Knorr-Bremse Expands “Quiet” Rail Brake Portfolio

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Source: Knorr-Bremse announcement

Munich – Knorr-Bremse, a global market leader for braking and other systems for rail and commercial vehicles, has introduced freight-car brake blocks for the original equipment manufacturer market designed for quieter performance than existing brakes.

At its Pamplona plant in Spain, the company has begun volume-production of its Problock J816M brake blocks for freight cars. With these “whisper brakes” Knorr-Bremse will now provide low-noise brake blocks to the OEM freight car market which follows the company’s aftermarket low-noise, low-friction brake block for fleet modernization measures.

“We are pleased to say that with this volume-production brake block for new freight cars we are making a further contribution to much quieter braking in the rail freight sector,” said Dr. Nicolas Lange, Chairman of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems, who is also responsible for the company’s activities in Spain. “This product represents a key strategic addition to our portfolio: On the one hand, it provides us with new opportunities to access market share in the OEM sector. And on the other, it cements our position as a system partner and one-stop shop for freight car brake equipment and maintenance.”

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Quieter brakes: good news for trackside residents; market access for Knorr-Bremse.

As part of the braking system, when the brakes are applied the blocks act directly on the wheels to reduce the speed of the vehicle. With the Problock J816M, Knorr-Bremse is helping to further reduce the noise generated by this process.

Made from composite materials, the new brake blocks help to reduce braking noise by up to 10 dB(A) compared to conventional gray cast iron blocks. This means that the noise level is only half as loud to the human ear.

Among those to benefit from these “whisper brakes” are people living in the vicinity of the shunting yards and tracks used by freight trains.

Since 2005, new freight cars in the EU have been required to comply with lower noise limits and are fitted with composite brake blocks. Against the backdrop of growing demands for quieter operation in the freight sector, the Problock J816M offers Knorr-Bremse promising oppportunities in the marketplace. Delivery of the first consignments to a major operator in a German-speaking country commenced in May 2020, under a supply contract worth a six-figure euro sum.

Knorr-Bremse: full-line supplier of quieter and lighter freight train brake blocks.

The entire announcement can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Mike Geylin
Mike Geylin

Mike Geylin is the Editor-in-Chief at Hagman Media. Geylin has been in automotive communications for five decades working in all aspects of the industry from OEM to supplier to motorsports as well as reporting for both newspapers and magazines on the industry.