Saft wins multi-million euro contract for battery systems to keep

Saft wins multi-million euro contract
for battery systems to keep Ankara’s new metro trains running
Saft’s specialized MSX railway batteries will support vital control, communications and passenger
safety functions on new metro trains for Ankara, notably during harsh winters in Turkey’s capital
city.
Paris, January 21st, 2014 – Saft, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of advanced
technology batteries for industry, has been awarded a multi-million euro, two-year contract by CSR
Zhuhou Electric Locomotive Company ltd, one of China’s leading rolling stock manufacturers, to
supply the onboard battery systems for the fleet of metro trainsets currently under construction for
Ankara, Turkey’s capital city. The order reinforces Saft’s position in the growing Chinese rolling stock
market and Saft’s Zhuhai facility will play a key role in the project delivery by supplying fully
integrated battery systems comprising MSX batteries, battery boxes and related components. The
order builds on Saft’s successful fulfillment of a previous order from CSR Zhuzhou, in 2011, to supply
batteries for Malaysia’s KTM rolling stock.
Reliable and efficient public transport is becoming an increasingly important factor in Ankara’s
continued economic growth, as the city’s population is expected to grow from 5.1 million to 6.5
million between 2015 and 2025. To meet this demand, three new lines are being added to the Ankara
Metro, with services scheduled to open in early 2014. CSR Zhuzhou was awarded the contract to build
the new metro rolling stock in the largest project to date for a Chinese OEM exporting trainsets to
Europe.
Two battery systems, based on Saft’s specialized compact, lightweight MSX nickel-based batteries,
will be installed on each three-car Ankara Metro trainset. In the event of an interruption to the main
power supply, they will provide backup power for crucial control, communications and passenger
safety functions such as lighting, ensuring total reliability even in harsh winter conditions where
temperatures can fall to -25˚C.
‘This major order for the Ankara Metro builds on the success of other recent orders from rail OEMs in
China for the domestic and export markets. It cements Saft’s leadership in global railway applications,
as well as our increasing penetration across Asia’s rolling stock market,’ says Xavier Delacroix, General
Manager of Saft’s IBG Division. ‘A key factor in this growth is our Zhuhai facility, which enables us to
provide not only extensive local service support for our growing customer base in China, but also
battery system engineering and assembly.’
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About Saft
Saft (Euronext: Saft) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced technology batteries for
industry. The Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of nickel batteries and primary lithium batteries for the
industrial infrastructure and processes, transportation, civil and military electronics markets. Saft is the world
leader in space and defence batteries with its Li-ion technologies which are also being deployed in the energy
storage, transportation and telecommunication markets. Saft’s 3,800 employees present in 18 countries, its 15
manufacturing sites and extensive sales network all contribute to accelerating the Group’s growth for the
future.
For more information, visit Saft at www.saftbatteries.com
Press contact:
Saft
Jill Ledger, Corporate Communications and Institutional Relations Director
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 77, e-mail: [email protected]
Marie-Christine Guihéneuf, IBG Communication Manager,
Tel.: + 33 1 49 93 17 16, e-mail: [email protected]
Six Degrees
Andrew Bartlett, Tel.: + 44 (0) 118 900 0860, e-mail: [email protected]
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