HUBER+SUHNER Receives Key Supplier Award from Hitachi Rail Europe
Hitachi Rail Europe recognises HUBER+SUHNER's contribution to the prestigious Intercity Express Programme (IEP), bringing new Class 800/801 trains to major UK rail routes
Swiss connectivity solutions company HUBER+SUHNER has been recognised by Hitachi Rail Europe with a key supplier award for its contribution to the prestigious Intercity Express programme (IEP). This is bringing new Class 800/801 trains to two of the UK's major rail routes. HUBER+SUHNER is supplying a range of RADOX® cables and SENCITY® Rail antennas for use in the train control and safety systems.
Under the UK Department of Transport's IEP project, Hitachi Rail Europe is replacing older diesel-powered high-speed trains on the Great Western and East Coast Main Line routes across the UK with a fleet of 122 new Class 800/801 trains which go into service from 2017/2018. The first pre-series Super Express Train was unveiled earlier this month at Hitachi's plant in Kasado, Japan. It is expected to arrive in the UK in March 2015 with trials beginning the following month.
Headquartered in London, Hitachi Rail Europe is a total railway system supplier offering rolling stock, signalling solutions, traffic management systems and maintenance depots. HUBER+SUHNER is one of Hitachi Rail Europe's key suppliers on this project.
Patrick Riederer, divisional manager for low frequency products for HUBER+SUHNER, received the award from Keith Jordan, Managing Director of Hitachi Rail Europe. Speaking on behalf of HUBER+SUHNER, Patrick Riederer said: "Our rail cables and antennas have found a wide market acceptance across the globe and we are proud to play our part in this innovative project for the UK railway network."
Jamie Foster, Procurement Director, Hitachi Rail Europe said: "The Hitachi Rail procurement team spent a long time looking for the best suppliers to provide high quality products, exceptional reliability and real value for money over the lifetime of our trains. With the companies we have recognised, we have found the right fit for us. We are proud that we have been able to find companies in Europe, including HUBER+SUHNER, to fulfil our requirements."
High quality of suppliers
A total of three train sets or 19 cars are currently under construction and are being tested. By 2020, it is expected that all 122 train sets will be running on the Great Western Main Line and East Coast Main Line. Hitachi Rail Europe has acknowledged that the IEP is a highly significant project for the company and that the ability to source high-quality products that meet the stringent British and European fire standards for the railway market is of paramount importance. Hitachi Rail Europe also places great emphasis on the reliability and durability of the products it chooses.
HUBER+SUHNER has proved to be the right partner for Hitachi Rail Europe in previous projects where it has supplied reliable, high-performance products that meet strict fire safety standards. The RADOX® railway cables as supplied to the IEP project have an enhanced fire safety profile and are particularly resistant to thermal, chemical, electrical and mechanical loads, thereby ensuring secure data and power transmission. Reliable data transfer between train and track is also guaranteed by the use of the particularly robust SENCITY® Rail antennas.
Opportunity for further projects
Hitachi Rail Europe is building a new production facility in the UK to enable it to address the European railway market. The existing collaboration with Hitachi and the recent success in the company's Supplier Awards open up the opportunity to HUBER+SUHNER to win further projects.
HUBER+SUHNER Group
HUBER+SUHNER, based in Switzerland, is a globally active developer and supplier of components and system solutions for electrical and optical connectivity. Through its production of cables, connectors and systems in the three key technologies of radio frequency, fiber optics and low frequency, the company serves three markets: Communications, Transportation and Industrial. Its products are set apart by their excellent performance, quality, reliability and durability, even under challenging conditions.
HUBER+SUHNER has a global production network and provides local customer support via branch offices and representatives in over 60 countries. For more information on the company, visit www.hubersuhner.com.
Axel Rienitz
Head of Marketing Communication
Telephone +41 71 353 4220
axel.rienitz@hubersuhner.com
