Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has been honoured by the Nograd County Chamber of Commerce with the Palocfold's Economy award.
* Alstom Hungary has won the Nograd County Chamber of Commerce award for Palocfold's Economy.
* Alstom was selected in the category of large size companies operating in the country for its outstanding contribution to the region's economic development
* Alstom's site in Matranovak employs more than 650 people and also trains welders and fitters on several training levels in its world class training centre
* The company is investing HUF 1.3 billion this year to expand the product portfolio and production capacity of the Nograd county plant
The Nograd County Chamber of Commerce has recognised the company's achievements in supporting the economic development of the Nograd county region as well as its future oriented approach. Alstom has played an important role in strengthening the performance and innovation capacity of the Hungarian economy, thanks to its continuous development and investments in its Matranovak site.
For four decades, Alstom's Matranovak site has been producing bogie frames for metro trains and railway wagons, on which axles, springs and brakes are mounted, therefore their quality is crucial for railway safety. Matranovak's bogie frames manufacturing involves highly sophisticated and combined welding techniques.
To meet the high-quality standards required, Alstom has established its own world-class training centre, where several people have learned welding and fitting with the help of experienced master welders. The centre's reputation is demonstrated by the fact that it already trains building- and scaffolding master fitters and would expand its training programmes to include other professions in the future, in cooperation with the national and county chambers of commerce.
'Innovation and continuous quality assurance are inseparable requirements at Alstom. The 'Made in Matranovak' label has become a guarantee for the reliability of the components manufactured here, which also indicates that the site is a top performer and has been successfully integrated into the company's European network.'
Gaspar Balazs
CEO of Alstom Transport Hungary Zrt. and Managing Director of Alstom in Hungary
'Innovation and continuous quality assurance are inseparable requirements at Alstom. The 'Made in Matranovak' label has become a guarantee for the reliability of the components manufactured here, which also indicates that the site is a top performer and has been successfully integrated into the company's European network. We have achieved this result with the support of the local community, in cooperation with professional organisations, and we are proud to receive this award from the County Chamber of Commerce,' said Gaspar Balazs, CEO of Alstom Transport Hungary Zrt. and Managing Director of Alstom in Hungary.
This year, thanks to continuous investment and development, the range of bogie frames that are produced for various rolling stocks, conventional and high-speed trains, suburban trains, locomotives and double deckers has been extended. The site in Nograd county is now also producing this important component for hydrogen-powered trains such as the Coradia iLint, which are a major innovation in rail transport. The world's first hydrogen train, the Coradia iLint manufactured by Alstom, has been in commercial service since 2018 and recently entered passenger service on the world's first 100 percent hydrogen-powered route in Bremervorde, Lower Saxony.
>650 people employed by Alstom's Matranovak site
27 Traxx locomotives running in Hungary
59 MAV-Start trains have been upgraded by Alstom to meet the strict ETCS board equipment standards
'With the Palocfold Economy Award, we would like to recognise not only Alstom's past achievements but also the company's contribution to the future of the region's economy. The company is providing a secure livelihood and career opportunities for hundreds of families and future professionals through continuous expansions, the creation of new jobs and improvements in the training centre. We are particularly proud that the name Matranovak is known all over the world, thanks to the high-quality products built here,' says dr. Peter Tordai, the President of the Nograd County Chamber of Commerce Representative.
Alstom is a major player in Hungarian rail transport: there are 27 Traxx locomotives running in Hungary, and the company has also upgraded 59 MAV-Start trains to meet the strict European standards ETCS board equipment, enabling these trains to reach a top speed of 160 km/h, more safely and efficiently than before. Alstom's Matranovak site currently employs more than 650 people and have open positions to fill, offering stable, sustainable jobs with multiple career opportunities. In its own training centre, the company, in cooperation with the county and national chambers of commerce, provides world-class trainings and great career opportunities in two niche professions - welding and locksmithing. The company hopes that the uptake of hydrogen trains will usher in a new era of rail transport worldwide with the Hungarian community's involvement.
Alstom, Coradia, Coradia iLint and TraxxTM are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.
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