Vossloh Cogifer Inaugurates its Technology Centre

Vossloh Cogifer, a subsidiary of Germany's Vossloh Group and specialised in points and crossings and associated equipment, recently inaugurated its new €3 million technology centre in Reichshoffen, in Alsace. Around 30 engineers will develop turnouts and signalling equipment at the new centre.

Vossloh Cogifer has consolidated the R&D teams at its two plants in Reichshoffen – one dedicated to points and crossings and the other to associated signalling equipment – into its new 1,500 m² technology centre. The new building, which also houses Vossloh Cogifer's customer service department and a training centre, represents an investment of €1.9 million plus €1 million in new testing equipment.

"Between 25 and 30 engineers and technicians are going to work at the technology centre. We have also recruited eight engineers to increase our expertise," says Jean-Claude Leval, Regional Industrial Director of Vossloh Cogifer.

"Signalling is an integral part of any point and crossing," adds Mr Leval. "Having both teams under the same roof will enable us to further improve the system integration of all components in points and crossings." The centre's engineers also have access to new facilities and equipment. There is a prototyping facility and metallurgy laboratory where the engineers can determine the right grade of steel for the service conditions of points and crossings. Two new fatigue and mechanical strength testing machines – which will be used to test point and crossing subsystems such as sleepers, frog components, fabricated parts and castings – will double Vossloh Cogifer's testing capacities. Lastly, the equipment already in place is supplemented with a new dynamic calculation and modelling unit for components.

The technology centre will also allow Vossloh Cogifer Services' teams, in charge of commissioning equipment and providing track expertise, to deliver even better customer service.

A trailblazer in high-speed rail, Vossloh Cogifer thus increases its capacity for innovation to help make rail transport ever-safer, efficient and modern. Vossloh Cogifer's new technology centre will allow the company to contribute even more to national and international research programmes.

  Ask For More Information…