Rolling technology forward TZV Gredelj

ROLLING TECHNOLOGY FORWARD

Gredelj is a European railway rolling-stock manufacturer, which due to its continuous investment programme has evolved to become a major player in the rail vehicle construction industry. Philip Yorke looks at its remarkable progress and the innovative products that are winning it new contracts worldwide.

The railway rolling-stock company TZV Gredelj was founded in 1894 as the main workshop of the Hungarian State Railways for the repair and overhaul of its steam locomotives. Throughout its 120 years of operation the company has led the field in the design and manufacture of railway vehicles, as well as in their repair and modernisation. Despite some recent financial difficulties, the company is very positive about its future prospects and is running its business under new organisational systems and management protocols.

Since moving into its new state-of-the-art facilities in 2010, Gredelj has created one of the most modern plants in Europe and houses the latest, high-tech, robotic and quality control equipment. This major investment has enabled Gredelj to expand its operations further in the international marketplace. Today the company is fully certified to ISO9001 and ISO14001 and currently employs more than 1000 people, of which over 200 are highly qualified engineers.

New technology driving sales

With its new cutting-edge manufacturing facilities now fully operational, Gredelj is well placed to move forward with its plans for global expansion. The company’s priorities are to enter new markets and develop its partnerships with its customers and local companies, as well as optimising the utilisation of its modern production facilities. Together with its strategic American partner, the National Railway Equipment Company (NREC), Gredelj will focus on its export activities that relate not only to the design and production of all types of railway vehicles but also their reconstruction and refurbishment.

Currently TZV Gredelj manufactures a wide range of locomotives, passenger coaches and freight cars, interior parts, namely seats for railway vehicles, as well as electric and diesel multiple units. In addi-

tion, Gredelj produces complex mechanical structures, bogies as well as a variety of customised rail vehicles.

The introduction of new technology to Gredelj has helped drive the company’s global sales to new levels. In collaboration with its strategic partner the NREC, the company has delivered 30 locomotives constructed for the National Railways of Morroco (ONCF). This in turn has created a platform for the continued delivery of new advanced locomotives to the region and for the sale of vehicles and rolling stock to other African markets.

In addition to the locomotives produced for the Moroccan market, the company has also delivered a large number of modernised passenger coaches for Croatian Railways as well as a series of upgraded vehicles for the railways of Montenegro. Furthermore, Gredelj has delivered a number of dieselelectric locomotives for Kosovo railways and couchette railcars for the Italian State Railway company, Trenitalia.

Extending customer services and support

According to managing director, Mr Pero Hrkac, there are numerous on-going negotiations with many international railway companies. The company is particularly active where it already has a reputation for high-quality, cost-effective rail products and services. These potential export countries include markets such as Algeria, Iran, Indonesia and Turkmenistan.

Hrkac said,“Today Gredelj is proud of its high quality products and services and the fact that our locomotives, coaches and multiple units have all been designed in accordance with UIC and AAR standards. Furthermore, these are capable of running on all track gauges: narrow, wide or standard. Today our railway vehicles are transporting passengers and goods all over the world from Argentina and Guinea to Saudi Arabia.”

Hrkac added, “Our goal is to satisfy our clients’ demands and interests by extending our services and capabilities as well as being a competitive player that is represented on as many world markets as possible.”

Gredelj offers a diverse programme of design and production services that cover all types of railway vehicles, passenger coaches and freight cars. It also specialises in the production of low-floor trams, bogies and locomotive main frames. The company’s specialised customer services include the design and development of new technologies for surface protection and preparation, and for metal forming.

Specialised services are also offered on various machines and CNC machining centres and turning machines as well as shearing machines for steel plate. These services are in addition to laser and gas cutting machines and those for plasma cutting punching and bending. A wide range of training and consultancy programmes are also on offer at Gredelj.

Adopting greener processes

Gredelj is committed to minimising its global carbon footprint and continues to take steps to enhance its environmental protection systems and programmes. The company implemented the environmental management system ISO 14001 in 2004 and this was validated and extended in 2011. The education of its employees and the development of ecological awareness is an on-going mission of improvement at Gredelj. Quality testing of discharged waste water is conducted and analysed by an authorised external laboratory to ensure the prevention of contamination caused by waste and hazardous materials entering the water course.

As a part of INA, we produce and sale the following group of products:

• Oils and fl uids for engines and automotive applications • Industrial lubricants and related products • Metalworking fl uids • Corrosion preventives • Lubricating greases • Additional program • Additives We deliver out products in standard commercial packages as well as in bulk.

Our plant is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, as well as OHSAS 18001.

Commercial sector: +385 (0)1 2412 260 Technical support: +385 (0)1 2404 564 Showcasing the future

TZV Gredelj participated at this years InnoTrans, the leading international rail technology fair, held in Berlin from September 23 to 26, 2014.

At the exhibiting stand 401 in hall 1.2, Gredelj presented its products and services with special emphasis on the low floor DMU for regional transport produced for the Croatian Railways; and on locomotives which are being refurbished and modernized for different customers in cooperation with the longtime business partner, the US NRE – National Railway Equipment Company. n

For further details of TZV Gredelj’s rail vehicles and customer services visit www.tzv-gredelj.hr