Mumbai: Siemens Rolling Stock Pvt. Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Siemens Ltd, has set up a greenfield facility for manufacturing railway bogies at Aurangabad, Maharashtra with an initial investment of Rs. 200 crore. The factory will manufacture bogies for locomotives, passenger coaches, electric multiple units and metros.
It has the capacity to manufacture about 800 customized bogies per annum, with scope for expansion to suit the market requirement. It has been set up in technological collaboration with the Siemens AG bogie facility at Graz, Austria. Spread over an area of 15 acres, this is India's first dedicated bogie plant.
With this world-class manufacturing facility, Siemens will provide the latest bogie solutions for Indian as well Asian markets. The new facility has the required capacities and capabilities to produce high performance bogies for locomotives, passenger coaches, EMUs and metros.
The range will include metro bogies with 18 tonnes axle load with speed upwards of 80 kmph, bogies for local trains with 21.5 tonne axle load with maximum speed of 130 kmph, bogies for high speed trains with a speed range of 350 kmph, high comfort bogies for passenger coaches with speed upwards of 160 kmph and high axle load locomotive bogies.
The bogies manufactured with the high-end technologies and top grade steel, meet the European standards i.e. EN norms and will have a minimum codal life of 25 years and a lower life cycle cost. This factory has been designed in harmony with Siemens’ approach to incorporate eco-friendly, sustainable practices at its facilities.
"Our new plant at Aurangabad was envisaged, keeping in mind the tremendous growth potential of the Indian Rail infrastructure segment. India has emerged as the preferred destination for us, as we continue to build and bring technology-intensive manufacturing plants of international standards to India. This bogie factory is the first outside Europe and US, and it enables us to offer our customers localized products at highly competitive rate," said Dr Armin Bruck, Managing Director, Siemens Ltd. Siemens Ltd., in which Siemens AG holds 55.18% of the capital, is the flagship listed company of Siemens AG in India.
The factory will provide direct employment to about 250 people and indirect employment to about 1,000 people.
Bogies form a part of the undercarriage of the coach and consist of a bogie frame, wheels, axles, suspension systems and brake equipment, etc. Usually two bogies are fitted to each carriage, wagon or locomotive, one at each end. They are primarily responsible for the ride quality, safety and comfort of the passengers on board. |
