Members of Czech Railway Industry (ACRI) plan to invest over 5 billion crowns in innovations this year. In addition to product improvements, the money will go, for example, towards decarbonizing production, building energy independence, information systems, or cybersecurity.

"The railway industry is a driving force for research, science, and innovation. This is also thanks to its significant export orientation and the need to succeed in the most demanding competitive environment," said ACRI Director Marie Vopálenská. "Thanks to cutting-edge technologies, Czech companies are suppliers of complete products and components for leading players manufacturing high-speed rail vehicles," she added.

Individual companies in the Czech railway industry spend amounts ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of crowns annually on innovations. For example, Škoda Group is investing over 2 billion crowns in the research and development of new vehicles and technologies this year. "The Czech Republic is not just an assembly plant - the railway industry produces top-quality products with high added value," said Škoda's Vice Chairman of the Board, Tomáš Ignačák.

Investments in innovations and new technologies at the Bohumín-based company Bonatrans reach several hundreds of millions of crowns.  Bonatrans is the largest producer of railway wheelsets in Europe with 85 percent of its revenues coming from EU countries. Annual investments in innovation at Bonatrans are around 8 percent of revenue, which in absolute terms amounts to roughly 700 million crowns annually. Approximately 8 percent of revenue is also invested in development by BORCAD, a manufacturer of seats for rail vehicles.

Trinec Iron Works - Třinecké železárny this year aims to complete one of the largest investments in recent years in a specific product. They have spent a billion crowns on implementing the production of more durable rails, suitable even for high-speed lines.

"The introduction of new technology for heat treatment will culminate in the autumn, and it will be launched in November. The equipment will enhance the performance properties of wide-track rails. This will allow us to expand our product portfolio and offer products with a longer lifespan. The equipment developed by our engineers is based on the principle of intensive cooling of selected rail parts using air," specified Henryk Huczala, Technical Director of Třinecké železárny.

Source: https://zdopravy.cz/
CzechTrade Australia