Schaeffler now partner in Alstom Alliance™ Schaeffler and Alstom sign strategic partnership agreement for further development in area of rail transport

2024-09-25 | Schweinfurt

• Schaeffler joins Alstom Alliance™ program as partner for rolling bearing technology
• Reliable, safe, and sustainable products and services top priorities of partnership
• Partnership to enable long-term cooperation and expansion of business relationship

The motion technology company Schaeffler and Alstom, a world leader in the provision of green and intelligent mobility solutions, took the opportunity during the InnoTrans 2024 trade show to sign a partnership agreement. Schaeffler is now a partner for rolling bearing technology in the Alstom Alliance™ program. Schaeffler has supplied Alstom for many years with axlebox bearings along with housings, drive bearings for rail vehicle gearboxes and motors, and slewing rings for metro trains and trams. Schaeffler is the only partner company in the Alstom Alliance™ in the commodity of rolling bearing technology. Through the partnership, the two companies hope to further expand their business, develop new technologies, and spur their growth over the long term.

“We are very happy that our customer Alstom has included us in its partner program Alstom Alliance™. Together, we want to not only achieve but also continuously improve our high standards in quality and sustainability. The partnership will enable a long-term exchange of experience and knowledge, which will especially benefit the development and design of rolling bearings and thus, in turn, contribute to reliable and safe rail transport,” says Sascha Zaps, CEO Bearings & Industrial Solutions at Schaeffler AG.

“We are proud to welcome our partner Schaeffler to the Alstom Alliance™ program. This partnership reflects the strong relationship between our two companies and our shared commitment to building a long-term journey toward success,” says Guirec Turquet de Beauregard, Alstom Procurement Domain Director for Electrical & Propulsion.

Long-term partnerships with strategic suppliers
Alstom launched the Alstom Alliance™ program in 2015 in order to be able to offer customers high-quality, cost-effective products and services in a competitive market. The aim is to build long-term partnerships with strategic suppliers for the development and implementation of innovative, reliable, and more sustainable solutions, covering all phases from conceptual design to delivery.

Remanufacturing for economical and ecological railway operations
In the area of bearing remanufacturing or reconditioning, Schaeffler is currently expanding its offerings in order to support Alstom regionally with this service and contribute toward achieving the sustainability targets of the train manufacturer. For businesses in rail transport, too, use of the circular economy system is one of the main approaches for achieving greater sustainability. Bearing reconditioning can result in resource savings of up to 95 percent, depending on the extent of reconditioning. At the same time, Schaeffler offers the same quality and safety standards with its 100 percent return service and delivers the bearings with the same warranty as for new products.

With a common understanding of sustainability, Schaeffler and Alstom participate in various initiatives and associations to help improve the effectiveness of sustainability management through use of standardized measures and processes. Through their membership in the Railsponsible initiative, Schaeffler and Alstom underscore their commitment to greater sustainability in the railway industry. In addition, Schaeffler’s Platinum status, resulting from an EcoVadis sustainability score of 81/100 points, reflects the excellence of its sustainability practices and its unwavering dedication to environmental and social responsibility.