Annual Report 2010 - Knorr-Bremse AG.

22
Regional developments by division
In the year under review, the Rail Vehicle Systems division
contributed EUR 2,024.4 million (2009: EUR 1,552.6 million)
to consolidated Group sales and the Commercial Vehicle
Systems division EUR 1,700.7 million (2009: EUR 1,221.5
million). The growing buoyancy of the commercial vehicle
markets led to convergence of the contribution to sales of
the two divisions in 2010. The Commercial Vehicle Systems
division accounted for 46% (2009: 44%) and the Rail Vehicle
Systems division for 54% (2009: 56%) of consolidated
sales.
The development of the two divisions is set out below for
the individual regions that make up the Group.
Europe
Rail Vehicle Systems
The decline in rail freight transportation that set in towards
the end of 2008 under the influence of the financial and
economic crisis continued in the year under review, with a
sustained impact on the market situation for the Rail Vehicle
Systems division in both the original equipment and
aftermarket sectors. Compared to the previous year, far
fewer freight cars and locomotives were purchased in
2010. Production of freight cars was down by around 30%
year-on-year, with locomotive output falling approximately
20%. In addition, in the European passenger transportation
sector several projects were postponed or cancelled
in 2010. In the UK in particular, three major projects were
shelved on account of local financial difficulties.
Despite the prevailing challenging market situation in Europe,
Knorr-Bremse was able to win some important orders.
In particular, the company‘s position in the European
mass transit sector was strengthened by incoming orders
from the metro and streetcar segments. One example here
was the order Knorr-Bremse obtained from Alstom to supply
the braking systems for 450 cars (including options) for
one line of the Amsterdam metro. In the streetcar segment,
the company won an order from vehicle builder
Stadler to supply door and braking systems for its Variobahn
streetcars, which are destined for service in various
European cities.
In the multiple unit and high-speed rail markets too, Knorr-
Bremse was able to conclude significant sales agreements.
For example, Knorr-Bremse was named sole supplier of
braking systems for the new generation of double-decker
multiple units built by Stadler in Germany. The company
also won the order to supply the braking and door systems
for 1,160 cars of the TWINDEXX high-speed platform from
Bombardier. Knorr-Bremse also signed a service agreement
with Bombardier for the TRAXX fleet, one of the leading
European locomotive platforms. Siemens is building
270 new multiple units for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi,
Russia, and here too Knorr-Bremse will be supplying
the braking system. In the HVAC segment, Knorr-Bremse
was the successful bidder for the two major French projects
Régiolis (with Alstom) and Régio2N (with Bombardier)
and will initially be supplying systems for around 1,300
cars. The company has also secured a strong position regarding
possible future options in both projects.
Commercial Vehicle Systems
After truck output in Western Europe had fallen to around
200,000 units in 2009, the market began to recover in 2010
and by year-end production had reached 320,000 trucks.
However, while this equated to a 60% increase year-onyear,
the market still trailed far behind its pre-crisis level. All
of Knorr-Bremse‘s customers in the original equipment
sector benefited equally from this upturn, which therefore
had a positive impact on the full range of products manufactured
and marketed by the European production network
of Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH.
The output of trailers in Western Europe also recovered in