Wikov MGI and Gmeinder Getriebe: Stronger together (4. strana)
Wikov MGI and Gmeinder Getriebe: four years of cooperation of former competitors
www.technikaatrh.cz
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We have now completed a successful
project where we have developed,
through additive technologies, a special
non-contact gearbox shaft seal that provi-
des high sealing efficiency in both directi-
ons (oil vs. external influences), with a mi-
nimum building cross-section. This allows
us to either use the saved sealing width
for a wider and more "load-bearing" gear-
box while maintaining the overall external
dimensions, or to minimize the overall
width of the gearbox, in projects where
the chassis concept does not allow for a
standard solution. Of course, this also re-
presents an analogous saving on gearbox
weight.
Both companies are successfully invol-
ved in the development of complete dri-
ves for rolling stock in the near future.
Conclusion d
Further synergies can be achieved in mar-
keting activities. We share market analy-
ses, a worldwide network of distributors,
sales and service partners and we also sha-
re joint trade fair booths. This allows us to
communicate both Wikov and Gmeinder
brands, we complement each other and
together we are significantly stronger. We
offer a complete portfolio of products and
services for the rolling stock industry. This
year Gmeinder celebrates 110 years of its
existence and Wikov 105 years of its
brand on the market. Tradition obliges,
but it must not bind you. That's why one
of our pillars is flexibility in all aspects of
our business. p
rail transport
Wikov Industry
JIt is a traditional (production in Hronov was started in 1884, in Plzeň in 1918) and the largest manu-
facturer of industrial gearboxes and gearing equipment in the Czech Republic and at the same time is
one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial gearboxes. The Wikov Industry engineering group
in its current form started to establish itself on the market in 2002. In the Czech Republic, its companies
include Wikov Gear s.r.o. from Plzeň (production of industrial gearboxes, high-speed gearboxes and ge-
ars), Wikov MGI a.s. from Hronov (industrial gearboxes, gearboxes for renewable energy sources – wind
and tidal power plants, as well as drives and gearboxes for rolling stock), Wikov Sázavan s.r.o. (produc-
tion of machine parts and engineering components) and Detail CZ (production of precision parts for truck,
construction and agricultural machinery). The Group uses its Orbital2 company for the design and con-
struction of planetary gearboxes. The German company GGT Gmeinder Getriebetechnik GmbH, which
manufactures and services gearboxes for rolling stock, became part of the Wikov Group in 2019. The en-
tire Wikov Industry Group currently employs more than 1,000 people and has annual sales of USD 140
million. In the long-term perspective, the entire group is profitable.
They are motivated by the upcoming man-
datory European ETCS signalling system.
The construction company Hrochostroj
from the ENTERIA group became the se-
cond Czech company operating in the ra-
ilway construction industry to opt for its
own EffiShunter 1000 locomotive. Accor-
ding to the contract they signed with the
manufacturer CZ LOKO, the locomotive
will be used to supplement their fleet of
construction machines for the renewal
and maintenance of lines in mid-2024.
"Among the major players in the domes-
tic railway construction industry, we see
an increased interest in our locomotives
equipped with the European Train Control
System (ETCS). Only these vehicles and
trains will be able to run on the busiest
Czech railway corridors starting in Janua-
ry 2025. The others will not be allowed on
the lines. Those who fail to react in time
will be at a disadvantage," explains Jan
Kutálek, Sales Manager of CZ LOKO.
"For us this was the decisive reason. The
ETCS issue affects us very much and the-
refore we decided to solve it in time by or-
dering a locomotive with the required
equipment. This will facilitate the tran-
sport of machines between individual
construction sites on the corridor lines, as
well as shunting and line service for the
transport of building materials and materi-
als," says Martin Varecha.
According to him, autonomous transport
of special traction vehicles without the im-
plementation of the mobile part of ETCS
will be very problematic and complicated.
"The new EffiShunter will partially help us
tackle the problem, yet we do believe in
other possible solutions," he added.
Hrochostroj, which operates heavy ra-
il machinery for the maintenance and
reconstruction of railway superstructure,
has been on the market since 2015. The
aim is to become a strong partner in the fi-
eld of heavy rail mechanisation.
Last year, Subterra responded to the
new situation with a purchase order and
in April this year became the first Czech
private operator of the EffiShunter 1000
with ETCS. Its maintenance and servicing
will be provided by CZ LOKO itself.
"The exclusive operation of trains under
the supervision of the ETCS system will be
gradually extended to other lines. This is
a European-wide trend that can also be
observed in other countries. We already
have contracts here with companies invol-
ved in the construction of railway transport
infrastructure," said Jan Kutálek.
The four-axle EffiShunter 1000 has estab-
lished itself in Europe with reliable and
economical operation. It comes with the
uniform European Train Control System
ETCS as standard equipment, and for fore-
ign markets it is also supplemented with
the national signalling system. Consequ-
ently, it can be used both for shunting and
in full rail line service.
Last year, Subterra responded to the new
situation with a purchase order and in April
this year became the first Czech private
operator of the EffiShunter 1000 with ETCS.
www.czloko.cz
Railway construction companies
bet on their own locomotives
Wikov MGI a.s. – plant
Zbečník 356
549 31 Hronov
tel.: +420 491 488 111
e-mail: mgi@wikov.com
www.wikov.com
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