The Tikhvin Railway Car Building Plant (TVSZ) was founded in 2005 to design a state-of-the-art production facility for railway carriages. Located 230 km east of St. Petersburg, the new plant is equipped to manufacture 13,000 carriages annually. The four transfer cars provided by Vollert, which are up to 31 metres wide, link the individual production areas. With a loading surface of 250 m2 and rated for 100-ton payloads, the cars can bear extremely heavy loads and even move loaded carriages.
Heated Outdoor Transport
The transfer cars not only carry enormous loads, however. Three of the cars are located outside, where the carriages are exposed to the elements. To prevent any undue stress, Vollert equips the cars with a heated enclosure. This protects the carriages, which can re-enter the assembly line when required and be finished on schedule. Two of the transfer cars are used to move carriages from the bodyshell construction area to the painting tunnels, while a third car brings the coated and cured carriages to the final assembly point. Another car is installed in a production area by itself to distribute the carriages and wheelsets to different tracks.
Innovative Technology from Around the World
The Tikhvin Railway Car Building Plant (TVSZ) insists that only the best technology available be used. Vollert was commissioned as a result of its many years of experience in heavy-duty intralogistics and in the railway industry. "Precise manufacturing and fast turnaround times were also very important to the customer", emphasises Andreas Gebhart, Vollert project manager in charge. "All transfer cars are assembled at our headquarters in Weinsberg, with delivery tentatively scheduled for September 2010." More than 30 companies from around the world are involved in the project.
