The Goldschmidt Thermit Group based in Leipzig, Germany continues to expand. The leading global company for joint welding and servicing and maintenance of rail systems has now founded a subsidiary in the Polish city of Torun, north-west of Warsaw. The target is to expand the group’s activities in the growing infrastructure market of Eastern Europe.

The Managing Director of Goldschmidt Thermit Polska Sp. z o.o., Robert Plötz, has worked for Elektro-Thermit GmbH & Co. KG, the largest subsidiary of the Goldschmidt Thermit Group with headquarters in Halle (Saale), Germany since April 2015. Robert Plötz is an acknowledged specialist for the aluminothermic welding process for rails and is familiar with the Polish market. He will be supported by Sales Manager Piotr Śnieżawski.

"The Polish railways have entered into the largest investment programme of its history designed to modernise its railway infrastructure. Our local subsidiary will be able to offer our Polish partners and customers excellent support. This will enable us to better coordinate the continuous welding of rails in the Polish market and ensure safety and comfort for travelers and residents close to railway routes", explains Dr. Hans-Jürgen Mundinger, CEO of the Goldschmidt Thermit Group. "This will give a further boost to our strong presence in Eastern Europe, our extensive experience and our high quality in the area of continuous welding."

In the past the state-owned railways of Eastern Europe have suffered from a chronic lack of investment. Many long-distance and local railway lines in cities are considered to be sub-standard. The environmental standards of the European Union, however, can only be met with a modern railway network and an efficient local public transport system.

The Polish railways are now set to improve and expand the railway infrastructure in Poland. Investments are planned to the tune of approximately €15bn. A third of the funds will be provided by the EU which will be made directly available for the development of railway transport up to the year 2020.

"The demand for our welding technology is huge in Poland", emphasises Managing Director Robert Plötz. "Our THERMIT® welding process and our services are tailor-made for the modernisation and expansion of track infrastructure. With our subsidiary in Poland we are perfectly placed to participate in the renewal and expansion of the country’s railway network."