Source: Wabtec
BOCHUM, Germany — Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) celebrated the groundbreaking of a 20,000-sqm, state-of-the-art green factory for developing and manufacturing brakes, as well as maintaining brakes and couplers for transit vehicles.
Once complete, the new facility in Bochum will be a DGNB Gold-certified property, in recognition of its sustainable and innovative design
“This new building represents a major investment into Wabtec’s capabilities and expertise to deliver green, business-critical products and services for our customers,” said Lilian Leroux, President of Wabtec’s Transit segment. “It will be an environmentally-friendly facility focused on producing a variety of transit braking solutions, including segmented and conventional disc applications and brake control systems for customers around the world.”
“We are excited to break ground on this new facility and leverage our deep history in Germany to bring breakthrough technologies to the industries we serve,” said Dr. Christopher Antes, President Transit Brakes & Safety. “This new facility will provide the space we need to deliver the highest standards of productivity and quality, as well as a future-oriented working environment for our employees. It also is centrally located near Bochum’s universities and rich engineering talent pool.”
Upon completion in the third quarter 2020, the nearly 34,000-square-meter (m2) site will have a production area of 9,200 m2, a storage area of 5,100 m2 and 5,600 m2 of office space.
The facility is being built by the investor and project developer Panattoni Europe. Designed with sustainability at its core, Wabtec’s site will include a green roof on the administration building, make use of geothermal heating, intelligent light control, photovoltaics as well as offering loading stations for e-cars and -bikes, thus reducing its ecological footprint.
The new site will be part of the new 70 ha center of knowledge for industry and technology MARK 51/7, the redevelopment company Bochum Perspektive 2022 is setting up.
About Wabtec
Wabtec Corporation is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for freight and transit rail. Drawing on nearly four centuries of collective experience across Wabtec, GE Transportation and Faiveley Transport, the company has unmatched digital expertise, technological innovation, and world-class manufacturing and services, enabling the digital-rail-and-transit ecosystems. Wabtec is focused on performance that drives progress, creating transportation solutions that move and improve the world. The freight portfolio features a comprehensive line of locomotives, software applications and a broad selection of mission-critical controls systems, including Positive Train Control (PTC).
The transit portfolio provides highly engineered systems and services to virtually every major rail transit system around the world, supplying an integrated series of components for buses and all train-related market segments that deliver safety, efficiency and passenger comfort. Along with its industry-leading portfolio of products and solutions for the rail and transit industries, Wabtec is a leader in mining, marine and industrial solutions. Wabtec has approximately 27,000 employees in facilities throughout the world. Visit the company’s new website at: www.wabtec.com.
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