ZF Friedrichshafen - Driveline and Chassis Technology for Rail Vehicles

ZF Friedrichshafen AG is a leading worldwide automotive supplier for driveline and chassis technology and employs approx. 54,500 employees at 125 locations in 26 countries.

Innovative products for locomotives, diesel and electric railcars, wagons, city and underground railways are developed and produced at four ZF companies within the ZF Group: ZF Bahntechnik (transmissions for locomotives and railcars), ZF Sachs (clutches and damper elements), ZF Boge Elastmetall (rubber-metal components for suspension and vibration damping technology) and ZF Padova (special transmissions and loose gears).

TRANSMISSIONS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND RAILCARS

ZF Bahntechnik GmbH is responsible for rail driveline technology, producing transmissions for locomotives, driveline units for underground railways, city railways and metro trains, as well as input kits for regional trains (electric and diesel railcars).

ZF Bahntechnik GmbH can supply diesel railcar engine manufacturers with complete systems comprising clutches, transmissions and electronic control units. This is especially important when using transmissions in rail vehicles, e.g. with diesel railcars, where each wagon has its own driveline. In this case, a highly developed electronic control unit has to perfectly synchronize several transmissions in line with gear change operations to the millisecond.

The company is developing and producing new transmission systems in co-operation with suppliers of wheels, engines, axles and brakes. This ensures that all cost and delivery advantages can be offered by one supplier. For example, ZF Bahntechnik supplies the new IC4 Intercity train of the Federal Danish Railways with the AS Rail Transmission as well as the clutch, prop shaft, axle reversing transmission and torque support.

RAILWAY DAMPERS

ZF Sachs has been an expert partner since 1953 for the most challenging damping solutions in modern rolling stock all over the world.

Based on this experience, we set up a 'Center of Excellence' for railway dampers in 1992 and have been investing successfully in this market of the future. Today, our rail damper experts are in demand and on call all over the world.

ZF Sachs provides a full range of damping components for all possible requirements. The product spectrum extends from horizontal and vertical dampers for primary and secondary applications to the complete family of yaw dampers.

Like no other street or rail vehicle, ultra-high-speed trains require sophisticated systems of perfectly adjusted damper components in order to attain the highest levels of safety and comfort. The uncompromising quality of ZF Sachs damping solutions for all types of rolling stock ensures the longest service lives and consequently the lowest operating costs.

Our standards are the desires and demands of our customers. Powered by its unique combination of experience, technical expertise and innovative creativity, ZF Sachs is the natural partner for standardization programs such as platform strategies.

RUBBER-METAL ELEMENTS FOR SUSPENSION AND VIBRATION DAMPING

Driving dynamics, driving comfort, sound insulation and safety in modern rail vehicles require powerful suspension components at all critical vibration locations. ZF Boge Elastmetall rubber-metal elements live up to these requirements even for the severe conditions of rail vehicle technology applications.

The company delivers complete modules and individual components for vibration damping in rail vehicles and co-operates closely with the leading locomotive, tram and wagon manufacturers. ZF Boge Elastmetall plays an active part in future-oriented developments like MAGLEV-Technology (Transrapid), tilting technology (Neitec), high-speed trains (ICE), low-floor city train technology (Combino) and many others.

Complete heavy damping systems are developed in close co-operation with ZF Sachs, with bearings suitable for any application. ZF Boge Elastmetall can offer elaborate fully machined rubber-metal parts, components and ready-to-install modules from one source, due to the high vertical range of manufacture.

SPECIAL TRANSMISSIONS AND HIGH-QUALITY GEARS

ZF Padova SpA focuses on products for marine propulsion systems, but also produces special transmissions and high-quality gears used in rail vehicles. The product range for applications in rail vehicles includes cylindrical and cone-shaped geometry. Supplies for all kinds of trains are provided, including high-speed trains like the Italian ETR 500 and the French TGV, underground trains and trams.

ZF Padova SpA is equipped for spare parts production according to customer specifications and drawings. New components can be produced by reverse engineering based on a sample. A technical department, set up especially for these tasks, offers customer support and has the expertise to develop new transmissions according to requirements and technical conditions.

ZF Padova is a certified supplier for Trenitalia, SNCF, SNCB and other leading rail vehicle companies and manufacturers.