The new Alstom Transport site in Tarbes-Séméac in France was inaugurated on April 5, 2012 in the presence of Martin Malvy, President of the Midi-Pyrénées Region, Gerard Trémège, President of the Urban Community of Grand Tarbes and Mayor of Tarbes, Patrick Kron, Chairman and CEO of Alstom, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Transport and Christophe Florin, Site Director.

The Tarbes-Séméac plant specialises in power modules, equipment and traction systems for very high-speed trains, locomotives and regional trains. In 2009, Alstom launched an extensive renovation of the site, where it has been established since 1921. The overall cost of this industrial investment totals €21 million. Work began in December 2009 and was completed in December 2011.

By reorganising the Tarbes site and its production processes, Alstom has been able to improve productivity, significantly reduce its operating costs and step up the competitiveness of its industrial base. Improvements in space management have shortened the time spent on handling operations, making assembly lines much more flexible.

The new buildings all comply with France’s RT 2005 regulations[1] and the initial targets for reducing energy costs were already met by the beginning of 2012. Gas consumption has been cut by 60%, and in due course, the electricity bill should be reduced by 25%. To achieve these goals, fewer buildings are now being used and they have been fitted with better thermal insulation, as well as cutting-edge technology electrical equipment (centralized automatic air conditioning and heating, double-flow mechanical ventilation re-using 80 % of the energy evacuated).

In addition, Alstom has contracted EDF Energies Nouvelles to build and operate a 5,000 sq. m. roof-mounted photovoltaic power plant providing clean, renewable energy equivalent to 775 MWh/year.

All these developments contribute to the overall improvement of working conditions for all site staff. Each new position created has been optimised in terms of safety and communication between teams, helping to increase productivity and achieve optimal working conditions.