Stadler

STADLER

2,000 SWISS FLIRTS WORLDWIDE

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STADLER

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PROFILE

Swiss company, Stadler, has built rail vehicle construction solutions for 80 years. Ralf Warwel, Sales Director, related the journey to Phil Nicholls.

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he Stadler story began in 1942, when Ernst Stadler founded the Ingenieurbüro Stadler engineering office in Zurich. The company began producing battery- and diesel-powered locomotives in 1945. 31 years later, in 1976, the business changed its name to Stadler Fahrzeuge AG on becoming a public limited company. It went public, with its shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange for the first time in 2019.

By 1984, Stadler produced its first passenger vehicle, while its core business was custom manufacturing for Swiss private railway companies. In 1989, the chairman of the board of directors and acting CEO, Peter Spuhler, bought the small Stadler company, consisting of only 18 employees. Peter laid the foundations for the company expansion with the successful development of Stadler’s first modular rail vehicle. In the years that followed, Stadler grew steadily, establishing partnerships and subsidiaries across Europe.

Stadler maintains its headquarters in Bussnang in eastern Switzerland. Today, it has a workforce of more than 13,000 at its various production and engineering facilities in Europe and beyond.

It also provides after-sales service in more than 70 locations around the world.

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2021 was a successful year for Stadler with record annual orders worth CHF 5.6 billion (approximately €5.4 million) up 28% on 2020. Despite a “tense supply chain situation” Stadler revenues increased by 18% to CHF 3.6 billion (€3.5 billion) and delivered group profits of CHF 134.5 million (€129 million).

Ralf Warwel, Sales Director, summed up the appeal of Stadler’s product lines: “Stadler trains are economical, rely on state-of-theart technology, and ensure maximum comfort for passengers. We produce high-speed and intercity trains, suburban and regional transport trains, light rail vehicles and trams offer ground-breaking performance, reliability and safety.

“Our product portfolio includes modular vehicle concepts, tailormade vehicles and a full range of signalling solutions and services, worldwide, around the clock.” Ralf pointed out that Stadler also provides an after-sales package to clients: “Most of our rolling stock projects are supported by a service/maintenance contract, many lasting 35 years.”

Ralf discussed Stadler’s best-selling train, the FLIRT, which stands for Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train. Alongside this product, Stadler’s regional train line includes the double-decker

STADLER

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PROFILE

KISS and the WINK, a low-floor, convertible, innovative short train for local transport.

Stadler produces the FLIRT 200, a high-speed version with a maximum speed of 200 km/h. However, its mainstay is the FLIRT 160, with a maximum speed of 160 km/h. This single-decker regional train was launched in 2004 and has sold 2,000 units in 21 countries. The FLIRT operates in a range of climates, from Africa to the Arctic Circle.

Ralf noted the appeal to clients of the highly customisable FLIRT package: “They can be easily adapted to battery technology, which can be accommodated in a separated power-pack or distributed underfloor and on the roof. The typical Stadler power-pack is an intermediate module that can be inserted between two cars to accommodate a range of different energy sources. This way, the FLIRT can also be powered by electric, diesel or hybrid, as well as by using batteries and hydrogen. Its lightweight construction is made of aluminium, and features maintenance-friendly devices and components to keep operating, energy, and maintenance costs low.”

Signalling the future Stadler has many projects underway at any one time. Ralf referred to the recent acquisition of the German signalling specialist company BBR Verkehrstechnik GmbH as a project which best illustrates Stadler’s capabilities. This addition will enhance its position as a provider of state-of-the-art signalling solutions to drive forward and shape the digitalisation of the rail industry.

Before this acquisition, Stadler’s focus for signalling activities had been the on-board equipment of rail-bound vehicles. The company had already strengthened its position in this area with the acquisition of the Swiss company Bär Bahnsicherung AG in November 2021. At the beginning of this year, Stadler created a new division for its entire signalling portfolio.

BBR brings infrastructure-related solutions such as electronic interlockings, train detection systems and points operating equipment to Stadler. Existing BBR product lines also include on-board equipment for rolling stock manufacturers and development work, particularly in the areas of interlockings, train protection and component retrofits.

BBR employs around 270 people at its headquarters in Braunschweig, central Germany, and at its factory in Vufflens-laVille near Lausanne in western Switzerland, which will be maintained by Stadler. Now, more than 500 people work within Stadler’s signalling division.

The acquisitions of BBR and Bär Bahnsicherung demonstrate Stadler’s ambitions in the field of signalling, strengthening its portfolio with another strategic pillar. Rail digitalisation promotes sustainable mobility, supporting 2050 climate targets. The new signalling portfolio enables Stadler to actively shape the digitalisation of the rail industry, positioning it at the forefront of innovation within this field.

Investing in people Ralf was very clear about what sets Stadler apart from the competition: “Stadler prides itself on its attention to detail, customer-focused approach, innovation, and the value for money our products represent. Above all, we are proud of our ability to listen, ensuring that clients receive the vehicles and services that exactly meet their requirements.”

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As well as close partnerships with clients, Stadler has a similar collaborative approach with suppliers.

“Stadler invests in its relationships with suppliers and works hard to build long-lasting links with them,” Ralf explained. “The nature of our work means that we can be working with a particular supplier on a certain project for several years, so it makes sense for everyone – not least our clients – that these relationships are highly effective.”

Green rail The trend within the rail industry towards sustainability is clear to Ralf: “As the demand for more environmentally-friendly products goes up, and in light of more stringent carbon emission targets, Stadler is committed to working with clients to de-carbonise rail networks around the world. With a keen focus on innovation, we aim to go beyond regulatory requirements, ensuring that our products have the lowest carbon footprint that today’s green technology allows.

“Stadler has a two-pronged approach to de-carbonising the railway.

First, we make electric trains more attractive and efficient, and second, we develop efficient solutions for railways that are not electrified yet.”

An example alternate solution is the hydrogen-powered FLIRT H2 sold to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) in southern California. The FLIRT H2 can operate at up to 130km/h with 108 seated passengers. The trains are scheduled for delivery in 2024 to run on the Redlands Passenger Rail Project, a nine-mile connector between Redlands and San Bernardino’s Metrolink station.

“Electrification is still the greenest way of operating a railway,” Ralf said. “However for lines with low patronage, it makes economic sense to operate battery trains or trains with other types of energy storage.”

Stadler has sold over 300 battery trains to nine different countries. In December last year, Stadler set a new world record with its FLIRT Akku, which travelled more than 220km in battery-only mode, the longest distance on record and covered in the Guinness World Records book.

“Battery trains produce lower carbon emissions than diesel trains,” Ralf continued, “They are more energy efficient and provide a very attractive alternative to diesel. Battery power enables the operator to run trains on an extended network and offer a fantastic solution for non-electrified lines, avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades for transport organisations and governments.”

Like all international organisations, Stadler is influenced by global events. “The pandemic affected businesses and institutions in every country,” said Ralf, “and segued into the current volatile geopolitical situation. Stadler is trying hard to mitigate some of the global supply chain problems, finding workarounds where possible and working closely with clients to achieve this.”

Ralf concluded by offering a positive outlook on the company’s future: “At Stadler, we maintain close relationships with both suppliers and clients, and have a policy of openness and transparency. Nearly all of our customers are regular or repeat customers, indicating the effective, trustworthy and durable nature of Stadler’s relationships.

“Stadler wants to maintain its position to provide sustainable rolling stock solutions, enabling our customers to decarbonise the railway and achieve their climate targets.” n Inside Industry

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