Kick-off for industry 4.0 at its Bautzen site

BAUTZEN, Germany - Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation inaugurated a new final assembly hall in Bautzen, Germany today with Saxony's Prime Minister, Michael Kretschmer, and Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Dulig, in attendance. Among the other guests were the Mayor of Bautzen, Alexander Ahrens, and Saxon State Parliament Representative, Marko Schiemann. Bombardier Transportation has invested around eight million euro in the final assembly hall and commissioned a large number of companies from Saxony.

The new hall can produce up to 600 cars per-year. Its production spectrum ranges from regional and intercity trains to suburban and underground trains, and trams. Three different vehicle types can be produced at the same time and Bombardier Transportation's most advanced assembly hall in the world impresses with its increased use of digital technologies. It is also a prime example of efficiency. Compared to its predecessor, the new hall can save around one million euro per-year in terms of logistics, energy and maintenance costs. 

Around 500 employees have their ultra-modern workplace in the hall, which boasts a total 8,100 square metres of factory floorspace. Around 5,000 cubic meters of concrete and 1,300 tons of steel were used in the new building. In addition, around 24 kilometres of electrical cables were laid, and 568 lighting fixtures installed. When including the costs for the production hall, Bombardier has invested around 30 million euro in the Bautzen site.

Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer said, “Today is a good day for Bautzen and Upper Lusatia. The investment now planned will secure 1,000 jobs here at Bombardier, and many more for the suppliers in the region. I am grateful to the company for its clear commitment. We have been through some difficult negotiations and some very uncertain times. I am very grateful to all those who supported the retention of the plants in both Bautzen and Görlitz. Now, the focus is on creating favourable prospects for the Görlitz plant as well, because the potential that exists there is not yet exhausted."

“Today's hall inauguration will send a positive signal to the employees and represents an important step in repositioning and securing the two Saxony sites. The goal here is to set future standards for Industry 4.0 production in the railway industry. We want to bolster the initiative for more Industry 4.0 at Bombardier's Bautzen site, and ensure efficient logistics. This was announced exactly one year ago here by Federal Minister, Brigitte Zypries and myself, and we deliver on our promises. The Free State will support the new construction of the Spree Bridge, and the expansion of the municipal access road with development funds,” said Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Dulig.

“The new hall and modern Industry 4.0 production mark the start of a new era at the traditional 170-year-old Bautzen site,” says Michael Fohrer, Head of Bombardier Transportation in Germany. “We are investing in, and establishing, a competence centre for the series production of regional and intercity trains as well as commuter and metro trains, and trams. These are powerful arguments for the plant’s bright and promising future.”