MARCOPOLO RAIL EXPANDS PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND LAUNCHES NEW PRODUCTS FOCUSED ON GROWTH OF THE LATIN AMERICAN RAILWAY SECTOR
Business unit invests in modernization and technology, both at the industrial level, as well as in additional propulsion options.
Marcopolo Rail, a company specializing in the development and production of new railways, has expanded its production capacity with a new structure totaling 2,600 m² in area in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. The space will exclusively produce domestic vehicles in order to meet different demands for rail passenger transport in Brazil and Latin America, in addition to the possibility of developing projects with strategic partners as part of vehicle modernization services.
A model that that was recently introduced to the market will be manufactured at the unit: Prosper VLT Hybrid. This hybrid vehicle is geared towards urban and intermunicipal transport and combines the efficiency of diesel and electric engines with battery power. The Prosper VLT Hybrid offers increased performance and autonomy in operations, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions, Petras Amaral Santos, the expanded business unit’s executive manager, affirmed.
Expansion of manufacturing infrastructure is expected to improve the unit’s competitiveness since in addition to relying on state-of-the-art equipment, the facility also has a highly specialized production team that receives consistent training. The new pavilion meets international standards and offers a more ergonomically sound and efficient flow, making the transport of components and materials more agile and consequently increasing productivity.
In order to create this new space, investments were made in infrastructure, with the installation of new machinery and equipment, gages and overhead cranes, as well as an independent storage and logistics area. These improvements have provided Marcopolo Rail with a space that allows for synergy with remaining areas at Marcopolo, such as the manufacturing center for components and paint booths, ensuring that processes are more agile and simplified.
Projects in production at Marcopolo Rail include People Movers models and the supply of three Diesel Multiple Units, DMUs, each of which contain two Prosper cars, to Chile’s Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado – EFE Trenes de Chile (Chilean Federal Rail Transport Company), a government-controlled company responsible for managing the country's railway network.
Skilled workforce training
Marcopolo Rail will also invest in training engineering teams to work on the development of projects for the railway sector. This initiative will prepare the company to develop increasingly personalized vehicles according to the different challenges of the rail transport sector in the country, and ensuring further value is placed in Brazilian professionals.
"With these new facilities and qualified teams, we will develop products of the highest quality and will continue to nurture relationships with established strategic partners in the market. We can say that we are prepared to accompany growth in the sector, both in Brazil and overseas, allowing Brazil to establish itself as a reference in mobility solutions,” Petras Amaral concluded.
About Marcopolo Rail
Aligned with its purpose of improving quality of life through mobility, Marcopolo Rail is a Marcopolo S.A. business unit specializing in the development and production of new modes of rail transport. Marcopolo Rail’s portfolio includes a range of rail transport modalities and includes the production of Multiple Units, VLTs, as well as the manufacture of car bodies used in People Movers. In addition to its product line, Marcopolo also offers maintenance and modernization contracts.
Image credits: Marcopolo
