TMH Africa, a subsidiary of the Transmashholding, and the United Wagon Company (UWC) have signed a wide framework agreement for the development of African rolling stock market, creating a rail industrial partnership in Africa.
This is a first kind of such cooperation and will see the two entities partner to jointly service the Africa market for suppling freight wagons for the narrow-gauge rail network.
“This is a big milestone for TMH Africa as it will further support our pursuit to service the African market out of South Africa. It recognises our narrow gauge and bogie expertise and will result in increased workload, increased export revenues and position South Africa as “Thee” rail manufacturing hub for the region,” Jerome Boyet, the CEO of TMH Africa said.
Under this industrial partnership, the parties agreed to cooperate in the field of freight wagon supply. UWC will get the right to contract its orders and those of their customers in Africa to TMH Africa under best available terms and conditions.
“We believe in Africa as a market within which we can share our experiences for the mutual benefit of all parties. TMH is the ideal partner to grow our Africa presence that provides opportunities to optimise the deliveries through local assembly and maintenance operations,” Ivan Mikhalevich, Sales Director at UWC said.
These orders will be implemented by TMH Africa at its Boksburg facility and can include manufacturing, assembly, maintenance of freight wagons and components. TMH Africa’s 64,000 sqm facility is responsible for manufacturing, servicing, and refurbishing rolling stock for over 100 years. It has over 200 employees and it is the centre of excellence for the narrow-gauge products within the TMH Group.
The narrow-gauge network is an enabler for the increase of freight volumes that are shifted from road transport to railway. “A big part of untapping this potential is the ensuring of a consistent supply of world class freight wagons and their components. This is the value that this partnership will deliver to the public and private sector customers,” Mikhalevich explained.
The rail industrial partnership, that will bring UWC’s expertise in freight vehicles, combined with TMH Africa’s local and the TMH Group’s global rolling stock expertise will revitalize the rolling stock market in Africa.
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