12

rail transport l transmission

connecting shaft. The third group are bogies with freely rotating wheels without an

axle where the connection of the wheels

is provided by electronic control – here,

a solution with gearboxes or direct drive

can be used. The fourth group includes

a single-axle bogie with a portal frame.

The first three groups have a number

of other subgroups of drive types, so it is very difficult to have a solution ready for all

customers and, moreover, preferably the

one tested in practice. As the market simplifies and consolidates, certain trends are

also emerging. For example, there is an

increase in the use of simpler solutions

special 2020

T+T Technika a trh

with a classic axle, which is actually a return to it, supplemented by a pivot pin,

and a solution with a connecting shaft,

or single-axle bogies, is thus hindered. Wikov has gradually developed gearboxes

for almost all types of drives used, and for

most of them they can rely on references

from the market, which gives them a certain lead over the competition.

EMU + metro

d

The production of electric multiple units

(EMU) is a much larger market. Today,

about 50% of the world market is held by

three European players and China is trying

to change this situation in its favour. With

just a few players on the market, the situation of drive types is much clearer than it

is on the tram market, while price pressure plays a big role here. This also applies

to the drives of metro trains. Wikov has

not been able to succeed in terms of prices in this market segment for a long time,

but thanks to a two-year very intensive

development project, bringing a significant simplification of design and streamlining the production of gearboxes, today

they regularly win very interesting orders

in this area.