Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation today officially launched the construction of a new Bogie[1] Technical Centre in Siegen, Germany. Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc., and André Navarri, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Transportation, took part in laying the foundation stone at Bombardier’s Siegen bogie production site.

Local politicians and representatives of the universities of Siegen and Aachen, Germany, joined Bombardier employees involved in the project to celebrate this achievement. The new centre of excellence is due to begin operations by mid-2014. The site will bring together Bombardier’s engineering experts with the necessary tools and means to continue to develop and test the
FLEXX bogie portfolio to better fulfill customer requirements, in particular in terms of strict certification and homologation processes.

Pierre Beaudoin said: “The Bogie Technical Centre is a significant investment for Bombardier. We are dedicated to our customers and the new Centre will give us the means to meet our customers’ needs now and in the future by expanding and further improving our FLEXX bogies portfolio.”

André Navarri added: “Bogies are a core competence of Bombardier and play a crucial role in all our rail vehicles, from trams to very high speed trains. The Bogie Technical Centre will create the perfect environment for innovation, allowing Bombardier to test innovative ideas and strengthen its future competitiveness.”

The Siegen site will form a unique production and innovation hub. It will comprise Bombardier Transportation’s bogies headquarters, the new Bogie Technical Centre, the existing final assembly area, Wheelset Centre and crash repair and overhaul centre.