Knorr-Bremse - Braking and On-Board Systems for Railway Vehicles

Knorr-Bremse is the worldwide leader for advanced and innovative brake system solutions for tramways, light rail vehicles, metros, multiple units, locomotives, passenger coaches, freight cars and the latest high-speed trains.

With its 100 years of experience in both the railway and the commercial vehicle industry, the Knorr-Bremse Group today is known for its innovative products marked by their outstanding safety, quality and reliability. Apart from brake systems, the Knorr-Bremse Railway Group also offers a wide range of on-board systems such as platform screen door systems and automatic door systems.

Pneumatic, electro-pneumatic and electro-hydraulic rail brake systems

The trend for railway vehicles towards greater comfort, higher speeds and increasing wheelset loads as well as lower life cycle costs and higher availability are the challenges for today's brake systems. Knorr-Bremse offers an extensive product range with pneumatic, electro-pneumatic and electro-hydraulic brake systems for all types of vehicles.

Products include:

• Bogie equipment such as brake discs, pneumatic actuators, track brakes, block brake units and eddy current brakes
• Air supply systems such as compressors, air treatment and integrated systems
• Brake control systems such as brake controllers, brake panels, brake control units, control valves and complete carrier systems
• Complete hydraulic brake and suspension systems

Innovative brake discs and brake control systems - future orientation

As the technological leader in the field of brake systems, Knorr-Bremse is known for its permanent drive for innovation that allows us to accompany our customers in their development and operation of modern rail vehicles. With major investments in the research and development field, we manage and manufacture products that give significant competitive advantages to our customers.

Examples are:

• High-energy brake discs that reduce weight and lifecycle costs
• Eddy-current brakes which set the standard for non-wearing systems
• Oil-free compressor technology that helps to reduce lifecycles' costs, is sustainable, and avoids the need to dispose of oil and oil-contaminated waste following oil changes and air filter replacement
• Modular brake control systems for locomotives for enhanced efficiency and diagnosis-aided maintenance
• Distributed brake control systems for higher brake performance, system availability and lower installation costs

Worldwide support

With 25 sales and production locations in 22 countries across all continents the Knorr-Bremse Railway Group manages to comply with our customer requirements for local presence and support at short notice. With its global divisionalised structure Knorr-Bremse is able to fulfill country specific needs while bringing in its experience from a large number of international railway projects.

On-board rail systems

The demand for comprehensive overall solutions is growing. The Knorr-Bremse Railway Group is facing this requirement by constantly expanding its product range.

Sanding systems, windscreen washers and wipers, train safety systems and toilet systems have long been standard segments of the Knorr-Bremse range. Additional products such as dampers, passenger information systems, traffic control and ticket management systems expand the product range.

With its subsidiary, transportdata, the Knorr-Bremse Rail Group also offers integrated but modular solutions on planning, control and analysis in all areas of transportation and logistics.

Furthermore, Knorr-Bremse Railway Group's integrated companies Westinghouse Platform Screen Doors (UK) and IFE Automatic Door Systems complete the wide range of on-board solutions.

Westinghouse Platform Screen Doors are world leaders in rail-based automatic platform screen door systems. With platform screen doors, platform edge doors and platform screen gates, Westinghouse provides three platform screen types; each of these are designed and engineered to improve safety levels for metro passengers.

Highly modern automatic entry systems such as automatic door systems, ramps and moveable steps are offered by IFE Automatic Door Systems. Ensuring reliability without compromise for more than 50 years has made IFE the world's leading manufacturer of automatic door systems for railway vehicles.

Maintenance, repair and overhaul of rail brake systems

Besides modern and efficient brake and on-board systems, Knorr-Bremse also offers economy and quality for operators and manufacturers in the service and aftermarket sector. Knorr-Bremse is able to provide a wide field of highly qualified services with respect to the maintenance, overhaul and repair of braking systems, which can be modularly adjusted to the customer's requirements.

As a whole, the Knorr-Bremse Railway Group offers a worldwide capability and support on all subjects concerning brake systems and on-board systems.