Rising success SOR Libchavy

RISING SUCCESS

The Czech bus and coach producer SOR Libchavy has been going from strength to strength. In 2015 the company achieved record sales of nearly CZK four billion, representing a 40 per cent year-on-year increase. What lies behind the success of Czech buses in international markets? Romana Moares asked the company’s managing director, Mr Jaroslav Trnka.

SOR Libchavy is the second largest manufacturer of buses and coaches in the Czech Republic.

The company has a long tradition of engineering production. Until 1990 its core business was the manufacturing of agricultural machines, but after the business was privatised in 1991 the focus shifted to transport and construction technology. The development and production of buses started in 1995, transforming SOR Libchavy into one of the current top players in its sector in the Czech Republic, with an increasing international presence.

An important milestone came in 2008, when the company’s production focus shifted to urban low-entry buses and it won a tender for the Prague Municipal Transport company. In the past 15 years or so SOR has delivered over 500 buses for Prague’s municipal transport and has also sold its buses in Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital, and other Czech and Slovak cities.

“In 2010, our attention was focused on alternative fuels used in public transport vehicles. We had produced CNG driven buses before but the alternative fuel vehicles portfolio was extended in 2010 to include trolleybuses, which we started to produce using the low-entry coach work, followed by electric buses,” says the managing director.

The company has been a holder of the 9001 ISO Quality Certificate since 2001. The SOR buses are continuously upgraded in terms of function and design, reflecting not just customers’ requirements but also rising safety standards and improving passenger comfort.

Competitive edge

Currently SOR Libchavy manufacture buses of 8.5m, 9.5m, 10.5m, 12m, 12.5m and 18m in length, designed for urban, intercity and long distance transport. They are equipped with engines meeting all EU environmental requirements. The customer may select the type of drive – either compressed natural gas (CNG) or electric. Both automatic and mechanical gearboxes are available, as well as independent axles, retarders, disk brakes, air-conditioning and other features.

The key advantages of SOR buses include low unladen weight, low average fuel consumption (14.5 per cent lower than that of other vehicles on the market throughout the vehicle’s service life), higher specific output and effectively designed vehicle interior, including the driver’s cabin.

All SOR buses are equipped with disk brakes on all axles. The lower part of the chassis structure is made from stainless steel profiles, and

the body shell is made from plastic materials. Stainless steel materials are used for the bottom part of the bus at places most prone to corrosion (underneath the vehicle floor, step plates, area around wheels, etc.). Parts subject to external stress are supplied by manufacturers guaranteeing long service life, including in harsh conditions. SOR buses are equipped with FPT (137, 150, 184, 210, 213, 235 and 243 kW) engines meeting the EURO VI standards.

Record year

In 2015 the company achieved record results – a total of 751 buses were sold. Sales increased by over 40 per cent to nearly CZK 4 billion. “Last year was one of the best years in the company’s history in terms of financial performance,” confirms the managing director. “Most financial indicators achieved the highest levels since the company’s establishment.

“The overwhelming majority of buses (450 in total) were sold in the Czech Republic, 124 were exported to Slovakia, 79 to Poland,

51 to Germany and 41 to Estonia. The remaining units were sold to Bulgaria and Switzerland. Low-entry articulated city buses accounted for the largest percentage of sales,” explains Mr Trnka. These buses utilise the maximum permitted length of 18.750m, which allows for an increase in the transport capacity of up to 161 passengers.

Large contracts included deliveries of buses for the Arriva Group Czech and Slovak Republics, Municipal Transport Prague, ČSAD Invest Group, Municipal Transport Bratislava and the delivery of 96 chassis for Škoda Electric.

Expanding to pastures new

About 42 per cent of the company’s total sales are generated in the export markets, particularly in Slovakia. Other key markets include Poland, Estonia, Russia, Denmark and other European countries. SOR has several distribution and service subsidiaries in Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

And it is in the export territories where the company’s management sees the greatest potential for further growth. According to Mr Trnka, SOR seeks to further strengthen its position in all of its current markets and gain more sales in Germany, where several SOR electric buses are already in operation. “The trend in western Europe is towards smaller buses, particularly in the peripheries, and this is where we will focus our efforts in the near future, so that we can fully utilise this new potential,” says Mr Trnka. “This will help us to achieve our strategic goal – to become a leading bus manufacturer in Europe, renowned for quality, reliability and customer service.” n

Vyva Plast