Annual Report 2010 - Knorr-Bremse AG.

28
Research and development
As a technology group, Knorr-Bremse continued to drive
forward its research and development efforts in the year
under review in close collaboration with its customers. Total
expenditure on research and development and project
planning amounted to EUR 175.3 million in 2010, which
equates to 4.7% of consolidated sales.
As the global technology leader in the fields of braking systems
for rail and commercial vehicles, Knorr-Bremse develops
innovative products distinguished by their safety, high
quality, reliability and customer benefits. This also applies
to the other fields covered by the product portfolios of the
Rail Vehicle Systems division (automatic door systems, airconditioning
and driver assistance systems, control components
and platform screen doors) and the Commercial
Vehicle Systems division (driver assistance systems, torsional
vibration dampers and powertrain-related components
such as PBS and transmission control systems).
Knorr-Bremse‘s success in the market with these products
is founded on its comprehensive command of electronics,
pneumatics, and mechanical engineering. These capabilities
enable the company to adopt an integrated approach
and provide its customers with complete systems. In the
European commercial vehicle industry in particular, the
long-standing trend towards the introduction of innovative
system solutions and modular solutions involving the
increasing use of mechatronic systems is continuing,
which means that Knorr-Bremse has a competitive edge in
the marketplace.
In 2010, development activities in the rail vehicle sector
focused among other things on systems and products that
meet the demanding requirements of the Chinese mass
transit and high-speed train markets. In the commercial
vehicle sector, development activities included a focus on
innovative systems that enhance road safety. In both sectors
a great deal of time and effort was dedicated to the
advancement of systems that boost energy efficiency.
Moreover, both divisions pressed ahead with the development
of innovative products for the BRIC countries. The Rail
Vehicle Systems division reached an important milestone in
its efforts to access the Russian rail vehicle market with the
development of a control valve that is compliant with the
Russian GOST standards. For the Commercial Vehicle Division
too, the development of solutions tailored to the requirements
of the BRIC markets also took center stage.
In line with Knorr-Bremse‘s regional strategy, in 2010 the
proportion of the Group‘s development capacity located
in emerging markets such as India and China was again
increased. At year-end 2010, the Knorr-Bremse Group employed
a worldwide total of 1,999 people in the field of research,
development and project planning (2009: 1,885).
In 2010 the Group continued to pursue its ambition of realizing
innovative solutions that meet local market and customer
requirements, and of continuously improving these
solutions in the interests of its customers, as evidenced by
an impressive number of innovations and awards.
2006 141
2007 159
2008 171
2009 153
2010 175
Consolidated research and development expenditure in EUR millions