, as well<br />
as general-knowledge questions on the<br />
OMNIplus service offering. Of the 622 candidates,<br />
218 proceeded to the second round,<br />
in which questions regarding the EvoBus<br />
production network, the new Power-Shift<br />
GO 240-8 transmission, operating the heat-<br />
ing system in the <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass 400, specifics<br />
of the on-board and off-board diagnostic<br />
systems, or on repairing an exterior<br />
swinging door, were addressed.<br />
Bus all-arounders are in demand<br />
The 17 country winners then went to the<br />
two-day final round in Neu-Ulm an, where<br />
qualified assembly specialists put their multi-faceted<br />
knowledge to the test. At a total<br />
of ten stations, there were tests assessing,<br />
for instance, ride-height control on a Sprinter<br />
minibus, faulty mounting of a brake system,<br />
or checking audio systems and tackling<br />
the front door. As well, an accident<br />
repair task with replacement part assembly,<br />
checking HVAC systems, practical ques-<br />
tions on the engine and pressure air brake<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Premium Service | 31<br />
The three OMNIplus BusTech<br />
Masters in Gold, Silver, and Bronze.<br />
systems, as well as theoretical questions<br />
on repairs. The final test module was an indepth<br />
visit to manufacturing at the end of<br />
which questions on facility data and production<br />
were posed. It soon became crystal<br />
clear: what is required today are not<br />
specialists, but rather bus all-arounders<br />
who are equipped to tackle any service<br />
challenge.<br />
And the OMNIplus BusTech Master is …<br />
After two very intense days of testing, it<br />
was finally time to acknowledge the winners.<br />
Helmut Schnapp, Director Daimler<br />
Buses Aftersales in Neu-Ulm, and Siegfried<br />
Wittlinger, Head of OMNIplus Training,<br />
chaired the awards ceremony. Wolfgang<br />
Hänle, Head of Production, handed over the<br />
prizes. And then the real celebrations began.<br />
No wonder, the OMNIplus BusTech<br />
Award is such a handsome award, depicting<br />
a service mechanic in his overalls on a<br />
screw nut. And for all those who were not<br />
successful at getting hold of one of the coveted<br />
trophies this year, it will soon be time<br />
to gear up to the next competition. In two<br />
years, you’ll hear once again: “And the<br />
OMNIplus BusTech Master is …” �
32 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
The Mannheim Eagles’ team bus is even equipped with a blade sharpening device<br />
The “EV Zug” hockey players are delighted with their new team bus, a <strong>Setra</strong> S 416 HDH<br />
During the Judo European Championships, Sramek Reisen brings the athletes to Vienna to their competitions<br />
On the road towards new heights with <strong>Setra</strong>:<br />
Sporty, sportier, sportiest ...<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 33<br />
Even top athletes like to get comfortable from time to time. Whether Judokas or hockey players, they<br />
enjoy being driven to their games or competitions in comfortable <strong>Setra</strong> coaches.<br />
Sramek official carrier to the European<br />
Judo Championships<br />
With his <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass coaches, Sramek<br />
Reisen was the official carrier of the Austrian<br />
Judoka to the European Judo Championships<br />
in Vienna. Over 10,000 spectators<br />
visited the European Championships in the<br />
Ferry Dusika Stadium, including the Russian<br />
Prime Minister who enthusiastically<br />
followed the events. Manfred Sramek person-<br />
ally congratulated the Austrian athletes Sabrina<br />
Filzmoser and Ludwig Paischer on<br />
winning silver medals and Andreas Mitterfellner<br />
on winning a bronze.<br />
A <strong>Setra</strong> S 431 DT for the “Mannheim<br />
Eagles”<br />
The Eagles are crazy about <strong>Setra</strong>! A <strong>Setra</strong><br />
coach with Mannheim Eagles emblem paint-<br />
ed on its sides carries the players to their<br />
games. The coach is equipped with several<br />
skat tables, an inverter module, and 220 V<br />
outlets for laptop connections at every <strong>seat</strong><br />
row, a harness and storage cabinet, e-<br />
quipped with a blade sharpener – so that<br />
not only the players but also their skates<br />
arrive at the stadium as sharp as possible.<br />
EV Zug team with <strong>Setra</strong> on tour from<br />
Gössi to success<br />
The Swiss EV Zug hockey club not only has<br />
the most modern stadium, it also boasts the<br />
most state-of-the-art team bus in Switzerland.<br />
Just in time for the opening of the<br />
all-new BOSSARD Arena, the team is also<br />
now travelling with a new <strong>Setra</strong> S 416 HDH<br />
team coach. The S 416 HDH succeeds the<br />
S 415 HD, with which the Gössi Carreisen AG<br />
transported the team over the last five years.<br />
For team captain Duri Camichel and his<br />
team it is very special to travel so luxuriously<br />
and he is quite sure that: “In the future, we<br />
will also be arriving at our games feeling<br />
relaxed and ready to win.”<br />
The unspoken star of the ORF reality show “The Race” is a <strong>Setra</strong> S 411 club bus from Blaguss Reisen<br />
“The Race” celebrity alpine skiing<br />
competition in ORF<br />
The six-part Austrian reality show “The<br />
Race” is moderated by former ski racer<br />
Armin Assinger. As a first step, 16 celebrities<br />
are prepared by Assinger and ski-<br />
trainer legend Robert Trenkwalder in a train-<br />
ing camp. And this is where the real star of<br />
the show takes over: a <strong>Setra</strong> S 411 HD from<br />
Blaguss Reisen, who drove the celebrities<br />
through the skiing regions. In five parts of<br />
the show, the trainers and audience nominate<br />
two skiers, a man and a woman, to<br />
proceed to the next level. The best eight<br />
participants (four women, four men) made<br />
it to the finals which were broadcast on<br />
December 19, 2009. The winners of the<br />
race were folk musician Marc Pircher and<br />
former ski racer Stefanie Schuster. �<br />
ORF/Thomas Ramstorfer
34 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
Bus delivery to the ÖPNV Upper Hesse:<br />
Success within the network<br />
The ALV line transit network in Marburg has extended its fleet with 15 new <strong>Setra</strong> buses from the<br />
MultiClass 400 series to guarantee problem-free public transit in Upper Hesse.<br />
A<br />
s a regional partner company of the<br />
Rhein-Main transport association, the<br />
ALV runs 16 bus lines in Hesse, and 80<br />
percent of their daily business is with<br />
school buses. This is why the ALV places<br />
safety in the foreground and already now<br />
offers its passengers over 500 <strong>seat</strong>s with<br />
<strong>seat</strong>belts. For the three bus operators –<br />
Fritz Herrmann GmbH in Marburg, and<br />
Omnibusbetrieb Wagner in Ebsdorfergrund,<br />
and the Auto Nau GmbH in Kirchhai<br />
– it was clear that they would expand their<br />
fleet with buses from the <strong>Setra</strong> MultiClass<br />
400, the preferred line bus among privatesector<br />
and mid-sized bus operators.<br />
With this decision, ALV is now in the position<br />
to counter the enormous competitive<br />
pressure from foreign suppliers and large<br />
Fan mail to <strong>Setra</strong>:<br />
Maximilian Ullmann is twelve years old and every morning he is driven to school in a <strong>Setra</strong> bus.<br />
He is so thrilled about the bus that he made a drawing of it sent it in to <strong>Setra</strong>.<br />
M ichaela<br />
Schneider from the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Marketing department has contact<br />
with <strong>Setra</strong> fans almost every day. But it is<br />
certainly not every day that she receives a<br />
letter from a twelve-year-old: “We were so<br />
delighted to receive the letter and the great<br />
drawing form a twelve-year-old. It was written<br />
with the openness that only a child can<br />
have. The fact that a twelve-year-old can<br />
get excited about our buses really goes to<br />
show that you don’t need a lot of technological<br />
know-how to be a real <strong>Setra</strong> fan. It’s<br />
enough to simply travel in one of our<br />
buses.“ �<br />
German operations in the Hesse public<br />
transit market.<br />
From the left: Heinz Friedrich (<strong>Setra</strong> Head of National<br />
Sales) handed over six UL and nine low-entry buses to<br />
Hermann Meyering (deu B.u.S. AG), Daniel Wagner<br />
(Omnibusbetrieb Wagner), Hans-Christian Herrmann<br />
(Fritz Herrmann GmbH), Waldemar Viol (deu B.u.S. AG)<br />
and Andreas Seelbach (Auto Nau GmbH)<br />
Max, the little <strong>Setra</strong> fan<br />
“Our company philosophy is characterised<br />
by a continuous desire to improve our performance,<br />
by a healthy spirit of innovation<br />
and a high standard of quality. This makes<br />
the ALV Upper Hesse one of the most<br />
high-performance private transportation<br />
providers in all of the Hesse state”, explains<br />
Managing Director Udo Diehl, as he<br />
describes the ALV’s success concept.<br />
“And this also makes the ALV an ideal partner<br />
for the <strong>Setra</strong> premium bus brand”,<br />
agrees Holger Suffel, Head of Marketing-<br />
Sales and Aftersales Daimler Buses as<br />
well as Head of Sales at EvoBus GmbH.<br />
Moreover he praised the exemplary private-<br />
sector commitment of the ALV partners:<br />
“An investment of this scope speaks for<br />
the entrepreneurial strength of this midsized<br />
bus operator.” �<br />
First <strong>Setra</strong> delivery to Hawaii:<br />
Aloha, <strong>Setra</strong>!<br />
In the context of a large celebration event, Travel Plaza Transportation in Honolulu, Hawaii, took<br />
delivery of its first three <strong>Setra</strong> S 417 premium motorcoaches.<br />
T<br />
he three yellow <strong>Setra</strong>s are not<br />
only the first for Travel Plaza, but<br />
also the first for all of Hawaii. “Our<br />
customers are going to love the design of<br />
our three <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass S 417 motorcoaches<br />
along with the many benefits they<br />
offer”, commented Eric T. Iha, Managing<br />
Director of Travel Plaza Transportation at<br />
the event. All three were painted in lively<br />
Hawaiian colours: with tropical flowers<br />
against Travel Plaza’s bright yellow background.<br />
“We are delighted for Travel Plaza,<br />
the very first Hawaiian bus operator to take<br />
delivery of a <strong>Setra</strong>”, said Patrick Scully,<br />
Vice President Sales at Daimler Buses<br />
North America. “The three <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass<br />
S 417 motorcoaches will carry Travel Plaza’s<br />
customers in luxury: from the ultra-comfort-<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 35<br />
able, premium <strong>seat</strong>s all the way through to<br />
the amazing views passengers can also enjoy<br />
through the large rear windows.” The<br />
Travel Plaza company was founded in 1979<br />
and now employs a staff of close to 100. Its<br />
fleet includes over 30 motorcoaches, minibuses<br />
and limousines. Every year, the tour<br />
operator carries 1.5 million passengers<br />
through Hawaii’s many islands. �
36 | <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> in Scandinavia:<br />
Exhilaration in the high North<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> is enjoying ever-increasing popularity in Scandinavia, as witnessed by these success stories<br />
from Sweden and Norway.<br />
upswing for <strong>Setra</strong> in the North of Sweden<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>’s success story in Sweden began in<br />
1977 as Ulf Carlsson took over the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
distributorship with his company Cartes<br />
Bussdelar AB. In the year 2000, the company<br />
became EvoBus Sweden which today<br />
employs a staff of close to 75. <strong>Setra</strong> sells<br />
close to 70 buses a year in Sweden – and<br />
the trend is increasing. This year saw a series<br />
of large orders placed in the challenging<br />
North Swedish market. Seven vehicles<br />
were delivered to the Molund company,<br />
seven more to the Cerisresor company, as<br />
well as three more to other regional customers.<br />
This represents quite a success<br />
considering how difficult it is to sell “normal”<br />
coaches in this thinly populated area<br />
where combination cargo buses tend to be<br />
the norm. With the S 417 UL, <strong>Setra</strong> offers a<br />
bus that can be equipped with a trailer, an<br />
attractive alternative to the classic combination<br />
vehicles. �<br />
Four new <strong>Setra</strong> coaches for “team tour”<br />
in Norway<br />
What a wonderful occasion to celebrate:<br />
for the company’s 60th anniversary, the<br />
coach delivery took place at the Customer-<br />
Center in Neu-Ulm. Along with team tour<br />
owner Jan Saatvedt, who personally took<br />
delivery of the four <strong>Setra</strong> coaches, several<br />
other lucky team tour employees were pres-<br />
ent at the event to greet the new buses.<br />
Herrmann Fröhlich, responsible for the<br />
Bus Weekend at RSA in Norway<br />
The Bus Weekend held in mid-April at Rute<br />
bileiernes Standariserings Aksjeselskap,<br />
RSA for short, was a successful event in<br />
spite of the ash cloud. Close to 80 bus<br />
operators attended the event which took<br />
place near Oslo. Tore Aasgaard, <strong>Setra</strong> sales<br />
representative at RSA, is thrilled with the<br />
success. “A number of visitors couldn’t<br />
make it to the event, due to the Iceland ash<br />
cloud, others were very busy filling in for<br />
stranded airplanes with their buses. Nonetheless,<br />
turnout at the event was great.”<br />
Norwegian export market, is delighted over<br />
the increasing success of <strong>Setra</strong> touring<br />
coaches in the land of fjords: “Drammen<br />
near Oslo is one of the most well-known<br />
operators of European tours and especially<br />
for sightseeing tours through Norway. With<br />
its total of 22-vehicle <strong>Setra</strong> fleet, team<br />
tours has made a solid contribution to<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>’s market leadership in touring<br />
coaches in Norway.” �<br />
The Bus Weekend’s highlight was the <strong>Setra</strong><br />
Qualifying event, where the two best<br />
drivers were selected from the 17 participants<br />
to represent Norway in the 2011<br />
Grand Prix: the 1st place went to Johan<br />
Haslestad from NH Turbiler, the 2nd to Einar<br />
Nielsen from Argentum Reiser.<br />
During the test drives, the new H bus and<br />
the S 416 GT-HD were very popular and<br />
their PowerShift transmission was highly<br />
praised during the friendly barbecue. �<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 37<br />
Welcome to the <strong>Setra</strong> Family<br />
Belgium: Autocars en Reizen Thor bvba, Aartrijke • Avanti Cars bvba, Koksijde • De Scheldevallei Reizen NV, Oudenaarde • Patro-Tours bvba, St. Niklaas •<br />
Bosnia: Autoprevoz, Banja Luka • Denmark: Bjert Busser, Kolding • Bur Mini- & Turistbusser, Vemb • Espergærde Turist ApS, Espergaerde • Hafnia<br />
Rejser Holbaek Aps, Holbaek • Germany: Alsleben, Nudow • Amann, Bermatingen • Arndt, Breitenbach • Ludwig Arzt Omnibusverkehr e.K., Seligenporten<br />
• Auer Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Rotthalmünster • Reisedienst Axel Backer GmbH • Reisedienst Begemann, Vlotho • Biermann Reisen GmbH &<br />
Co. KG Omnibusbetrieb, Osterburg • Binninger, Vörstetten • Birgels GmbH & Co. KG, Meerbusch • Franz Blattmann Omnibusuntern., St. Peter •<br />
BN Bus Betrieb Nieder GmbH, Berlin • Igor Boreicha Kompass-Reisen, Düsseldorf • Christian Borgmann CB Reisen, Greven • Buckreus Touristik GmbH,<br />
Wilhelmsthal • Bunk GmbH, Karlsfeld • Udo Burkert Omnibusbetrieb, Sehmatal • Buseck GmbH & Co. KG Reisebüro, Wetzlar • Däuble, Deckenpfronn •<br />
Der Reiseladen, Malsch • Carl Domberger GmbH, Augsburg • Reisebüro Uwe Dreßler, Heidenau • Düsentrieb, Berlin • Eckerl Reisen GmbH, Büchlberg •<br />
Eisinger, Herxheim • Erzig, Pluwig • Felix-Reisen Böke u. Niemeier GmbH, Kalletal • Fleischmann, Wiesenthal • Frenzel Reisen KG, Bremen • Anna Friedt<br />
Omnibusuntern., Goldenstedt • Fuchs, Ellenberg • Markus Fuchs Dienstleistungen, Vinningen • Gebhard, Heiligenberg • Gotthardt, Grunewald •<br />
Gottlieb-Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Essen • Grasmann, Hafenlohr • Günter Mende, Mela-Reisen, Berlin • Reiseuntern. + Bustouristik Eckhard Gürgens,<br />
Seebad Bansin • Ludwig Habermayr Busuntern., Neuburg • Häring, Postbauer • Harms Reisen, Südbrookmerland • Heinrich, Eppingen • Josef Held +<br />
Sohn Personenverkehrs GmbH, Buch • Omnibus Held, Lindenberg • Helmut Driessen, Gangelt • Herrmann, Marburg • Hipfner, Kümmersbruck • Holger<br />
Tours e. K., Mannheim • Josef Huber Reisen + Transporte, Babensham • Huber Omnibusuntern., Hohenzell • Hubert’s-Reisen, Hettstadt • Joachim Hügle,<br />
Großheirath • Doris + Egon Hümmer GbR, Röthlein • Husmann Reisen GmbH, Neuenkirchen • Jäger Reisen GmbH, Ilshofen • Josef Jörg Omnibusuntern.,<br />
Immenstadt • Julia Reisen, Rotenburg • Kaiser Reisen, Karben • Bus Kantic GmbH, München • Kauffmann Reiseunternehmen, Stühlingen • Kellerer<br />
Reisen OHG, Burgheim • Kirsch, Merzig • Oswald Kleinhenz GmbH & Co. KG, Gerolzhofen • Konrad Koch Omnibusuntern., Rohr • Kohler Reisen<br />
GmbH, Horgau • Wolfgang Kollerer Reiseverkehr, Bensheim • Kröger Reisen, Hans-Martin Kröger, Harsefeld • Holger Krüger Fahrschule u. Omnibusbetrieb,<br />
Großwoltersdorf • Kuhlmann, Großhabersdorf • Hans-Herrmann Lange, Lange Tours, Görzke • Albert Lankl Omnibusuntern., Geisenfeld • Launhardt,<br />
Rockenberg • Omnibusuntern. Günther Lehmann e. K., Falkenberg • Leineweber Autoreisen GmbH, Goch • Lenz Reisen, Berlin • LVM, Münster •<br />
Omnibus Martin GmbH, Pressig • Medenbach Touristik GmbH, Weilburg • Meier GmbH Omnibusbetrieb, Hemau • Meurer Reisen, Inh. Werner Meurer,<br />
Rösrath • Omnibusbetr. Heinrich Meuter, Wunstorf • Mörlein, Ingensbach • Harald Mühlhofer Busuntern., Gerzen • Müller, Bösingen • Nagel Reisen<br />
GmbH Omnibusbetrieb, Aichhalden • Nissen & Thomsen GmbH, Löwenstedt • Nordland Reiseagentur OHG, Süsel • Ostseebus, Seebad Ahlbeck • OVA,<br />
Aalen • Palmen Reisen GmbH, Baesweiler • Walter Pelz Mario Pelz Taxibetrieb, Schleiz • Perseus Reisen GmbH, Neumarkt • Pivotti VIP LINER Berlin<br />
GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin • Herrmann Popp, Au • L. Ranzinger Busuntern., Zwiesel • RBI, Isny • Martin Reble Omnibusuntern., Steinenbronn • Reicheneder,<br />
Wallersdorf • Reisebüro Kreger, Kassel • Reisedienst Hamburg-Nord Bossel KG, Hamburg • Rhein-Ahr-Reisen Waldforst GmbH & Co. KG,<br />
Boppard • Richter Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Erlbach • Riedel, Langenau • Schaber-Reisen GmbH, Ihringen • Schäpers Reisen GmbH & Co. KG, Rheine •<br />
Schefenacker Reise- u. Verkehrs GmbH & Co. KG, Esslingen • Dieter Schmidt GmbH Omnibusbetrieb, Marpingen • Schmidt Reisen Eberhard Schmidt,<br />
Döberich • Schneider, Röttbach • Schneider Reisen GmbH, Traunreut • Patrick Schuchhardt, Griesheim • Ludwig Schüssler GmbH, Pfungstadt •<br />
Herbert Schütt GmbH, Höchstadt • Singer, Au • Spratte, Waldeck • Benno Steinbrecher Omnibusbetrieb, Brannenburg • Steinherr Reisen GmbH, Dießen<br />
• Werner Steiof, Waldbrunn Reisen, Waldbrunn • Stoll, Schnelldorf • Strauss, Tettnang • Ströbel, Dietenhofen • L. u. W. Stumpf Nachfolg. GmbH &<br />
Co. KG, Künzell • Hans-Werner Süfke Taxen u. Busse, Kaltenkirchen • Reinhold Thiele Omnibusbetrieb, Eisenach • Thome-Bus-Touristik GmbH, Philippsburg<br />
• Tjaden, Norderney • Tuss Verkehrsges. mbH, Winterberg • Udo Bublitz, Fuldabrück • Unger, Mirow • Werner Vogel Omnibusuntern., Höchstadt •<br />
Omnibusverkehr Kornelius Vögele, Horb • Wahrenburg GmbH & Co. KG, Petershagen • Waibel, Landsberg • Walscheid, Dudeldorf • Omnibusverkehr<br />
Wangen Buchmann GmbH & Co. KG, Wangen • Wassmer, Klettgau • Weimar-Tour, Weimar • Omnibus Wengler, Tittmoning • Wintermayr GmbH, Langenmosen<br />
• Witt Reisen GmbH, Glasau • Wolfahrt, Amstetten • Zacharias Verkehrsbetrieb GmbH & Co. KG, Neuhausen • Thomas Zellner Omnibusuntern.,<br />
Eisleben • Franz Zenker Omnibus- u. Verkehrsuntern., Ichenhausen • Estonia: Alltours OÜ, Pärnu • Finland: Tilausliikenne Olli Ky, Kittilä • France:<br />
Transport Celin (Guyane), Remire Montjoly • Chevalier Autocar Orcieres/Chevalier Armand Voyages • Delannoy Philippe, Fère en Tardenois • Jaccon<br />
Voyages Sarl., Tence • Labat Transport, Le Relecq Kerhuon • Le Bris Voyages, Guipavas • Ste. Llrena, Hagenau • Lozère Tourisme, St.-Chely-d‘Apcher •<br />
Autocar Resalp, Briancon • Transports Robert Pierre (Guadeloupe), Capesterre • Villesot Voyages, St. Yrieix L. Perche • Voyages Querard, Bouguenais •<br />
Italy: Bennuzzi Bus Srl., Sasso Marconi • Buonavacanza • Charter Tour Srl., Catanzaro • Di Maio Giovanni, Calitri • Ercolan Travel Srl., Ercolano • Gaspari<br />
Viaggi di Gospari Guiliano + Co. Sas., Civago • Gazzani snc di Fabrio C. Poregliano, Veronese • Katia Tours di Panone Mafalda + Co. Sas., Legnano •<br />
La Terra Srl., Ragusa • Lumia Motori di Lumia Gianluca, Carpi • Mabb Srl., Sovere • Piertour Srl., Forio • Rocco Autolinee Srl., Lagonegro • Rossibus<br />
SpA, Roma • Saputelli Srl, Roma • Rauch Reisen KG, Sarnthein-Sarntal • Thaler Reisen OHG, Schenna • Turiscar Srl., Palermo • Viaggi Gulli` Srl., Catanzaro<br />
• Ireland: • Dublin Coaches, Dublin • Kasachstan: HC Barys, Astana • Latvia: JK Hockey Transport SIA Ainars Jekabsons • Netherlands:<br />
Rosta Tours/Kerckhoff • Russische Botschaft aus Den Haag • Norway: Aktive Fredsreiser AS, Risör • HKB Turbuss, Tretten • Nettbuss AS,<br />
Drammen • Per Arnes Bussreiser AS, Ingeberg • Sverre Haga AS, Hommersak • Tor Sverre Seglem as, Fyllingsdalen • Unibuss AS, Oslo • Austria:<br />
Arlberg Express Linienexpress GmbH, Klösterle • Franz Datzinger Autobusunternehmen, Hafnerbach • Fasching Ernst Busunternehmen, Birkfeld • Hagspiel<br />
Touristik, Hittisau • Kammerlander Reisen GmbH, Gerlos • Karl Tours Ges. mbH & Co. KG, Langenstein • Karlheinz Koller Autobusunternehmen,<br />
Deutschfeistritz • Mader Reisen Vertriebsges. mbH, Katsdorf • Hubert Müller Busunternehmen, Frastanz • Ewald Pötz, Taxi-Reisebüro-Busreisen,<br />
Vorau • Pura Lehrl Ges. mbH Autoreisen, Mondsee • Reichl & Felber GmbH, Autobusunternehmen, Gerersdorf • Rettenbacher Reisen, Werfen • Ralf Schlechter<br />
Autobus GmbH & Co. KG, Brixen im Thale • Hans-Peter Schober, Autobusunternehmen, St. Martin • Poland: Z. W. Drog-Bus, Paniówki • Centrum<br />
Szkoleniowo-Wypoczynkowe HALNIAK, Istebna • HELIOTUR Agencja Transportowa, Torun • Janosik Sp. z o. o., Rzeszów • Przedsiebiorstwo PKS Gryfice<br />
Sp. z o. o., Gryfice • PTS Transbis S. C., Myszków • Transport Osobowo-Towarowy, Raciechowice • Russia: FC Krasnodar, Krasnodar • HC Torpedo,<br />
Nizhny Novgorod • Switzerland: A.C. BELLINZONA SA, Bellinzona • Autobus AG Liestal Reisen, Liestal • Autocars Hertzeisen SA, Gloverlier • Brumann<br />
Reisen AG, Jonen • Compagnie des chemins de fer du jura C.J. • Domo Reisen & Vertriebs GmbH, Glattbrugg • E. Portenier AG, Adelboden • EUROBUS<br />
Knecht AG, Windisch • Hartmann AG, Emmenbrücke • Kurt Ebneter, Goldbach • Moser Reisen AG, Flaach • René Heiniger, Uster • Verkehrsbetriebe<br />
STI AG, Thun • Walter Wyss & Co., Boningen • Serbia: Allegro Tours, Kragujevac • Slovakia: Autobusova Doprava Stanislav Bohdan, Trnava • Slovenia:<br />
Avrigo, Nova Gorica • Autobusni prevozi Rizana d.o.o., Dekani • Czech Republic: Veolia Transport Ceska republika a. s., Praha • uK: Anderson Coaches<br />
(Castleford), Knottingley • Four Seasons Coaches, Leeds • Galloway European Coachlines Ltd., Stowmarket • National Holidays Ltd., Hull • Parrys International<br />
Tours Ltd., Walsall • Russian Embassy, London • Shearings, Wigan • Hungary: Zala Volan Zrt., Zalaegerszeg • uSA: Affordable Bus Charters, PA •<br />
All Aboard USA/All Points USA, TN • Brown Coach, NY • Cougar Bus, TX • Cross Tours, VA • Daniels Tours, GA • Dreamers Travel, AZ • Eastern, NY •<br />
Gotta Go Trailways, TX • Greene Coach, TN • I-Transit, FL • Lorvel Express/Tours, WI • Mayo Tours, LA • MBT Worldwide, NH • Scenic America, VA •<br />
Travel Plaza, HI • University of Virginia, VA
38 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
A close look at <strong>Setra</strong>’s safety concept:<br />
A journey with safety in the foreground<br />
To fulfil its “Best in Class“ brand promise, <strong>Setra</strong> does everything possible to meet the highest stand-<br />
ards of quality. <strong>Setra</strong>Family spoke with an automotive engineer at the Neu-Ulm production facility<br />
and a tour operator with a <strong>Setra</strong> fleet about how our premium brand addresses safety with buses<br />
that are innovative, trend-setting, and state-of-the-art.<br />
T<br />
he success of the <strong>Setra</strong> brand is<br />
based on six core pillars which all<br />
together bring <strong>Setra</strong>’s premium<br />
quality to life: cost-effectiveness, comfort,<br />
premium service and support, equipment,<br />
design, and safety. In the key area of<br />
safety, accident-free driving is one of the<br />
main objectives of the Daimler company<br />
and its brands. <strong>Setra</strong> of course has full access<br />
to the company’s technological expertise<br />
to make this goal reality. This high<br />
standard demands detailed knowledge on<br />
the part of the engineers on a bus’ different<br />
driving processes and situations encountered,<br />
as well as a well conceived<br />
strategy as to how the highest possible safe-<br />
ty standard can be achieved. Dr Michael<br />
Wagner, engineer at Daimler, explains the<br />
various perspectives from which <strong>Setra</strong>’s<br />
safety features are developed: “On the<br />
one hand, it’s about preventive measures,<br />
i.e. supporting the driver in his task, warning<br />
him in time on upcoming dangers and<br />
of course assisting him. Secondly, our systems<br />
ensure that if a situation does get<br />
critical, the vehicle reacts in a way to support<br />
the driver. Thirdly, we ensure protection<br />
should an accident be unavoidable.<br />
And we do everything to prevent the worst<br />
from happening and to help quickly.” This<br />
approach is adhered to strictly and ensures<br />
that all safety aspects are kept in clear focus.<br />
Continuously facilitating the driver’s job<br />
The driver’s job is far from being an easy<br />
one, and to ensure that he is relaxed and in<br />
control night and day, an ergonomically designed<br />
cockpit and intelligent driver assistance<br />
systems greatly contribute to the<br />
driver being ideally positioned to bring his<br />
passengers – relaxed and safe – to their<br />
final destination. Hans-Peter Christoph<br />
agrees with this completely. For him as a<br />
driver, the safety of his passengers is especially<br />
important, and as an operator, his<br />
commitment to his passengers’ safety is<br />
even more deeply felt. As a professional, he<br />
knows that there is an enormous difference<br />
between driving a <strong>Setra</strong> and driving another<br />
Dr Michael Wagner, 44, responsible for the<br />
development of driver assistance systems and director<br />
of the safety working unit at EvoBus since 2009<br />
brand. Michael Wagner is well aware that<br />
both the driver and bus operator count on<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>’s safety technology. “We therefore<br />
strive to further optimise the driver’s<br />
perception and access to all relevant information.<br />
For instance, optimised light and<br />
mirror systems ensure that the driver can<br />
see better. The operation and display concept<br />
is finely tuned to the driver’s needs.<br />
Radar systems and sensors are ready to<br />
kick in quickly in emergency situations.”<br />
Hans-Peter Christoph also clearly benefits<br />
from these innovations. “For the driver, a<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> is like a third eye”, he says, “it sees<br />
and feels along with the driver. It’s an incred-<br />
ibly good feeling to be able to rely on a bus<br />
like this, especially when situations get a<br />
little tricky.”<br />
How <strong>Setra</strong> implements safety<br />
Actively mastering difficult situations<br />
No matter how hard you try, there are times<br />
where difficult situations cannot be prevent-<br />
ed. This is why in critical situations, <strong>Setra</strong><br />
supports the driver in reacting as he should.<br />
“The greatest part of the driver’s attention<br />
is focused on his passengers’ safety”,<br />
knows Wagner. And this is why a number of<br />
safety systems are built in to warn the driver<br />
in situations where he hesitates and to<br />
support him in the case of an accident. “In<br />
our safety training programs we actively dem-<br />
onstrate the use of such safety features.<br />
Under controlled conditions we can make<br />
the driver aware of critical situations which<br />
shouldn’t even arise in everyday driving,”<br />
says Wagner.<br />
A comprehensive safety concept Examples of safety technology and safety measures<br />
Continuously facilitating the<br />
driver’s job<br />
Actively mastering difficult<br />
situations<br />
Ergonomically designed driver’s work station, operating<br />
comfort, optimised perception, light and mirror systems,<br />
assistance systems, communications on driver training<br />
ABS, ESP ® , ABA, SPA<br />
Hans-Peter Christoph, 52, bus driver and tour operator.<br />
Twenty years ago, he founded Avanti Busreisen<br />
Protecting road users Safety belts, Front Collision Guard, roll resistance<br />
ECE-R 66, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, rescue<br />
guidelines for drivers and rescue personnel<br />
The six key pillars of <strong>Setra</strong>’s success<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class | 39<br />
Protecting road users<br />
If in spite of all safety precautions, an accident<br />
does occur, <strong>Setra</strong> has taken every<br />
possible safety measure to minimise injury<br />
and damage. A perfect example of this is<br />
the Front Collision Guard (FCG) collision<br />
protection system. In the case of a frontal<br />
collision, it transforms impact energy into<br />
deformation energy, while creating a protected<br />
space for driver and attendant. This<br />
is a technology that never fails to excite<br />
both engineers and customers. “With the<br />
Front Collision Guard, you really feel that<br />
you have a guardian angel on board“, says<br />
Christoph, and Wagner adds: “The few centimetres<br />
his <strong>seat</strong> is pushed to the rear are<br />
critical for the driver – this technology is<br />
absolutely brilliant!” Following an accident,<br />
the priorities are to avoid the worst and to<br />
quickly save all bus occupants, and this is<br />
something we support while developing our<br />
vehicles. This includes equipping them with<br />
suitable emergency exits, and of course<br />
with devices such as fire extinguishers and<br />
emergency hammers, as well as comprehensive<br />
rescue guidelines for drivers and<br />
rescue personnel, as can be found on our<br />
Internet site. (www. setra.de/data/pdf/safety/RLF_SETRA_D_Web.pdf)<br />
�<br />
1. Comfort: the feeling of well-being without<br />
compromise that turns guests into friends<br />
and drivers into real <strong>Setra</strong> fans.<br />
2. Design: the distinctive and instantly recognisable<br />
classical bus design and the<br />
many details that turn every <strong>Setra</strong> into a<br />
masterpiece.<br />
3. Equipment: is what ultimately makes<br />
each and every <strong>Setra</strong> unique and opens<br />
up so many opportunities to turn individual<br />
customer wishes into reality.<br />
4. Premium service and support: a comprehensive<br />
concept that is available to<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> customers – anytime and anywhere.<br />
5. Cost-effectiveness: ensures that the<br />
pleasure of owning a reliable <strong>Setra</strong> lasts<br />
a long, long time and right through to its<br />
high resale price.<br />
6. Safety: reflects the well conceived and<br />
demanding safety technology and measures<br />
that guarantee the highest possible<br />
safety.
40 | <strong>Setra</strong> Individual <strong>Setra</strong> Family <strong>New</strong>s | 41<br />
The Netherlands: two <strong>Setra</strong>s for prisoner transport:<br />
Bodyshells instead of bodyguards<br />
The country-wide transportation company DV&O (Dienst Vervoer & Ondersteuning) in the Nether-<br />
lands has taken on a very special mandate. It serves a department of the Dutch Ministry of Justice<br />
which is responsible for prisoner transport logistics. But most recently it was strongly supported by<br />
two <strong>Setra</strong> bodyshells (S 417 UL with GT-HD customisation).<br />
T<br />
he Evolution company in Plattling,<br />
specialised in custom vehicle body<br />
work, successfully transformed the<br />
two <strong>Setra</strong> bodyshells into prisoner-transport<br />
buses. The buses feature a driver cabin with a<br />
driver’s <strong>seat</strong> and <strong>seat</strong>s for two attendants, as<br />
well as a cell compartment with 12 double<br />
and 4 individual cells. They offer enough room<br />
to carry 28 prisoners.<br />
The two <strong>Setra</strong>s will be used primarily for<br />
transporting prisoners. They will take on<br />
further security mandates at large events<br />
where unrest or even riot activity is expected.<br />
The 28 cell spaces will be used to<br />
pull the agitators out of the traffic for short<br />
periods of time.<br />
At one of the attendant’s <strong>seat</strong>s there is an<br />
operating panel for the prisoner cells which<br />
are all equipped with video supervision<br />
cameras. The bus also features a lavatory,<br />
a compact on-board kitchen, and a safe. It<br />
goes without saying that all equipment is<br />
made of very robust materials. But not only<br />
is the inside of the bus ideally conceived for<br />
safety and security, the bus technology<br />
also boasts top-class safety systems such<br />
as ABS and ESP ® . �<br />
Sightseeing in Berlin with the ComfortClass:<br />
A really funny tour<br />
Every Friday and Saturday evening there is a lot to laugh about in the German capital – when the<br />
ComedyTour departs from the Friedrichstadtpalast. The event organiser is the Harries GTC Group<br />
from Hamburg, who rents a <strong>Setra</strong> S 416 GT from Berlin’s BVB (Bus Verkehr Berlin).<br />
E<br />
ven as they enter the bus, many of the<br />
50 passengers can hardly contain<br />
themselves as Cem Ali Gültekin greets each<br />
and every one of them with a bold comment<br />
in his irresistibly funny Berlin dialect.<br />
Cem is a comedian and actor, part German<br />
and part Syrian, and the ice is quickly broken<br />
between the moderator and passengers.<br />
The group drives by Berlin’s many<br />
highlights, the Dome, the historical museum<br />
and the city palace. And Cem knows<br />
just how to entertain his guests with anecdotes,<br />
gags, parodies, and jokes, while at<br />
the same time conveying interesting<br />
information.<br />
“Oh, isn’t that just amazing!” Cem yells<br />
each time he sees an important historical<br />
monument as he begins a high-speed race<br />
to the back of the bus animating the guests<br />
to imitate him. “Oh, isn’t that just amaz-<br />
ing!” is then repeated by the 50 delighted<br />
passengers and the mood is dangerously<br />
good.<br />
Driver Ole Kaleck sits behind the wheel of<br />
his <strong>Setra</strong> with a smile on his face, skilfully<br />
manoeuvring his double-axle towards the<br />
Reichstag around tight curves and through<br />
roadworks. He is an employee of the BVB<br />
and seems to be having a lot of fun while<br />
driving the S 416 GT. “This <strong>Setra</strong> is a real<br />
eye-catcher. Everything about it is abso-<br />
lutely perfect”, he raves as Cem begins to<br />
entertain his guests with a popular German<br />
song at the Brandenburg Gate – which is no<br />
problem at all even on the outside with the<br />
bus’ advanced sound system and microphone.<br />
Once again arriving at the Friedrichstadtpalast,<br />
Cem bids his smiling guests<br />
good night. We ask him if he didn’t get just<br />
a little dizzy after an hour and a half facing<br />
the back of a moving bus. “Of course not”,<br />
he answers, “thanks to the ESP ® , the drive<br />
never gets wild.” Laughing, he claps the<br />
driver on his shoulder. “And Ole doesn’t either.<br />
With this bus he is always especially<br />
gentle.” �<br />
Tour begins: Fridays, 18:30 and 20:30,<br />
Saturdays, 20:30<br />
Length: ca 80 minutes
42 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> endurance testing in Turkey:<br />
A marathon of extremes<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class | 43<br />
Since 2009 <strong>Setra</strong> has been putting its buses and coaches through endurance testing in Turkey,<br />
where they are exposed to the most extreme climatic and geological conditions. The buses are de-<br />
ployed for a whole year and go through everything a bus could ever hope to be put through and<br />
more. <strong>Setra</strong>Family spoke with the man in charge.<br />
B<br />
efore 2009 the buses were tested<br />
in Germany. This took place<br />
with test drives that assessed<br />
individual components. Since then, the<br />
approach has changed considerably and<br />
today, using multi-faceted endurance testing,<br />
vehicles are tested in their entirety –<br />
and are thus more ideally equipped to fulfil<br />
<strong>Setra</strong>’s high standards. All of this endurance<br />
testing takes place in Turkey.<br />
Turkey – a Mecca for vehicle endurance<br />
testing<br />
Why of all places Turkey? Andreas Dingler,<br />
Head of Testing at <strong>Setra</strong> and responsible for<br />
endurance assessments, explains the benefits<br />
of this very unique country stretching<br />
over two continents: “Turkey’s extreme<br />
continental climate offers ideal conditions<br />
for endurance testing in extreme temperatures.<br />
Here in the summer it gets very very<br />
hot, and in the winter, extremely cold – and<br />
these are exactly the thresholds we need to<br />
test.” The extreme heat in Turkey represents<br />
the climatic conditions <strong>Setra</strong> customers<br />
experience in warm countries such as<br />
in the Mediterranean region, and the extreme<br />
cold represents conditions experienced<br />
in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.<br />
And because <strong>Setra</strong> buses should run perfectly<br />
in all countries, they are tested under all ultimately<br />
possible application scenarios.<br />
But it is not only because of the climate that<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> decided on Turkey for testing, as<br />
Dingler continues: “Over and above the extremes<br />
in climate, Turkey also fulfils the<br />
most varied road conditions with extreme<br />
inclines and declines, and with smooth asphalt<br />
all the way through to pothole-filled<br />
gravel roads. And these are exactly the<br />
challenges that are so important in bus<br />
endurance testing.”<br />
A year in continuous operation<br />
For endurance testing, a <strong>Setra</strong> is on the<br />
road for an entire year: over the three summer<br />
months in extremely hot zones where<br />
average temperatures are over 25°C, and<br />
have even been known to reach 50°C, and<br />
in the winter in extremely cold conditions<br />
ranging from -10 all the way down to -40°C<br />
and even lower. Three months in the spring<br />
and autumn, the buses and crews enjoy<br />
comfortable temperatures between -10 and<br />
+30°C. The extreme summer and winter<br />
temperatures not only put heating and air<br />
conditioning systems to the test, they also<br />
impact on the buses’ materials and technical<br />
equipment.<br />
Endurance drivers: testers with heart<br />
and soul<br />
Being on the road for a whole year, under<br />
the most challenging driving conditions,<br />
certainly isn’t for everyone. It’s not only<br />
hard on the bus, but also on its drivers.<br />
Each bus always has two drivers on board,<br />
who alternate with other two-man teams on<br />
shifts of 8 to 10 hours. Load and wear meas-<br />
urement testing takes place in the background<br />
and is then evaluated. “Most drivers<br />
come from the moderate climatic zones<br />
near Istanbul, where we test our buses for<br />
six months of the year”, explains Andreas<br />
Dingler, “so the guys can at least spend half<br />
a year, before and after their shifts, with<br />
their families.” For the other half of the year,<br />
they are either in the extreme summer heat<br />
of the Southern province Adana, or in the<br />
ice-cold extreme winter of East Anatolia.<br />
But wouldn’t that be really tough on the driv-<br />
ers? “Not really”, laughs Dingler, “our drivers<br />
don’t seem to feel that it’s all that difficult.<br />
These men are testers with heart and<br />
soul and they wouldn’t trade their jobs with<br />
anyone.” And, let’s not forget, they are on the<br />
road with premium buses from <strong>Setra</strong> which<br />
offer very comfortable driving temperatures,<br />
in spite of extreme exterior temperatures. �
44 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
From mechanics through to pensioners<br />
But what does a tester need to be made of<br />
to spend a whole year behind the wheel of<br />
a bus, day in and day out? And what makes<br />
for a good tester, what qualifications are<br />
needed? “Our test drivers should of course<br />
have a lot of experience and a passion for<br />
driving buses. As well, they need to understand<br />
the technology inside and out”, says<br />
Dingler. “Because no one wants to be stuck<br />
in the middle of nowhere in East Anatolia<br />
with temperatures of -40°C with a breakdown<br />
waiting for the Turkish ADAC!” “If you<br />
get to know the local drivers, you’ll meet<br />
testing mechanics of course, as well as<br />
people who have worked in production.<br />
And even early pensioners: former employees<br />
of the Turkish production facility who<br />
do endurance testing on the side”, Dingler<br />
comments with appreciation, “and who enjoy<br />
the opportunity to apply what they know<br />
so well.”<br />
Hardly any downtime<br />
The average deployment time of a bus during<br />
a year of continuous operation bears<br />
witness to the fact that endurance testing<br />
more than deserves its name. A bus will be<br />
in use from between 260 and 300 days a<br />
year and the rest of the time it will run idle.<br />
“Nothing less than a horror scenario for an<br />
engine”, as Dingler emphasizes. Of course<br />
it will end up spending a day or two in the<br />
service station. And then for a few days, it<br />
will be left alone. And with the engine off,<br />
all electronic equipment will be left on, to<br />
test what occurs when someone forgets to<br />
turn off a light or a radio, as has been<br />
known to happen. Another extreme scenario:<br />
during a bitter-cold night with temperatures<br />
of -40°C, all doors and flaps are left<br />
open, in order to cold-start all systems the<br />
next morning – quite literally.<br />
High demands placed on man<br />
and machine<br />
In a year of continuous operation, a <strong>Setra</strong><br />
will put in at least 300,000 km, as far as<br />
from Freiburg to Shanghai (see report on<br />
page 46). And along the way, over and above<br />
highways and country roads, the bus<br />
will follow mountain slopes of up to 20%<br />
inclines and declines during testing. The<br />
road surfaces also put our buses and drivers<br />
to the test. Especially in the winter, iced<br />
surfaces with deep potholes are a real challenge<br />
for both man and machine. This year,<br />
we put three North American versions of<br />
the <strong>Setra</strong> S 417 to the test. During endurance<br />
testing, over and above vehicle and<br />
component wear and tear, vehicle soiling,<br />
dust intake, and abrasive wear were also<br />
assessed.<br />
After this challenging a marathon of extremes,<br />
there isn’t much that can surprise a<br />
bus. Andreas Dingler is quite convinced: “If<br />
a bus can survive this kind of challenge, it’s<br />
guaranteed that under normal driving conditions,<br />
like the ones we experience here in<br />
Germany, it will reach the end of its service<br />
life quite unscathed. <strong>Setra</strong>’s legendary dura-<br />
bility is far from being a simple coincidence.<br />
It is the result of our heavy-duty endurance<br />
testing.” �<br />
Handicapped-accessible coach equipment:<br />
Buses without Barriers<br />
People with limited mobility also enjoy taking advantage of the many tour and travel offers available<br />
today. More and more operators have their <strong>Setra</strong> coaches customised with special equipment for<br />
handicapped travellers – such as Rauch Reisen in South Tyrol.<br />
D<br />
eveloping and implementing solutions<br />
to ensure optimised handicapped<br />
accessibility is just as<br />
vital to us at <strong>Setra</strong> as other types of coach<br />
customisation. The most common solutions<br />
used for barrier-free access to the passenger<br />
compartment are lifts that are installed<br />
in a variety of ways, depending on model<br />
and lift make. For some lifts a double-width<br />
door is required at the second entrance,<br />
where the lift would be mounted on the lowest<br />
step. A further option is to install the lift<br />
in the stowage area just behind the right<br />
driving axle or in the luggage compartment<br />
behind the front axle. <strong>Setra</strong> offers other<br />
types of special equipment as well. For instance,<br />
airline rails are available to secure<br />
the wheelchairs during the drive, while<br />
being a requisite to mounting flexible <strong>seat</strong>ing<br />
using a patented quick-release fastening<br />
device. A large lavatory at the rear of<br />
the vehicle is also possible, as well as a<br />
special device to transport the passenger<br />
<strong>seat</strong> to the lavatory. Additional, electrically<br />
powered loading devices also make sense in<br />
cases where the lift is used over extended<br />
periods of time while the vehicle is parked.<br />
A role model for barrier-free travel:<br />
Rauch Reisen<br />
Rauch Reisen, one of the leading tour<br />
operators in South Tyrol, has developed a<br />
new concept for barrier-free travel: “Buses<br />
without Barriers” or “BOB”. The success-<br />
ful operator purchased a <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 GT-HD<br />
after involving the customisation experts<br />
from <strong>Setra</strong> to ensure a fully handicappedaccessible<br />
coach. At the rear of the BOB<br />
coach, the lift platform for wheelchairs<br />
serves as a third entrance. In the passenger<br />
compartment, over and above the seven<br />
“normal” <strong>seat</strong>s, there are up to twelve<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Customised | 45<br />
spots for travelling in your own wheelchair.<br />
“The response to the new bus is very<br />
positive”, comments Managing Director<br />
Thomas Rauch with enthusiasm. “We have<br />
even gained new customers with the bus.<br />
Associations, clubs, or school classes can<br />
all travel together in a single bus, without<br />
having to order an extra vehicle for<br />
wheelchair users. And for us, it is a classical<br />
double-earner: with the standard<br />
<strong>seat</strong>ing, you can’t even tell that it’s a handicapped-accessible<br />
bus.” �
46 | <strong>Setra</strong> Best in Class<br />
An environmental Blue Angel and EEV without filter:<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> buses win points in environmental protection<br />
There are even more good reasons to opt for a <strong>Setra</strong> bus: on the one hand, the low-entry buses can now be<br />
delivered with the worldwide most successful “Blue Angel” environmental seal, and on the other, for all <strong>Setra</strong><br />
buses equipped with 457 LA/hLA engines, EEV without a diesel particle filter is now possible.<br />
T<br />
he “Blue Angel” seal is only given<br />
to products that are especially environmentally<br />
friendly both in their<br />
production and their use. Until recently, this<br />
applied mostly to consumer goods, which<br />
explains why the Blue Angel is so well recognised<br />
and appreciated by the general<br />
public. With the low-entry S 415 NF and<br />
S 416 NF buses, two successful <strong>Setra</strong> models<br />
now rank among Blue Angel products. Before<br />
the environmental seal is given, several<br />
criteria have to be fulfilled. These include<br />
exhaust emissions, low noise emissions<br />
inside and out, avoidance of materials that<br />
are harmful to the ozone, as well as low global<br />
warming potential from cooling agents<br />
and paints. Additionally, cooling agents and<br />
paints must be free of heavy metals and<br />
contain less than 130 g of solvent per<br />
square metre.<br />
The first two <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 NF buses with the<br />
Blue Angel seal have just been delivered to<br />
the Bingen Public Services, which thanks to<br />
the Blue Angel seal, are making a clear statement<br />
on their environmental consciousness,<br />
vis à vis passengers and the general public<br />
as well. The vehicles are equipped with Euro<br />
V-compatible OM 457 hLA engines, with a<br />
performance level of 220 kW. The 6-gear automatic<br />
ZF Ecomat transmission guarantees<br />
problem-free frequent starting up and slowing<br />
down, as is the case on routes with many<br />
stops.<br />
EEV now also possible without filter<br />
For future <strong>Setra</strong> owners, there is more good<br />
news: the voluntary EEV emission standard.<br />
Up until now EEV was only achievable<br />
with a diesel particle filter. From now on, it<br />
is also possible without a filter for many<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> models. This is achieved through decisive<br />
changes to the engine, such as injection<br />
nozzles, inlet connectors, and data set<br />
applications. The new label for EEV without<br />
Joachim Ebersmann (left), Head of Bingen Public<br />
services, takes delivery of the first <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 NF<br />
with a “Blue Angel” seal from Erwin Dangel, Sales<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Authorities Germany<br />
filter can easily be recognised with its green<br />
lettering. EEV is an abbreviation for “Enhanced<br />
Environmentally Friendly Vehicle” and<br />
is currently the most stringent European<br />
emissions standard for buses and trucks<br />
whose threshold values are still lower than<br />
Euro V, valid since 2009. EEV is a voluntary<br />
norm; the next legally binding Euro VI edition<br />
will become valid in 2014.<br />
A significant benefit of EEV is that it facilitates<br />
meeting the strictest eco-political<br />
requisites enabling, for instance, entry into<br />
large European urban centers. With the EEV<br />
without filter, bus operators also enjoy<br />
financial benefits such as lower fuel consumption<br />
and purchase price, since no<br />
additional costs such as maintenance, clean-<br />
ing, and upgrading are incurred for filters.<br />
There is also no worry with regards to loss<br />
of <strong>seat</strong>s, since the same <strong>seat</strong>ing as with<br />
Euro V is possible. As desired, EEV without<br />
filter can also be installed retroactively.<br />
Those who commit to <strong>Setra</strong> in the future not<br />
only fulfil the highest environmental standards,<br />
but can also count on having an<br />
“angel” on board in the case of the low-entry<br />
buses. �<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> bus stories:<br />
All about life with <strong>Setra</strong><br />
60 years of <strong>Setra</strong> and 100 years of expertise in coach and bus construction – on the occasion of these<br />
milestone anniversaries, <strong>Setra</strong> is collecting international stories about <strong>Setra</strong> from all over the world.<br />
e’re collecting stories – heart-warm-<br />
W ing, entertaining, spectacular,<br />
bizarre, funny, or beautiful – about things<br />
<strong>New</strong> e-mail newsletter:<br />
hether to read about product inno-<br />
W vations, personal news, awards, or<br />
upcoming events, you can now simply<br />
have <strong>Setra</strong> send you all important news by<br />
e-mail. The online newsletter will appear<br />
four to six times a year. Two issues have<br />
already been sent – and they have received<br />
very positive feedback. The newsletter<br />
is a great idea especially for readers who<br />
don’t have the time to regularly browse<br />
through the <strong>Setra</strong> website, looking for<br />
news. “Think about those drivers who<br />
you have experienced. Stories that deserve<br />
to be told. We’re not looking for worldchanging<br />
Hollywood dramas. Just those<br />
Updates for the <strong>Setra</strong> Family<br />
little everyday stories that move us, entertain<br />
us, or simply put a smile on our face.<br />
Stories of those experiences lived while on<br />
tour in a <strong>Setra</strong>, building or repairing a bus,<br />
or even buying or selling one. Stories that<br />
depict just how rich and varied the bus sector<br />
is. Maybe you witnessed a young man<br />
asking his girlfriend to marry him at the<br />
ServiceCenter. Or perhaps, a tour group<br />
landed in Budapest, instead of Bucharest<br />
as planned. Or maybe a <strong>Setra</strong> customer absolutely<br />
wanted a pink lavatory – and yes<br />
they finally got one. We’re calling on everyone<br />
with a <strong>Setra</strong> story to share it with us.<br />
Do you also have fascinating and unusual<br />
stories to tell? Simply write to us at kontakt@setra.de<br />
and tell us about your experience!<br />
�<br />
Since March 2010 <strong>Setra</strong> has been offering a new information service online: the <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>New</strong>sletter – an always<br />
current update of all relevant top news, happenings, and important dates of interest to the <strong>Setra</strong> Family.<br />
spend all day behind the wheel – the newsletter<br />
offers them an ideal overview of<br />
what’s new with their coach brand”, highlights<br />
Mareen Werner, who is responsible<br />
for the <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>New</strong>sletter in the Marketing<br />
team. Would you also like to be kept up to<br />
date with <strong>Setra</strong> news? Simply visit www.<br />
setra.de and click on “<strong>New</strong>sletter” under<br />
“Current”. All you have to do is give us your<br />
e-mail address and you can look forward to<br />
receiving your first <strong>Setra</strong> <strong>New</strong>sletter. �<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Individual | 47
46 48 | <strong>Setra</strong> Highlight Family <strong>New</strong>s<br />
Dolomiti Tours celebrates anniversary coach:<br />
Buon giorno <strong>Setra</strong>!<br />
The new TopClass 400 <strong>Setra</strong> S 416 HDH for Dolomiti Tours is the 2,000th HDH in its series.<br />
Congratulations!<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> anniversaries:<br />
„W<br />
hile travelling, I am overcome by<br />
a feeling of peace and safety.”<br />
This quote from Goethe on Dolomiti Tours’<br />
homepage has become a maxim for the largest<br />
bus operator in the Venetian region.<br />
Since 1999 it has been a large and very significant<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> customer in Northern Italy.<br />
Its complete fleet of touring coaches are<br />
from the <strong>Setra</strong> TopClass 400 series – so it<br />
only makes sense that they would take on<br />
the 2,000th TopClass HDH. Lothar Holder,<br />
Head of Sales at <strong>Setra</strong> Buses & Coaches<br />
EvoBus GmbH, handed over the anniversary<br />
Celebrating with the <strong>Setra</strong> Family<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> to the President of Dolomiti Bus S.p.A.,<br />
Dr. Pierdomenico Gnes. While doing so,<br />
Holder highlighted the very positive synergy<br />
offered by the collaboration of a very well<br />
respected operator with a manufacturer of<br />
high-quality coaches: “Ensuring that we are<br />
successful at meeting the high standards of<br />
this customer with extraordinarily attractive<br />
design is both a challenge and an honour for<br />
us at <strong>Setra</strong>”, he highlighted. A challenge<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> is pleased to take on again and again:<br />
over the ten-year partnership, Dolomiti has<br />
purchased 17 <strong>Setra</strong> coaches. �<br />
Just before 2011, <strong>Setra</strong>’s milestone anniversary year, where <strong>Setra</strong> will celebrate 60 years and 100<br />
years of coach and bus expertise, as well as 125 years of automotive history, let’s take a moment to<br />
look back at several notable anniversaries which took place over this past year.<br />
50 years for the Boeckels distributorship<br />
In April, brilliant sunshine was present to witness<br />
the 50th anniversary of the Boeckels<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> distributorship. Along with the ABA demonstration,<br />
vintage buses form the fifties<br />
and sixties also attended the celebrations.<br />
All profits taken in by the refreshment services<br />
offered at the event were handed over<br />
to the “Ein Herz für Kinder” charity, as a<br />
symbol for considerate and safe driving. �<br />
60 years for the Kossiek distributorship<br />
In January, the Kossiek distributor for East<br />
Westphalia and the Osnabruck region (Lower<br />
Saxony) in Bielefeld celebrated its 60th<br />
anniversary. On January 10, 1950 Erwin<br />
Kossiek founded the distributorship. It is<br />
now being managed by third-<strong>generation</strong> fam-<br />
ily members, son Peter, and grandson Thorsten.<br />
�<br />
20 years of <strong>Setra</strong> in East Germany<br />
In 1990 <strong>Setra</strong> began its East German sales<br />
activities in Leipzig und Berlin. Since 1997,<br />
distributors are located in Berlin, Dessau,<br />
Chemnitz, Erfurt, and Leipzig. As well, the<br />
OMNIplus service and support brand are<br />
present throughout the region with over 30<br />
service points for full coverage, 24-hour<br />
support of all <strong>Setra</strong> customers. �<br />
Avanti Reisen: From Freiburg to Shanghai with <strong>Setra</strong>:<br />
“Much too beautiful to just<br />
fly over!”<br />
The Avanti tour operator attracts many adventurous passengers with its unusual travel destinations. This<br />
year, the company travelled to China once again with the new TopClass 400 <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 HDH. The World<br />
Expo in Shanghai was only the last stop of the trip, since in the case of bus travel half way around the<br />
world, the journey itself is the reward. <strong>Setra</strong> journeyed through no less than eleven countries in 74 days.<br />
<strong>Setra</strong> Highlight | 49
50 | <strong>Setra</strong> Highlight<br />
H<br />
ans-Peter Christoph, Head of the<br />
Freiburg tour operator Avanti,<br />
knows what he is talking about<br />
when he refers to long-distance travel. He’s<br />
not thinking about the 900 km ride from<br />
Freiburg to Northern Germany. What he is<br />
thinking about involves a whole other dimension:<br />
for example 17,000 km to Shanghai.<br />
For him, travelling great distances in a<br />
bus is the most environmentally friendly<br />
and comfortable way to travel: “This route<br />
to Asia is much too beautiful to simply fly<br />
over it! Even after weeks of travelling in the<br />
bus, we’ve still got our noses pressed to the<br />
windows admiring the views!”<br />
After “shorter” bus trips to Iran, in 2008<br />
Christoph decided to travel a distance<br />
which had never yet been covered by bus<br />
before: from Freiburg to Peking for the<br />
Olympic Games – 16,000 km with a <strong>Setra</strong><br />
S 415 HDH. For Christoph, a victory for the<br />
bus as method of transportation: “I know<br />
that the future belongs to bus travel. And<br />
not only because of the opportunities to<br />
relax and slowly take in the many impressions<br />
along the way, but also because of<br />
the benefits in terms of climate protection.”<br />
Motivated by his first trip to China, this year<br />
on April 15 he once again left Breisgau in<br />
Southern Germany with 26 passengers and<br />
headed towards the Chinese Empire in<br />
a <strong>Setra</strong> S 415 HDH. This time the des-<br />
tination was the 2010 Expo in Shanghai, but<br />
the 74-day journey half way around the<br />
world with fascinating stops is in itself well<br />
worth the trip.<br />
Why he always chooses a <strong>Setra</strong> for his<br />
mammoth tours is very clear for the head of<br />
Avanti. After all, he needs a coach that he<br />
can fully rely on in terms of technology,<br />
robustness, and comprehensive safety<br />
package: “And, over and above all, <strong>Setra</strong><br />
offers the best comfort you can imagine for<br />
such a long trip through different climate<br />
conditions. Also decisive is the fact that the<br />
12.3 m long S 415 HDH is an extremely<br />
agile triple-axle vehicle – especially in<br />
unknown territory and at times very unwelcoming<br />
roads. It represents an amazing<br />
benefit.”<br />
For such great distances, the high levels of<br />
comfort and safety go a long way towards<br />
guaranteeing that the fun factor never gets<br />
lost along the journey. The high-quality<br />
Ambiente <strong>seat</strong>ing with five-star spacing<br />
between <strong>seat</strong>s ensures unmatched comfort<br />
and relaxation, and the high-performance,<br />
integrated TopAir air conditioning system<br />
guarantees perfect travelling temperatures<br />
at all times. Features such as the Adaptive<br />
Cruise Control (ART), Lane Assist (SPA),<br />
Continuous Brake Limiter and the Electro-<br />
nic Stability Programme (ESP) greatly facilitate<br />
the driver’s job. The S 415 HDH is also<br />
equipped with the patented Front Collision<br />
Guard (FCG), which comprises a front<br />
underride guard, an integrated absorber<br />
structure as crash component, as well as a<br />
module that pushes back the whole driver’s<br />
area in the case of a collision.<br />
The luxurious touring high-decker is e-<br />
quipped with a Euro V in-line six-cylinder<br />
OM 457 LA with a performance of 335 kW<br />
(456 hp) and a 6-gear GO 210 transmission.<br />
During the trip to China, the <strong>Setra</strong>’s engine<br />
ran for 354 hours, its average speed was 49<br />
km/h, and its average fuel consumption<br />
along the complete trip of 30,600 km was<br />
29.1 l/100 km. But it is not only the<br />
S 415 HDH’s technology that gives Hans-<br />
Peter Christoph the peace of mind to take<br />
on such a journey. Over and above the<br />
technological sophistication the S 415 HDH<br />
offers, the extensive service network<br />
offered by the EvoBus OMNIplus support<br />
brand also gives him the great feeling of<br />
being in good hands.<br />
The bus returned to Freiburg after no less<br />
than 100 days on tour. But not for long.<br />
Hans-Peter Christoph is already planning<br />
his next long-distance trip. Where this<br />
time? China, of course! �<br />
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