2300 workers = 2300 wagons - Tatravagónka Poprad

COVERAGES/Companies
text and photo by Jakub Klimkiewicz
88SLOVAKIA
2300 workers = 2300 wagons
built in Tatravagónka
Tatravagónka’s share of the
European freight wagon production
market is now 19%,
which makes the competition
between the major players in
the business, namely Romanian,
Polish and Czech companies
more intense.
The history of Tatravagónka may be traced
back to 1922, when the blacksmith workshop
Halath & Co. won a tender for repairing
freight wagons for the Czechoslovak
Railways Company. The production of wagons
started in 1946, but only one type was produced
at that time. Expansion in the volume
of production and in the range of products
came about in 1960 when the volume of
production increased by 500% and 11 different
types of wagons were produced. In 1989,
with the fall of the Iron Curtain, the company’s
Eastern Block markets disintegrated almost
Railway Market - CEE Review No. 4 2008
overnight, and a new strategy was needed.
After a lengthy re-orientation process and
the revitalisation of the product portfolio, the
enterprise was transformed into a joint-stock
company - Tatravagónka a.s., as it is known
today. It is located in Poprad at the foot of High
Tatras mountains where it continues its vigorous
expansion, striving for the title of Europe’s
leading wagon builder.
“The development and construction of our
own types of railway freight wagons and bogies
have a longstanding tradition in Tatravagonka”,
says Peter Macala, General Director
and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“The first development and construction department
was established in 1952. Today, we
have a team of specialists who are able to design
and prepare specially designed versions
of currently manufactured types of bogies and
wagons based on the needs of our customers”,
said Peter Macala.
For the third year in a row, the Poprad
Company has grown in size, in production
capacity, as well as in the labour employed.
The production facilities are being upgraded
to world-class standards and stringent quality
control measures are being implemented.
The company quickly positioned itself at the
top of Slovakia’s most significant growing
companies. And what is important - it is still
a 100% Slovak company, with 97.66% of the
share owned by Optifin Invest, which acquired
the company in 2006.
Tatravagónka’s key products are Laes,
Sggmrrs, 38.5m3 and 52m3 Zacens tank
wagons, Sgnss, Sdgnss, Rilnss, Uacns 80
type wagons, as well as two- and three-axle
bogies. If Tatravagónka manages to meet the
production plan for 2008, it will produce almost
the same number of wagons as the number of
people employed, that is more than 2300 wagons
plus, in addition, more than 8000 bogies.
Tatravagónka has established the foundation
for a long term stable business relationship
with companies such as DB, OEBB and
Angel Trains, AAE, CargoNet, Metrans, Czech,
and Slovak Railways and many others. Exporting
almost 90% of its production, mainly
to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic
and Norway. The manufacturer is still
seeking new markets. In the group of interesting
for Tatravagónka are Finland and Russia
with 1520 gauge, Spain with 1668 gauge,
as well as Africa with 1435 gauge railways.
One of the future goals of Tatravagónka a.s.
Poprad, is to expand to Eastern Europe. A
Memorandum of Cooperation with the Russian
railways was signed at the end of September
2008. It concerns the design and development
of a prototype and then a trial stage and the

COVERAGES/Companies
Container platforms and twin wagons is what all manufacturers’ orders portfolio is book with
SLOVAKIA
Old production line still works above newsly introduced
welding and machining robots
Tatravagonka’s most recent purchase. Cloos Schweisstechnik welding robot installed in August 2008 performs the welding
tasks of one shift being operated by only one man
routine production of new types of freight wagons
and bogies adapted to the specific needs
of wide gauge and Russian railway freight market
demands. “This deal could bring a stable
partnership for the next few years and, eventually,
strengthen the company’s position among
the biggest European freight wagon and bogie
producers. It would also mean investment in
order to increase production capacity, which
goes hand in hand with the increase in the
value of the company”, said Peter Macala.
“We definitely see potential for the freight
market. There are new customers emerging.
New transport and logistics companies are
building their fleets of wagons. We want to
be able to offer repair services and warranties
for the customers with whom we have
a long term business relationship”, said Anna
Skokanova, Head of Commercial department
in Tatravagónka.
The financial crisis has had an impact on
the company’s operations, although, as al-
Railway Market - CEE Review No. 4 2008
89

COVERAGES/Companies
90SLOVAKIA
most every European wagon manufacturer has
its production booked, typically up until 2012,
the impact is not a direct one and the company’s
strong position will prove to be a good
defence.
“The price of key commodities has grown
markedly, reaching the highest levels in recent
times, causing problems to our customers for
the financing of large orders. The current situation
has also a big disadvantage for newcomers
who have entered market at the highest
prices. There is also a problem in the availability
of long term financial securities which
causes troubles for those new comers who
are just starting up in the business”, observed
Mrs. Skokanova.
All mentioned circumstances will cause a
decrease in the demand for rail freight wagons.
Therefore Tatravagónka is looking for new
markets with specific requirements and technical
dispositions
“We need to be able to produce any type of
customised wagon and bogie and this will always
be our key focus and the ability to do so
is setting us apart from other wagon producers.
But with the current market situation, we
need to be aware of the cost. We want to be
able to offer the best quality at the best price”,
said Peter Macala.
❙
EVENTS/Media Partnership
Railway Market - CEE Review No. 4 2008
Platform bodies come out of the production line almost every ten minutes
Poprad factory produces wagons and bogies. Wheelsets are supplied by various manufacturers
Meet the Asian Rail Freight Market in the Heart of Europe!
Railway Market – CEE Review is the official
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