Bombardier Honoured by Switzerland for Investment in Product Development
(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Berlin – October 27, 2011 – Rail technology leader Bombardier has received the Tell Award for the most significant technology project in Switzerland in recognition of its product development for BOMBARDIER TWINDEXX Swiss Express intercity trains and the BOMBARDIER MITRAC propulsion and control system. The award by Switzerland Trade and Investment Promotion is named after the Swiss folk hero William Tell. Switzerland’s Ambassador to the United States, Manuel Sager, presented the award to Alfred Ruckstuhl, President, Board of Directors, Bombardier Transportation (Switzerland) Ltd., during a ceremony in Washington DC on Wednesday, October 26.
The Tell Awards annually recognize the most significant foreign investment projects from the Americas region into Switzerland during the previous year. Bombardier is the largest Canadian investor in the country and among its top 20 technology companies, employing 900 people at three sites, in Zurich, Villeneuve and Winterthur. In June 2010, SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) placed the largest vehicle order in its history with Bombardier for 59 TWINDEXX double-deck intercity trains, including options for more than 100 additional TWINDEXX trains.
“This coveted Tell Award for innovation recognises Bombardier’s investment in rail technologies of the future,” said Stéphane Wettstein, Chief Country Representative in Switzerland for Bombardier Transportation. “Our TWINDEXX double-deck trains and MITRAC propulsion and control system form the backbone of future intercity travel on the Swiss Railways. At a time when economically sustainable and environmentally responsible transport solutions are at the fore of global investment thinking, Bombardier Transportation is leading the way as a rail technology innovator.”
“The award underlines our local presence in key markets as well as our pivotal role in the continued success of Switzerland’s innovative rolling stock industry,” he added. “Our highly dedicated and professional employees across Switzerland underpin this success and share our pleasure at this recognition.”
TWINDEXX Swiss Express trains offer more capacity, higher speed in curves, better comfort and lower life cycle costs. The 59 trains ordered by SBB consist of a total of 436 fully air-conditioned carriages with more than 36,000 seats. They offer spacious interior compartments, wide doors for entry and exit, wireless internet access, restaurant and family compartments, as well as electronic customer information and emergency call systems, and CCTV. The train concept was developed by Bombardier Transportation’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) for double-deck technology in Görlitz, Germany.
The trains’ MITRAC propulsion and control system including the Permanent Magnet Motors contribute not only to the economical life cycle costs and low ecological impact of the trains but also to their excellent performance. In combination with further BOMBARDIER ECO4 technologies such as the ThermoEfficient Climatization System and the Energy Management Control System, these technologies enable energy savings of up to 10% while more than doubling the installed traction power. In 2009, Bombardier opened its new MITRAC Powerlab in Zurich to serve as the CoE for high power propulsion technology.
The innovative BOMBARDIER FLEXX Tronic WAKO system compensates the natural roll movement of the carbody maximizing comfort for passengers and at the same time allowing the train to take curves more quickly. This mechatronic technology, merging proven technical components into an innovative system, enables double-deck intercity trains to increase their speed in curves by 15%, thus significantly reducing travel times. Thanks to Bombardier’s innovative technology, SBB will save more than 1 billion Swiss francs in infrastructure upgrades to reduce travelling times between the railway hubs Lausanne and Bern as well as Zurich and St. Gallen. The FLEXX Tronic WAKO system was developed by the Bombardier CoE for bogie design in Winterthur in cooperation with other Bombardier bogies engineering centres in Europe.
About Bombardier Transportation Switzerland
Six companies from the traditional Swiss rail industry merged to form today’s Bombardier Transportation in Switzerland. These have a history of rail transportation dating back 150 years. In Switzerland, Bombardier develops and manufactures commuter and regional transport trains as well as suburban rail vehicles and trams. Zurich is also the location of the international group's headquarters for development, engineering and project management for the production of electric locomotives. Zurich is also the corporate Centre of Excellence for propulsion and control technology for locomotives and high speed trains. Winterthur is a Centre of Excellence for the development of bogies. Bombardier's Villeneuve factory is the only rail production site in the French speaking part of Switzerland.
About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. Bombardier ECO4 technologies – built on the four cornerstones of energy, efficiency, economy and ecology – conserve energy, protect the environment and help to improve total train performance. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and has a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, were $17.7 billion, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
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