Interview Spotlight: Gerd Aurich

What products/solutions can Voith Turbo Scharfenberg offer the European railway marketplace?

Based on standardised modular components, Voith Turbo Scharfenberg has made its mark as a system provider of energy absorbing components for trains. Our product range covers automatic and semi-permanent couplers, impact protection modules and crash buffers, up to complete train front-end systems includ – ing kinematics and control units. The whole production process takes place at the Salzgitter site in Germany. The result: Perfectly matched modules of constantly high quality. This and the standardised interfaces provide great benefits, especially in the fields of test, commissioning, operation and maintenance.

Tell us about a recent project(s) that Voith Turbo Scharfenberg has been involved with for the Russian railway marketplace?

One of our present projects for regional transport is the certification of different coupler types for the Desiro platform, which will also be running in Sochi for the Winter Olympic Games in 2014. Here, we have already reached the final stage of product certification.

We are involved with Siemens’ new highspeed train project ‘Sapsan’ for Russia. Due to the big success of Siemens with this train platform, the operator now requires the trains to drive also in traction. This requires a safe coupler, and it is only logical that Siemens chose our automatic front couplers for these new high-speed trains.

The RIC passenger cars of the Siemens/TVZ consortium were fitted with our new crash buffers and draw hooks. Apart from Russia, our systems are now also in use in trains consutrcted for the Ukraine by Rotem, which have been specifically ordered for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship.

All-in-all, our products are well-positioned in every market segment, concerning both technology and quality. And this is what our customers expect from us.

How important is it to attend industry trade shows and what can visitors expect to see/learn from visiting your company stand?

Industry trade shows have always been an important marketing device for Voith. Just like our products stand for quality and innovation, we also want our booth to represent these aspects. This is why we always show ‘real-life’ products and try to cover a wide range of our portfolio. All this is complemented by state-ofthe- art communication devices to support the professional discussions.

Another aspect of our booth is to reflect openness and hospitality. We want our visitors to feel at home and welcome. We will be looking forward to seeing you on our booth at InnoTrans 2012 (exhibition hall 1.2). Here, among other things, we will present the Galea – our latest crash concept for railcars. And on the open area we will show our latest developments in the field of locomotives.

What sets Voith Turbo Scharfenberg apart from its competitors?

Voith Turbo Scharfenberg looks back on a history of more than a century. Now we are part of one of the big family-owned companies with more than 40,000 employees worldwide and an annual turnover of £4.5 billion. Worldwide representatives and branch offices with their own workshops make sure that we can always offer the best possible service and support, also for customers abroad. At the same time, we always try to push and improve our products. More than 20 committed engineers in our development department see that almost every customer requirement can be implemented. I think 500,000 train couplers sold so far speak for themselves!

What is Voith Turbo Scharfenberg’s vision for the future?

The future vision of Voith Turbo Scharfenberg leads to be a system supplier. As we already design, calculate and provide the couplers for trains as a system we will expand our expertise in this field furthermore.

Modern crash systems for complete trains require new ideas and integrated systems. This goes hand-in-hand with our developments in crash structures, crash buffers and stabilising couplers. Due to our expertise, we can fulfil the complete train crash scenario for EN 15227 or the new U.S. standards from one hand with proven technologies and high engineering skills.

In combination with these components and the relevant interfaces, it is only logical that we design whole front parts of trains. It is a matter of efficiency and Life Cycle Cost to have a front system which is highly reliable, low in maintenance and will operate in line with the front couplers and crash systems.

In the near future we see a rising demand for such systems focussing on LCC and modularised concepts.