Alstom and TMH Launched Asynchronous Traction Drives

Alstom and CJSC Transmashholding have opened in Russia a key components manufacturing plant for new electric locomotives – asynchronous traction drives and control systems. Drives shall be supplied for electric locomotives engineered by the partners for Russia and Kazakhstan.

Solemn opening ceremony has been held today jointly with JSC Russian Railways Chief Vice-President Valentin Gapanovich, Transmashholding General Director Andrey Andreev, and Alstom Transport President Henri Poupart-Lafarge.

“Alstom not just cooperates with Transmashholding in technological area,” stated H. Poupart-Lafarge. “We also contribute to local economy growth due to highly competitive new generation products we offer that have high performance characteristics and fully meet local condition”. “Production engineering of asynchronous traction drives for electric locomotives is a crucial milestone in domestic industry history, – stated A. Andreev. “ We start production of one of the most high-tech parts of state-of-the-art electric locomotives. It will materially cut loco operation and maintenance expenses, and thus bring the Holding’s products to a new competitive level”.

Asynchronous traction drive is an up-to-date high-tech product. Improved engine performance results in increased electric loco output with low weight. Traction drives and control systems are designed for equipping of EP20 and 2ES5 electric locomotives developed by the partners for Russia, as well as for KZ8A and KZ4A electric locomotives to be produced and operated in Kazakhstan.

So far total of production headcount is about 60 people. The entity will manufacture 17 kits of electric equipment per month. Aggregative investments into the project will amount to nearly 40 million Euro.

The entity is located at the territory of Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ) owned by TMH. A joint venture (JV) RailComp has been established by Alstom and Transmashholding on principle of parity for the project purposes. JV registered on May 3, 2012 is designated for localization of high-tech components production for electric passenger and freight locomotives.

Production will help to create export potential for Russian traction converters.

Group of companies Alstom and Transmashholding develops state-of-the-art electric passenger and freight locomotives that are one of the most powerful worldwide.

Locomotives are designed for operation with temperature from -50°C up to +50°C. 400 electric locomotives (200 passenger and 200 freight locos) will be built for JSC Russian Railway needs, other 295 (95 passenger and 500 freight locos) – for Kazakhstan Railways, as per the current contracts.

In 2010, Alstom and TMH entered into key agreements of strategic partnership and development of 1520 gauge rolling stock. Besides, Alstom became a TMH shareholder with 25% participation interest. At the very beginning of cooperation, the partners founded a Joint Venture TRTrans, Engineering Center for new rolling stock, including passenger and freight locomotives for Russian and Kazakhstan.

Currently, Alstom and Transmashholding produce EP20 dual-voltage electric passenger locomotives and 2ES5 mainline electric freight locomotives with asynchronous tractions drives. In November 2012, the first EP20 locomotive was delivered to RZD in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Source : TMH Press Centre