Schaltbau Holding AG: Pintsch GmbH awarded initial order for digital interlocking technology and additional rail infrastructure for "Zwieseler Spinne" regional network

- Pilot project from the "Digital Rail for Germany" programme includes signalling units and other infrastructure

- Existing interlocking system to be fully replaced with digital interfaces to systems and field components

- Around 50 km of railway network running from Grafling to Bayrisch Einstein in Bavaria, southern Germany, to work at speeds of up to 100 km/h

- Establishment of operational capability scheduled for September 2023

- Additional orders for digital level crossing systems as part of the economic stimulus package expected early next year

Munich/Dinslaken, 22 December 2020 - Pintsch GmbH, Dinslaken, has received the first pilot order from DB Netz AG as part of the "Digital Rail for Germany" programme. With this programme, Deutsche Bahn AG intends to equip the entire German railway network with the new European Train Control System (ETCS) as well as digital interlocking technology, enabling network capacity to be increased by up to 20 per cent overall. Apart from raising operational quality in general, a key influencing factor driving this project is the need to improve punctuality across the entire network. Thus, the digitisation of branch lines is a critical factor in the future success of rail travel.

"For Schaltbau Holding AG, this order represents an important milestone in the implementation of our growth strategy," explained Dr Albrecht Köhler, CEO of Schaltbau Holding AG. "It also enables us to position ourselves as a technology leader for digitising branch lines right from the early stages of digitising the German railway network," Köhler continued.

Volker Kregelin, member of the Executive Board of Schaltbau Holding AG, added: "This success is the result of systematic efforts to implement our digitisation strategy for the entire range of Pintsch product technologies since 2019. The use of high-performance industrial computers designed for safe signalling enables Pintsch to implement the European digital interfaces, the digital interlocking system and digital level crossings on one computer platform going forward."

In the rail sector, the name Pintsch has long been a byword for safety and availability in both national and international rail networks. As a leading manufacturer of safety-related equipment for rail infrastructure, Pintsch is increasingly focusing its range of products and services on supplying digitised systems and components across the entire value chain, including development, approval, planning, production, assembly, commissioning and turnkey handover.

"With our digital interlocking system, we are contributing to a particularly cost-efficient use of technology on branch lines," said Tilo Brandis, Managing Director of Pintsch GmbH. "In doing so, we always strive for integrated overall solutions to drive the automation of operational processes with the help of digital technologies."

The interlocking control units include signals, points, track locks and track key locks. The order also covers level crossing safety technology systems. In addition, wheel sensors and axle counting circuits provide digitised track vacancy detection information. Furthermore, other safety technology components and systems are interconnected with the state-of-the-art diagnostic system via specific interfaces. The establishment of operational capability of the systems and field components included in this first order is scheduled for September 2023.

About the Schaltbau Group
Schaltbau Holding AG (ISIN: DE000A2NBTL2) is listed in the Prime Standard segment of the regulated market of Deutsche Börse AG in Frankfurt am Main. With annual Group revenue in the region of EUR 500 million and around 3,000 employees, Schaltbau is an internationally leading supplier of systems and components in the field of transportation technology and the capital goods industry. With Schaltbau, Bode, Pintsch and SBRS as their core brands, Schaltbau Group companies develop a wide range of high-quality technologies and customer-specific technological solutions for rolling stock, rail infrastructure, road vehicles and commercial vehicles. As one of the few specialists for smart DC energy concepts, the Schaltbau Group is also a driver of innovation for the fast-growing markets of tomorrow such as new mobility, new energy and new industry.
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