Stadler has acquired the German company BBR Verkehrstechnik GmbH (BBR) and its group companies to expand its in-house expertise in signalling technology and digitalisation areas. This move will allow the two companies to become a stronger provider of state-of-the-art signalling solutions to drive forward and shape the digitalisation of the rail industry.
The acquisition of BBR perfectly complements Stadler’s growing range of products in the field of signalling technology as it will contribute to the development of the activities in the rail infrastructure field. Until now, Stadler has been focused on on-board signalling equipment. BBR is an established international company that can contribute the necessary experience and knowledge to jointly drive forward the digitalisation of the global railway infrastructure.
Stadler already strengthened its position in signalling technology and digitalisation segment in November 2021 with the acquisition of Bär Bahnsicherung AG. Stadler will concentrate the entire signalling portfolio in a newly created division as of 1 January 2022.
“We are very pleased gain long-standing signalling know-how and experienced specialists for Stadler by taking on the BBR team. The merger of our two companies forms an excellent basis for offering our customers innovative signalling solutions from a single source – both on the vehicle and on the infrastructure side,” Peter Spuhler, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Group CEO of Stadler.
For more than 30 years, BBR has been one of the leading suppliers of solutions in the field of railway safety. Signalling technology from BBR is used by railway operators all over the world, not only in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but also in other countries in western and northern Europe, Asia and now also in the USA. In addition to infrastructure-related solutions such as electronic interlockings, train detection systems or points operating equipment, BBR’s portfolio also includes on-board equipment for rolling stock manufacturers and development work, particularly in the areas of interlockings, train protection and component retrofits.
BBR employs around 270 people at its headquarters in Braunschweig (Germany) and at its site in Vufflens-la-Ville near Lausanne (Switzerland), which will be kept on by Stadler along with all current employees. This will increase the number of employees at Stadler in the Signalling area to over 500.
Stadler entered the signalling business in 2016 so that it would no longer be dependent on direct competitors in the area. Today, the Swiss company can offer this important component of modern train technology itself.
To make this possible, Stadler established its own engineering location on the Wallisellen site, which became an independent company within the Stadler Group at the beginning of 2020. Stadler’s own Guardia automatic train protection system (ETCS), which was developed as part of a joint venture, gained generic approval in 2019 and is now used in several European countries. It has also been incorporated into BLS’s new Flirt trains in Switzerland since 2021.
In 2020, Stadler won an on-board signalling contract to install its Guardia ETCS system on 36 Flirt trains of Arriva Nederland.
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