CogiNews

July 2016, 14th issue

The Customized Modules Division newsletter

The first mile to

space is by rails
Lusail contract
VC Australia: Innovation in Action
Ladder tramway turnout in China
Industrial Awards Ceremony
CogiTech update

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents p. 2
Safety p. 3
Market & Subsidiaries p. 3 7 SAFETY CONTACT...
Finance p. 8
Transversal projects p. 9 12
TIRE PRESSURE
CONTENTS
Safety contact... Tire pressure...................................................... p. 3
Transports Publics 2016: the major European
event for all key players in sustainable mobility ......................... p. 3
No More Shares of Vossloh Cogifer into VCSPT .............................. p. 4
Lusail: Streetcar named "Desire"................................................. p. 4
The first mile to space is by rails .................................................... p. 5
Modular Yard Automation At Norfolk Southern Flat Yard ........... p. 6
DSLS - Dynamic Switch Locking System:
Innovation in Action ................................................................... p. 6 &7
A ladder turnout with 10 exits
for Chengdu Xinjin Tramway! ...................................................... p. 7
Vossloh concludes first quarter 2016 with positive EBIT .................. p. 8
The 2016 InnoTrans concept:
what are these competence spots about? ................................... p. 9
CM Industrial Trophies awarded at the CONNECT meeting.......... p. 10
Update on COGITECH programme ............................................... p. 11
World Wide Engineering ............................................................... p. 12

2
 SAFETY
SAFETY CONTACT

Tire Pressure
I nfluences:
Handling
Braking distance
Wear

R egular control of Tire Pressure:

At least once a month Insufficient Too much Correct
Better still, every fueling

MARKET & SUBSIDIARIES

SOUTH & WEST EUROPE
FRANCE

Transports Publics 2016:

the major European
event for all key players
in sustainable mobility

T ransports Publics, the European

Mobility Exhibition, is the not-to-be
missed biennial exhibition for all the key
players in public transport and sustai-
nable mobility from across Europe.
Despite a difficult economic and social
context, this edition has fully lived up to its Modules displayed a recently homologated Contact:
promise in terms of visitor numbers. Over integrated actuation system for RATP (Pa- Olivier.Coustillon@vossloh-cogifer.com
10,000 (+20% this year, from 66 countries) risian metro): the R62 switch system scale
highly qualified participants come to- 1/1.
gether over three days in Paris (June 14-16)
to discuss the latest innovations for ur- In addition, our experts had the chance to
ban, interurban and regional transport, present their services solutions (track &
as well as green mode transport. switch maintenance) to a large audience
Transports Publics is recognised as the at the Experts forum on day 2.
leading European showcase for innova-
tions in equipment, services and policies We are now looking forward to meeting
relating to the entire mobility sector, again next year: the 2017 edition will be
bringing together leading European deci- held in Marseille from October 10-12!
sion-makers from transport and politics.

On a One Vossloh booth, the 3 Rail

Infrastructure divisions exhibited their so-
lutions to visitors curious to hear about
our new integrated approach in the
market. Lifecycle Solutions showed its
HSG-city and Flexis small mock-ups,
Core Components various urban trans-
port fastening systems and Customized
CONTENTS 3

NORTH & EAST EUROPE
RUSSIA
No More Shares of
Vossloh Cogifer into
VCSPT
T he Vossloh management board has
confirmed the decision of exercising the
put option, meaning the selling of our 75%
shares in the Novosibirsk switch plant.
MIDDLE EAST, INDIA, AFRICA
QATAR
Lusail:
Streetcar named "Desire"
I t is a long time now since Qatars main
resources were cultured pearl produc-
tion and fishing. Since oil was discovered
there in the 1940's, and above all since it
began processing gas, this young, small
nation of only 2.5 million inhabitants is
now the 4th largest gas producer in the
world, with the highest GDP/person on
the planet.
Although these days, the country is re-
nowned mainly for its interest in sport,
especially since it was selected to hold
the football World Cup in 2022, it also has
the ambition of becoming a Middle Eas-
tern hub, like its neighbour Dubai.
That is why it has launched some huge
infrastructure and building programmes.
So this is the context for the plan for the
new city of Lusail, to the north of the
CONTENTS
MARKET & SUBSIDIARIES
After more than 3 years, the objectives
set at the time of the privatisation of
Novosibirsk could not be realized.
Neither technology transfer nor real ope-
rational success could be demonstrated,
while the partnership appeared to be
limited to a financial one.
capital, Doha. Naturally, an urban trans-
port scheme was incorporated in the
project from the outset, and in the end,
Alstom was selected to supply its Citadis
tramway.
A 38 km tram network will be laid out, ha-
ving the main features of the one already
operating in Dubai since 2015, with a
ground-level power supply, known as APS.
This project was an opportunity for the
Customized Modules Division to demons-
trate the efficiency of its new tramway
cell, managed by Gael Engelmann and
Laurent Letzelter.
So after lengthy negotiations and some
reversals, the contract to supply 98 track
switches was signed at Saint Ouen with
the Alstom team. This was the first Middle
East tramway contract, where our techni-
cal solution will be faced with challenging
climate conditions (sand, high tempera-
ture, significant humidity levels).
This is now a new challenge for all the
teams involved to find new ways of brea-
king through into the Russian and CIS
markets..
Contact:
Gael.Dumetier@vossloh-cogifer.com
But this achievement would not really be
complete without the supply of switch
motors. This second piece of good news
was given to us in May, by Cedric Maidon,
Signalling Products senior sales engineer.
It means Vossloh Cogifer will supply not
only the track switches from its Luxem-
bourg and Alsace plants, but now also the
motors. These will be MCEH61 motors,
pre-installed on the track switches on both
sites before delivery.
This plug & play configuration was
seen as generating real added value by
the customer, and will help the installa-
tion work on the track.
We now hope that these new tramway
projects in the Emirates and in Qatar will
be emulated in the region, with Saudi
Arabia already showing an interest
Contact :
Frdric.Milliet@vossloh-cogifer.com
4
 MARKET & SUBSIDIARIES

INDIA

The first mile to space

is by rails

I ndian Space Research Organization

(ISRO) is established in Satish Dhawan
Space Center (SDSC), located on Sriha-
rikota Island, 100 km north east from
Chennai, in South East India.
Due to the successful activity of this
Center, ISRO has to enhance its launching
capacities, and this requires additional
rocket assembly sheds. These have to
be connected with a rail which allow the
rocket to be carried to the launch pad.
But as there is only 1 launch pad the
new track has to be connected with the
old track, which is a special twin track The tender itself was for the complete Kick off meeting with ISRO and Gantrex
turnout system. works, including construction, and we Belgium, who won the track construction
got the RFQ from several tendering works, took place in SDSC on Jan 22nd
After a tender has been launched in Contractors (Tata, Kalindee, Gantrail UK, 2016, and another conclusive technical
meeting was held on March 1st, with sub-
November 2012, we decided to go and Gantrex Belgium,...).
mission of our proposed design, which
visit ISRO, to explain to them our solu- Even ISRO contacted us to make a direct
has been approved.
tion for such a very particular concept, quote to them, in parallel to the public
Manufacturing will start shortly, and 1
as we did something similar in Kourou tender they launched. Commercially
set, which will allow connection of the old
Space Center in French Guyana, a couple it became easy, but technically it was track with the new one, is due to be deli-
of years back. another story.
vered in SDSC on October 30th, this year.
I went there in March 2013, with a nice In fact, with the exception of the 175 LBS 2nd set will connect the new tracks for
presentation, together with the Managing MRS 85 rail profile, the ISRO project was shed n2 under construction, and shed
Director of ETF India, a French Railway completely different than Kourou, as the n3 which will be built later.
Construction Company, to propose to them rocket is to be carried on a huge platform It will be delivered within Q1 2017.
a turnkey solution, based on our previous of 2000 tons, the same platform being The installation of the 1st set will be
Kourou experience. used for the construction and launching challenging, as the existing 1 km from
We spent half a day in a conference of the rocket. the old assembly shed to the launch pad
room, trying to explain to some 30 En- Furthermore the heavy 250 tons axle can only be interrupted for 6 weeks,
gineers that what they wanted was not load, was forcing us to completely considering that 1 rocket launch is hap-
possible. It was in fact a switch system rethink the technology to be imple- pening every 2 months.
for a double flange wheel set, which is mented, and develop a twin track swit- Manufacturing of switches will be in
what they currently have on the bogies ch system with continuous bearing for a Reichshoffen, and crossings in India.
of their current rocket platform. huge vehicle with a gauge of 14000 mm In March 2017, the 1st ISRO rocket should
We came back from this meeting, very (against 1435 mm for railways) inclu- be carried to the launch pad on Vossloh
disappointed, as we had the feeling that ding 2 turnouts with gauge 700 mm and Cogifer turnouts, and a special event
we had wasted our time, and just used a crossover, each wheel having an axle will probably be organized by ISRO
as technical consultants, but certainly load of 125 tons, and the platform having for this occasion, who will ask Senior
4 wheel sets of 4 wheels respectively. Representatives of Companies having
not with any hope to see an order.
been involved in this extension project
Indeed the tender never went to its end. The whole 2000 ton platform, with the
to attend the launching of the rocket, a
We did not have any further interaction rocket standing upright, is moving at a
great moment in Indias Space Conquest
with ISRO Engineers, and we did not speed of 3 km/h form the assembly shed
adventure and ISROs success story, with
hear anything anymore about this pro- to the 1 km distant launch pad. a small contribution of Vossloh Cogifer.
ject until November 2014, where the pro- Also as ISRO is anticipating that most
ject was tendered again, with technical likely the 2nd assembly rocket shed Contact:
specification requesting a Vossloh Co- allowing to increase the launching Hubert.Treger@vossloh-cogifer.com
gifer switch system. frequency from 5/year to 8-10/year, will
It was a big surprise for us to see our soon also become insufficient, the new
Company Name in this specification, and track is built in order to allow a connec-
were prepared to see it challenged by our tion with a 3rd shed, in the future,
competitors, but despite some attempts but presently requiring installation of 1
of VAE, the tender was not discharged. more switch system.

CONTENTS 5

NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA
USA
Modular Yard
Automation at Norfolk
Southern Flat Yards
M YA (Modular Yard Automation)
is a suite of hardware and sof-
tware products that in combination
allow railroads to automate switching
at arrival and departure tracks from a
centralized or decentralized location.
Vossloh Signaling, Inc. has had success
implementing MYA in flat yards throughout
North America, especially on Class I
railroads like CSX and Norfolk Southern,
which have standardized the Vossloh TS-
4500 switch machine.
ASIA-PACIFIC & CHINA
AUSTRALIA
DSLS - Dynamic Switch
Locking System:
Innovation in Action
W hat do you do when one of your
signature product lines shows up
a fundamental flaw and in the most
dramatic way? But what if the solution
grabs the interest and imagination of the
whole railway industry? This is the sto-
ry of Vossloh Cogifer Australias (VCAs)
Dynamic Switch Locking System.
Vossloh Cogifer Australias prototype Dynamic
Switch Locking System now installed at No. 476D
Points, North Melbourne Flyover
CONTENTS
MARKET & SUBSIDIARIES
Norfolk Southern has implemented MYA in
two of its major flat yards, including Inman
Yard and Decatur Yard.
The NS Inman Yard is a major hub of inters-
tate commerce and intermodal transporta-
tion just northwest of downtown Atlanta.
Norfolk Southerns Decatur Yard, situated
among major food and agriculture ma-
nufacturing facilities, has implemented
MYA modules, including 29 single switch
(TS-4500s) and 4 Crossovers controlled
by RailMaster, and a RailMaster Kiosk that
controls an 18 switch ladder.
Contact:
Anthony.Musa@vna.vossloh.com
It is well known that in Dual Gauge
Turnouts, the gap at the heel of the
dual-gauge switchblades, where the
turning out rail for the narrower gauge
track crosses the straight-through rail
of the wider gauge track, the track
requires consideration to ensure that the
wheel treads remain supported and the
wheelsets remain guarded as they
traverse this gap.
The Dual Gauge Turnouts which had
been manufactured by VCA to an ARTC
design and supplied to the Regional Rail
Link Project in Melbourne, to separate
Broad Gauge (1600 mm) and Standard
Gauge (1435mm) freight traffic from
each other and from the broad gauge
Metro suburban e.m.u passenger traffic
and from V/Lines broad gauge regional
passenger services.
All of this traffic uses 140 mm wide
wheels. On 10th July 2014 a standard
gauge XPT long distance passenger
train which had only just commenced
services over this new track derailed a
wheelset in this gap. It was a surprise
to all to find that the wheels of the XPT
were only 127 mm wide.
VCA worked with V/Line, Metro, ARTC
and the Australian Rail Safety Regulator
to develop and install stop-gap solutions
so that XPT services could be restored at
Photos show MYA at the Norfolk Southern Decatur Yard.
least for the straight track, albeit under
speed restrictions.
But this creates a bottleneck, so VCA was
engaged to find a more permanent solu-
tion which would allow XPT traffic over
both the straight track and the diverging
track without any speed restriction.
Gary Doherty of VCAs Engineering
Department was working on this project,
and it was he who came up with the idea
of a switchable K crossing but with a
difference. Using these same concepts,
Gary developed a solution which provi-
ded support to all wheels throughout
this area, but by using opposing facing
switchblades which can act as a switch
or a stockrail depending on which wheel
is traversing which track.
The Dynamic Switch Locking System
(DSLS) was born.
Garys design was first developed using
the Inventor 3-D design package.
VCAs 3-D printer was widely used to
create models for the prototypes, gauges
for inspection, as well as the creation
of patterns for casting production.
Gary and VCAs engineering team worked
very closely with a senior track design
engineer engaged by V/Line and with V/
Lines senior track and signaling people
to verify the design, to carry out the
6

risk assessment, the failure modes and
effects analysis, and to follow through
the Type Approval process, and were as-
sisted by technical comment and advice
from the Vossloh Cogifer Technology
Centre at Reichshoffen.
Time was of the essence but safety was
paramount. V/Lines General Manager
Track fully supported the project and was
prepared to support such a novel, untried
solution being installed in track, but he
had to ensure that the engineering was
sound and that all risks had been identi-
fied and engineered out of the product.
As soon as engineering approval was
granted, VCA commenced the assembly
of the prototype, which was then assem-
bled on its concrete sleepers in an outside
test bed at Castlemaine, connected to
its switch motor, and subjected to a se-
ries of tests to ensure that the DSLS was
both robust and reliable. Tests included
various load tests, blockage tests to verify
the signaling connections, and repeated
operations tests to check its repeatability
and reliability.
Over the weekend of 21st May 2016 Gary
assisted the V/Line team and their track
contractor to install the prototype DSLS
at 476D Points, North Melbourne, where
the DSLS will now undergo a period of
in-service testing. This concept has gene-
rated quite some interest not only within
CHINA
A ladder turnout with 10 exits for
Chengdu Xinjin Tramway!
A huge construction has been built at
the Wuhu factory: a 10 exits ladder tur-
nout! It is to be delivered in August to the
Chengdu Xinjin Tramway network (China).
CONTENTS
MARKET & SUBSIDIARIES
Metro, V/Line and ARTC (all of whom have
been involved with VCA during the develop-
ment of the DSLS), but within the broader
railway engineering fraternity in Australia.
Gary co-authored a technical paper with
John Scaife titled, Dual Gauge Turnout
Improvements, which was presented on
17th May 2016 at the CORE2016 Confe-
rence On Railway Engineering which
was held in Melbourne. Organised by the
Railway Technical Society of Australia and
held every two years at different venues
around Australia, the CORE Conference
is Australias leading technical conference
for railway engineering.
But this is only the first chapter of the sto-
ry. Manufacturing has commenced for the
second unit, using a similar configuration
as the prototype, and VCAs Engineering
team is now committed to developing the
designs for another four configurations
of Broad / Irish Gauge Standard Gauge
Dual Gauge Turnouts.
Gary Doherty from VCA presenting part of his joint
paper Dual Gauge Turnout Improvements at
CORE2016 in Melbourne on 17th May 2016.
Garys co-author is looking on from the right.
Built in three months, of rail profile 50R2
grooved rail and 73C1 rail, it has a total
length of 60 meters and will be installed
in depot.
In the photo of the crew at Castlemaine
(from the left):
Murray Peterson - Fitter and Press Operator
Gary Connell - Machinist
David Murdoch - Works Manager
(your good self)
Malcolm Stewart - Machinist
Nathan Weston - Machinist
Mark Ellse - Fitter and Welder
Timathi Sapountzis - Fitter
Graeme Holland - Welder and Fitter
Mark Taylor - Works Supervisor
David Martin - Fitter?
Jamie McLean - Fitter
Adrian Vella - Fitter
Peter Daniels-Production and Quality Control
C  ameron Gilchrist - Fitter
B  rendan Breewell - Stores and Logistics
D  aniel Jones - Machinist, and
T revor Kuhle - Machinist
Contact:
Kinsher.Warwick@vossloh-cogifer.com
The crew at Castlemaine who manufactured and
tested the DSLS behind the prototype on the test bed.
We were also very happy to provide it
with Vossloh W-tram fastenings systems!
Acceptance meeting was on 29th of June.
Around 50 people from professional
design institutes, customers, track laying
companies in tramway application and
news media have attended this event.
Contact:
Jun.Xi@cogifer-china.com
7

VOSSLOH CONCLUDES FIRST QUARTER 2016
WITH POSITIVE EBIT
EBIT improves significantly
to 2.3 M
Orders received above
previous year, important
new orders won
Outlook for 2016 confirmed
T he EBIT of Vossloh Group improved
considerably to 2.3 M in the first
quarter of 2016. The comparable figure
in the first quarter of 2015 had been at
-2.2 M*.
The EBIT margin for the first three mon-
ths of the current financial year was
positive at 1.0 % (previous year: -0.9
%*). Due to revenue shifts between the
quarters, sales at the Vossloh Group of
240.1 M in the first quarter were 7.6
% below the previous year figure of
259.8 M*.
The seasonally reserved course of bu-
siness in the first three months of 2016
was in line with the expectations. Ne-
vertheless, Vossloh expects a continua-
tion of the positive business trend in
the course of the year.
CONTENTS
This is also backed by the strong or-
ders received in the first quarter, which
were significantly higher than sales and
amounted to 289.6 M as compared to
265.5 M* in the previous year.
The order backlog for the Group on March
31, 2016 of 1,080.7 M remained at a high
level (previous year: 1,147.7 M*).
In the Customized Modules division,
sales remained by 3.5 % moderately
below the previous year quarter (115.9
M) and reached 111.9 M.
Among others, important reasons were
a weaker business development in the
USA and Poland, whereas significant
revenue increases were achieved for
example in France and Israel.
EBIT for the division fell to 2.4 M after
5.5 M in the previous year. This was
also related to a fine notice of the Ger-
man Federal Cartel Office for anti-com-
petitive agreements in the switch mar-
ket, issued in March 2016, which turned
out to be slightly higher than expected.
Buoyed by orders from France, USA,
Morocco and Sweden, orders received
improved by 4.6 % to 153.9 M (pre-
vious year: 147.2 M).
FINANCE
Employees
At the end of the first quarter of 2016,
4,854 people were employed by Vossloh
Group around the world, 60 people less
than at prior years date (4,914 em-
ployees*).
Outlook
For the full-year 2016, Vossloh conti-
nues to anticipate sales between 1.2
and 1.3 billion (2015: 1,200.7 M) and
a further continuous improvement in
operational profitability.
The EBIT margin of the Group will, from
todays perspective, improve slightly
to between 4.0 % and 4.5 % in the
current financial year as compared
to the previous year (2015: 3.8 %)
supported by the continuation of the
restructuring measures.
For 2017, Vossloh expects an EBIT mar-
gin of between 5.5 % and 6.0 %.
Contact:
Dirk.Redda@vossloh-cogifer.com
*Prior year figures adjusted due to the sale of the
former Rail Vehicles business unit.
8

COMMUNICATION
The 2016 InnoTrans
concept: what are
these competence
spots about?
T he Innotrans 2016 to be held in Berlin in
September is the occasion to highlight
our motto: Connecting Expertise.
One first Competence Spot will then
be dedicated to present Vosslohs inte-
grated expertise positioning topic.
Three other Competence Spots follow
to showcase Vosslohs competence topics.
Each topic will be assigned a clearly de-
fined space (a competence spot table)
and individual topics will differ from one
another and be clearly visible.
As fair visitors are always short of time,
it will be possible to explain each topic
within 5 minutes. Further options at the
stand are available for more intensive
discussions (conference rooms, catering
area etc).
From all Business Units, experts have
been selected and will be trained on every
topic during this summer. This will allow
any expert of the team to comprehen-
sively explain each topic.
In addition, on each table, an introduc-
tory, 90-second video will quickly sum up
what the given topic is about.
Following that, the sales represen-
tative will continue the line of argu-
ment and will be able to steer the
exchange using various supporting ele-
ments found at the competence spot.
Such supporting elements can be:
- Explanatory charts regarding references
and case studies or regarding general
technical matters, functions, results,
etc. These will be displayed on large
touchscreen monitors at the island, thus
facilitating an interactive discussion.
- Real products that visitors can touch for
demonstration purposes.
- Smaller 3D models and videos.
- Demonstration models with experiential
value (acoustic shower, mallet test).
- Information tablets, via which content
and information on the topics can be
accessed in a self-explanatory manner.
Competence Spot 'Integrated Expertise
Vosslohs Integrated Expertise posi-
tioning topic forms the starting point for
this years Vossloh presentation at the
InnoTrans and at the same time under-
scores our new position, which has been
implemented internally under the One
Vossloh motto.
CONTENTS
TRANSVERSAL PROJECTS
The presentation deals with the ope-
rational reformation of Vosslohs three
divisions and explains the key benefits
that result from this for our customers.
An extensive set of references as well as
concrete case studies will serve to under-
score our performance.
The topic will be rounded off by an over-
view of our integrated range of products
and services. In addition to this, there
will also be cross-references to our three
competence spots of noise reduction,
cost-effectiveness and track efficiency,
for which Vossloh provides corresponding
products, services and solutions.
The presentation will serve to position
the following three core messages:
-We have re-structured ourselves fol-
lowing a period of transformation.
-Our integrated approach offers cus-
tomers considerable advantages.
-We have uncompromisingly geared
"our sales department and our range of
products and services to suit customer
requirements".
Competence Spot "Noise Reduction
Vosslohs Noise Reduction competence Message: Vossloh pursues a holistic ap-
spot will deal with the most urgent to-
pic of rail traffic, which is perceived as
the most unpleasant by the public at the
same time. To this end, Vossloh provides
numerous standalone and/or combinable
solutions for sustainably solving this en-
vironmental issue, be it through proprie-
tary product technologies, services or
processes.
The general implementation ideas as-
sociated with this competence spot are
based on various tangible, visual and
acoustic experiences with noise: an eye
catcher in the form of an acoustic shower
will be positioned in the middle of the
stand, a video that makes noise measure-
ments visible, and a vibration reduction
experiment: two fastening systems being
compared by striking the track with a litt-
le rubber mallet. Vibrations will then be
directly measured at various points and
shown on screen.
Competence Spot "Track Availability
Vosslohs Track Availability compe-
tence spot will deal with track availability
and the numerous options for increasing
track efficiency with Vossloh products and
services. All planned associated applica-
tions are designed to facilitate interaction
with stand visitors.
Core message: Vossloh provides sustai-
nable and integrated product and service
solutions that have been proved to direc-
tly result in improved track availability.
This both applies to plannable measures
as well as to unforeseeable events of a
generally efficiency decreasing nature.
Competence Spot "Lifecycle Costs
Vosslohs Lifecycle Costs competence
spot will deal with sustainable and
forward-looking cost-effectiveness consi-
derations over a tracks entire lifecycle.
proach and to this end will present nu-
merous standalone and/or combinable
solutions.
The aim is to demonstrate how costs for
track manufacture right up to recycling
can be considerably reduced by selecting
the right products, services or processes.
We are wishing good luck to our experts
in mastering these topics!
Contact:
Olivier.Coustillon@vossloh-cogifer.com
9

CM Industrial Trophies
awarded at the
CONNECT meeting
T he second annual CONNECT meeting
took place at the beginning of June,
in Chamonix, France, gathering all the
groups Managing Directors and some
special guests from the two other Rail
Infrastructure business units.
It was the opportunity to meet, share
experiences and network in a friendly at-
mosphere. The participants were divided
in small groups to think on how to conti-
nue to change the business through 3
topics: trust and transparency, value
selling and consultative customer rela-
tionship building, and change. This led
the group to a creative thinking process
focusing on what needs to change in or-
der to fulfil the strategy of the group. The
groups results have then been presented
in the plenary to the whole audience.
This new format seduced a lot the par-
ticipants and moreover our CEO Gerard
Thorez was very happy that a lot of
ideas for the future emerged from the
audience! The results are being analy-
zed and will soon be shared.
As every year since 2012, the meeting
was the occasion to recognize, celebrate
and reward units of our group that have
accomplished remarkable efforts and ob-
tained outstanding results. And to that
regard, 2015 was special. As never be-
fore did we receive so many applications
which is a great sign for our division and
seems to indicate that we are not afraid
of change. The 3 categories to be rewar-
ded were Health & Safety, Lean, and Pur-
chasing. The quality of the applications
definitely moved one step up. And we
want to thank a lot all participants for the
efforts that were put in the actions and in
the way they have been submitted.
New this year, a more precise and clea-
rer checklist to even better rate the ap-
plications through 3 sections: quality of
the application, description of the action,
and results & benefits. We also slightly
changed the process and asked each Jury
Member to review, on its own, all appli-
cations and rate them using the checklist.
Then all results have been compiled into
one file that ranked by grade all applica-
tions for each category. Final decision was
made by a Jury Meeting that took place
end of April and none of the final decision
ended up different than what appeared
in the file. Finally and to be fully transpa-
CONTENTS
TRANSVERSAL PROJECTS
rent, jury members were Gerard Thorez,
Dirk Redda, Franois Gagnire, Matthieu
Garnier and Antonio Sanna.
Safety Award:
the winner is Vossloh Nordic Switch Systems
Among all applications received, 3 clearly
stood out and ended up as finalists:
- Vossloh Cogifer Switch & Crossing
Reichshoffen for their implementation
of safer, reinforced and fully standar-
dized pallet collar for storage!
- Vossloh Nordic Switch Systems for the
very efficient implementation of cor-
porate procedures at all levels, for the
proactive approach deployed safety ob-
servations, near-misses and hazardous
behaviors/conditions reporting and
analysis and the results it generated in
terms of frequency and severity rates re-
duction and for the 1668 consecutive
days (i.e. since early 2012) without any
Lost time Accident in the rebro plant!
- And Wuhu for implementing so tho-
roughly the Safety Observation process,
for the very precise follow-up done (~
200 risks identified and eliminated) and
an impressive 533 days without any Lost
Time Accident!
Lean Award:
the winner is Vossloh Cogifer Kloos
For this category, the finalists were:
- Vossloh Cogifer Switches & Crossing
Fre-en-Tardenois for the lean actions
they implemented and that allowed re-
ducing their average lead-times by 50%
and their working capital by 30%!
- Vossloh Cogifer Kloos for the very
substantial reduction in their inventory
thanks to the implementation of Su-
permarkets refilled, using the Kanban
system and for the very positive results
it brought in terms of Working Capital
Reduction!
- Vossloh Cogifer Signalling Products for
the fantastic change of flow they imple-
mented in their Receiving and Quality
Assurance Receiving area and the great
results they obtained!
Purchasing Award:
the winner is Vossloh Cogifer Australia
2015 Applications targeted to:
- Improve knowledge of the suppliers
with VC for the SIGNALING BUSINESS
- Optimize suppliers products for VC
Australia
- Challenge global competitiveness of
existing solutions through make or buy
for CTM
- Develop saving portfolio by developing
new suppliers for VCB
- Improve Supplier/VC link implementa-
tion process with VCK
- Optimize suppliers resources usages
with VC UK
- Optimize the purchasing organization
itself to target more efficiency for VNSS
And finally, this year again, following the
thorough review of all applications we
did, one company stood out showing a
complete change in the way it manages
the business and deserved a Special Jury
Award: Cleveland Track Material! It im-
plemented one action following a tragic
accident that happened. Very positive re-
sults were obtained and it showed a po-
tential for further development in the co-
ming years: they completely eliminated a
very serious risk, they reduced the usage
of floor space and reduced inventory. All
this lead to a 830 K reduction of raw
material cost & ~0,5 M of tooling cost
reduction!
Keep in mind to prepare your 2016 ap-
plications and see you at next CONNECT
meeting in 2017!
Contact:
Olivier.Coustillon@vossloh-cogifer.com
10
 TRANSVERSAL PROJECTS
INNOVATION

Update on COGITECH
Item Plant/workshop Local manager Start date
programme
C ogifer Technologie (COGITECH) is
a programme launched in 2014 to
oversee our special processes. It is de-
Tri-metallic
welding
Outreau
Fre
F. Barbier
C. Heindrik 09/2014
Beekay J. Thomas
signed to guarantee the performance
and quality of our products.
It is essential that we exercise control Reichshoffen C. Defosset
over our special processes. Flash butt Fre M. Georges
03/2015
The work of COGITECH is built around welding VC Kihn C. Verron
four main tasks: Laeis A. Gelz
- To define specifications giving precise
descriptions of the methods and stages Beekay B. Pant - A. Sinha
Manganese
for implementing the processes. Amurrio Del Rio 07/2015
crossing
- To define techniques for guaranteeing Outreau S. Pattyn
the quality and performance of the
chosen technology. Coating 03/2013
Suppliers L. Fendeleur
- To implement quality indicators and the (NiCr & Cogislide) (initiated in 2012)
associated documentation.
- To create a network of expertise within Forging VC Kihn C. Verron 04/2015
the group.
Subsidiaries that implement the process Rail/rail welding VC Kihn C. Verron 09/2015
concerned are gradually involved in the
programme. The table below summarises Reichshoffen
RIJ I. Oliva 09/2015
the processes for which the programme Fre
was initiated.

Tri-metallic welding was the 1st COGI-

TECH deployed in the production units
(Fre, Outreau and Beekay).
The indicator applied, after a radical re-
vision of the process, is used to measure
changes in weld rejection figures.
There was significant progress, as shown
in the graph below of the monthly
fluctuations in the weld rejection rate on
crossings since January 2015.
There is a clear downward trend, although
the rejection figures remain significant.
Flash butt welding, on the other hand,
is used on American sites. CTM will take
delivery of its machine this year and can
begin welding for the US market; the
technical teams will adopt COGITECH
FBW (Flash Butt Welding).
COGITECH Mn (manganese crossing) is
gradually coming on stream. Indicators
are now in place and the improvement
programme has begun.
The rejection rate is around 10%.
An IWT (International Weld Technician) Finally, the latest addition to the COGI-
training programme has been established TECH programme is intended to improve
for the Reichshoffen, Fre and VC Kihn reliability in our products and compo-
sites. nents; this is COGITECH Reliability led by
This programme has the ambitious aim L. Fendeleur.
of bringing the group in line with inter-
national standards ISO 3834 and ISO 14 Contact :
731 for definition of quality and control Franck.Barresi@vossloh-cogifer.com
of welding procedures.

CONTENTS 11
 TRANSVERSAL PROJECTS
WORLD WIDE ENGINEERING

DESIGN/
PROCESS MANUFACTURING
DRAWINGS
Writing and definition of the terms To know more about
Flow chart validation of the WWE To know more about
Any Project Categorization which should be analysed by the
The target of this topic is to define the boundary between the
transverse World Wide Engineering Cell is formalized by a
Design and manufacturing drawings inside the Design
Questionnaire named WWE DECI TECH DECI TECH
Offices Worldwide
The WWE has been integrated in the Project Categorization
The strategy to handle these subjects will be established by
process
the WW team and supported by Simpler First EIE (Engineering
The RISK DASHBOARD is available. This document is the best
Improvement Event) will be held from 20th to 24th June
way to ask help on specific technical risk. Design Department
Manager dont hesitate to contact your Regional Relay if you
need help RISK DASHBOARD

WORKLOAD AND
SKILLS CAPACITY

A tool with Visual Planning has been developed for

The skill Matrix data basis has been finalized.
capacity / load management of each region and / or each WW
The file will be available soon, all the Design Office Manager
design Office To know more about
will receive a link to fulfill the registration report... to support
Coming actions
all the Design Office Worldwide in this process dont hesitate
Finalize the structure
to contact the WWE if question or doubt
Implementation of the users rights
The final version and the tutorial will be send in the coming
Creation of relevant indicators
weeks.
Deployment to the others Design Office Worldwide

CAD SYSTEM COMMUNICATION

One more Design Office connected since end March 2016

REGIONS
An article concerning Worldwide Engineering organization
regional relay
north & south america
regional relay
north east europe
was written in CogiNews of April 2016 and in Project Category
Newsletter #3 To know more about
regional CoCreate regional
Deployment relay
relay
asia pacific &
india Regularly updating of the intranet WWE Synergy web site
middle east
china
regional relay
south west europe
africa
First Newsletter World Wide Engineering WWE published
in June 2016

To know more about

Transversal level Regional Design Relays

Validate the Pre-design & Design for New Market or New Design Follow-up the engineering studies for the domestic markets
Provides Technical Expertise Follow-up design activities
Maintain Engineering skills Provide reporting (Workload, Product capacity) Validate
Decides the design localization, estimates workload and Delivery time Word Wide Investment for tools and facilities
Defines methods & rules, resources and activities Engineering
Business Unit Design offices
Drives "Engineering" transformation plan - Design/Manuf. Drawings Apply the corporate rules/methods
Validate Investment for tools and facilities Design offices produces detailed drawing for products,
services, and after-sales

CONTENTS 12