Press releases

Knorr-Bremse boosts its high-speed business in China

October 17, 2014 [Knorr-Bremse Group]

Knorr-Bremse is to equip an additional 100 Chinese high-speed trains with bogie equipment. The signing ceremony for the agreement between Knorr-Bremse and vehicle manufacturer CSR Sifang was staged at InnoTrans 2014.

  • Looking forward to continuing successful collaboration (from left): Domingo Mendieta, Member of the Board Knorr-Bremse Asia-Pacific, Zhang Zaizhong, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CSR Sifang, and Sun Jiangfan, General Manager, LCRI. © Knorr-Bremse AG

“In the past, Knorr-Bremse has already received orders from CSR Sifang for bogie equipment for more than 5,000 high speed railcars,” said Zhang Zaizhong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CSR Sifang, a huge rail technology group, at the signing ceremony. “We are very happy with these systems, which is why we are again putting our trust in Knorr-Bremse for the 100 new CRH2 high-speed trains.”

“The new order is another major endorsement for our products from one of the world’s most important rail vehicle markets,” commented Domingo Mendieta, Member of the Board of Knorr-Bremse Asia-Pacific. “Through our strong local presence and the creation of extensive capacities we are in a position to ensure on-time delivery despite the very tight schedule and also provide full technical support through our engineers and field service teams.” All 100 new trains are to be manufactured in 2015. The bogie equipment will be produced at the Knorr-Bremse LCRI joint venture in Daxing.

Knorr-Bremse has been a major player in the Chinese high-speed rail market for several years now. Partnerships and trusting relationships with local companies have long been part of Knorr-Bremse’s strategic approach. Its first major project in China came in 1990 and concerned the supply of complete metro car braking systems for the Shanghai metro. In the years that followed, the division progressively expanded its portfolio to include entrance systems and HVAC systems. The Group won its first order to equip a Chinese high-speed train in 2005. Many more orders were to follow. Last year Knorr-Bremse was commissioned to develop and supply braking systems and bogie equipment for 540 Chinese high-speed trains.

At the end of 2013, the Chinese high-speed network covered around 13,000 kilometers of track. In the course of this year, almost 5,000 kilometers are due to be added. To keep pace with this growth the national rail operator China Railways is looking to expand its high-speed fleet short term, and recently placed an order for 100 new CRH2 trains with rail technology group CSR Sifang. With 8 production plants in China and a workforce of more than 3,200 employees Knorr-Bremse is operating on this important rail market.

The new trains are to be fitted with bogie equipment from Knorr-Bremse. The order covers 800 cars, each to be equipped with brake calipers and discs, plus high-performance ISOBAR sintered brake pads, capable of bringing the CRH2 safely to a standstill from speeds of up to 380 km/h.

Knorr-Bremse in China

Knorr-Bremse has maintained contacts with China since as long ago as the late 1970s. Today, including joint ventures, the Knorr-Bremse Group maintains 13 production plants in China for both its divisions. In 2013, a workforce of more than 4,000 employees helped the Knorr-Bremse Group to post sales of over EUR 750 million in China.

In the Commercial Vehicle Systems division the first joint venture was Hasse & Wrede CVS Dalian, China Ltd., which was founded in conjunction with Dalian Innovation Parts Manufacturing Company in Dalian in 2004. The subsidiary Knorr-Bremse Braking Systems for Commercial Vehicles (Dalian) Co., Ltd., was opened in 2005. This was followed in 2011 by Knorr-Bremse CAFF Systems for Commercial Vehicles Chongqing Ltd. With Knorr-Bremse DETC Commercial Vehicle Braking Technology Co., Ltd. the Knorr-Bremse Group is now in 2014 further expanding its commitment to the Chinese market.

 

Eva Doppler

Tel: +49 89 3547 1498
Fax: +49 89 4444 54193
e-Mail: eva.doppler@knorr-bremse.com

Knorr-Bremse AG
Moosacher Straße 80
80809 Munich
Germany

Copyright

Please credit “Knorr-Bremse AG” as the source when you publish our photos, which should be used for editorial purposes only. Please send us a specimen copy or a link to the relevant publication.



Share

Looking forward to continuing successful collaboration (from left): Domingo Mendieta, Member of the Board Knorr-Bremse Asia-Pacific, Zhang Zaizhong, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CSR Sifang, and Sun Jiangfan, General Manager, LCRI. © Knorr-Bremse AG