Bombardier Transportation inaugurates new assembly hall in Germany
Bombardier Transportation has inaugurated a new €8m assembly hall in Bautzen, Germany.
The new production hall was built to manufacture up to 600 cars a year. It can produce three different types of vehicles simultaneously, from regional and intercity trains to suburban and underground trains, as well as trams.
Bombardier Transportation’s new hall can save around €1m per year in logistics, energy and maintenance costs.
The hall has a total 8,100ft² of factory floor space and around 500 employees.
Around 5,000m3 of concrete and 1,300 tonnes of steel were used in the new building. About 24km of electrical cables and 568 lighting fixtures were installed.
Over time, Bombardier has invested nearly €30m in the Bautzen location.
Saxony Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer said, “Today is a good day for Bautzen and Upper Lusatia. The investment now planned will secure 1,000 jobs here at Bombardier and many more for the suppliers in the region. I am grateful to the company for its clear commitment. We have been through some difficult negotiations and some very uncertain times.
“The new hall and modern Industry 4.0 production mark the start of a new era at the traditional 170-year-old Bautzen site.”
“I am very grateful to all those who supported the retention of the plants in both Bautzen and Görlitz. Now, the focus is on creating favourable prospects for the Görlitz plant as well, because the potential that exists there is not yet exhausted.”
Saxony Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Dulig said: “Today’s hall inauguration will send a positive signal to the employees and represents an important step in repositioning and securing the two Saxony sites. The goal here is to set future standards for Industry 4.0 production in the railway industry.
“We want to bolster the initiative for more Industry 4.0 at Bombardier’s Bautzen site, and ensure efficient logistics. This was announced exactly one year ago here by Federal Minister Brigitte Zypries and myself, and we deliver on our promises. The Free State will support the new construction of the Spree Bridge, and the expansion of the municipal access road with development funds.
Bombardier Transportation in Germany head Michael Fohrer said: “The new hall and modern Industry 4.0 production mark the start of a new era at the traditional 170-year-old Bautzen site.
We are investing in, and establishing, a competence centre for the series production of regional and intercity trains, as well as commuter and metro trains and trams. These are powerful arguments for the plant’s bright and promising future.”
Bombardier Transportation offers rail solutions ranging from trains to sub-systems and signalling. The company also provides complete transport systems, e-mobility technology and maintenance services.
