News

KNRBB welcomes new support

Since 01 September, KNRBB has been supported by Bartosz Konowecki in Poland and Richard Šulko in the Czech Republic.

They are the contact persons for our Polish and Czech cooperation partners and those who want to become one.

Bartosz Konowecki	Richard Šulko
info@knrbb-gmbh.de	info@knrbb-gmbh.de

News

19th international KNRBB-Business meeting

Lasting insights at the business meeting of Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH.

“After a long break due to the pandemic, we are very pleased to be able to meet our network partners from Germany and abroad in person again and also to get to know our newly acquired members live.” With these words, Ralf Meinsen, Managing Director of Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (KNRRB), welcomed around 40 participants to the 19th International Business Meeting at the end of April 2022. Together, the operators of rail vehicles and suppliers of locomotive systems and components toured the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park in Spremberg/Lausitz, Brandenburg.

One network partner of KNRBB GmbH is MCR Engineering Lausitz GmbH. Since August 2019, this company has been offering a maintenance service for large equipment and rail vehicles beyond the borders of Germany. The network partners learned exactly what this service looks like – how older locomotives can be modernized and repaired – during a good 1.5-hour tour through the workshop. They were impressed not only by the huge premises with 26,000 m² of covered hall space, but also by the fully equipped maintenance workshop for 16 wagons.

Digitization & Retrofit – 2 Core Projects of Innolok 3.0

Another highlight was the presentation of the 3D metal printer. This metal printer can be used to gently and extremely precisely repair or replace individual parts of older locomotives in particular. “This extends the life cycle of rail vehicles and is thus a cost-effective alternative to new vehicles. This is sustainable and shows very nicely how digitization can also be usefully integrated in this rail sector,” summed up project manager and authorized signatory of KNRBB GmbH, Fränze Habedank.

The network project “Innolok 3.0” was also presented during the meeting so that projects such as digitization and retrofitting can be advanced. This project deals with the modernization of used locomotives and, among other things, promotes innovative energy generation and utilization in this context.

KNRBB welcomes new network partners

The participants were enthusiastic and used the time before and after the tour to network with each other. A next reunion in presence is planned at InnoTrans in Berlin in fall 2022. At the current meeting, the five new members introduced themselves:

• Antonics-ICP GmbH is a manufacturer of rail or railroad radio antennas. At the Berlin site, this company develops and produces professional antenna solutions using state-of-the-art technology.
• CSI Invest- Sp. z o.o. consists of experienced specialists in the field of rail vehicle maintenance. The aim of the Polish company is to provide repair, modernization and inspection services for the industry.
• SGS Germany GmbH is part of the globally active SGS Group and, as a rail competence center, specializes in the verification and certification of new, modernized and modified rail vehicles.
• Witt Solutions GmbH was founded in 1972. It develops and produces innovative measurement technology for DC networks.
• The Swedish company, Westermo Data Communications GmbH, has specialized in robust and secure industrial network solutions for mission-critical network applications for over 40 years.

News

Nothing endures but change

Heike Uhe, who has been a managing co-partner of KNRBB GmbH for six years, will leave the company by mutual agreement on March 1, 2022. With immediate effect, the company will be continued by Ralf Meinsen as sole shareholder and managing director. Fränze Habedank will be appointed authorized signatory in March 2022.

In recent years, Heike Uhe has played a key role in the restructuring and consolidation of KNRBB GmbH and has successfully driven it forward. Together with Ralf Meinsen, she has transformed the KNRBB network into an international and stable partner network, and initiated and implemented concrete projects.

Heike Uhe will now focus more on German-Polish projects in the cross-border rail sector as a consultant. She will continue to be available to KNRBB GmbH as a consultant on individual inquiries.

News

TRAKO 2021 (21. – 24. September 2021 in Danzig)

The KNRBB participated once again as a trade fair exhibitor at the TRAKO on the Berlin-Brandenburg joint pavilion organized by Berlin Partner for economy und technology GmbH. The 14th TRAKO was special for all exhibitors and visitors, as it was the first analogous trade fair in the field of rail transport technology in Europe since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic. In total, there were 500 exhibitors from 39 countries and about 23,000 visitors [Q: Railvolution TRAKO 2021 (1)].

The KNRBB and the 10 other exhibitors were represented at the well-organized Berlin-Brandenburg joint pavilion, each with their own booths. The high number of company representatives interested in the network was very pleasing at this TRAKO. The guests were mainly from Poland and Germany, but there were also visitors from the Czech Republic, Austria and China.

The KNRBB management and the other exhibitors of the Berlin-Brandenburg joint pavilion were satisfied with the course and the results of the fair and most of them want to be participate again in two years. Then at the 15th TRAKO in Gdansk.

News

18. internationale Entrepreneur´s Meeting

The Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH invited for the 18th International Entrepreneurs’ Meeting to a hybrid live event on June 10, 2021. Thus, the entrepreneurial meeting was not only a pilot event in this format at KNRBB but also an event with a special character. On the one hand, participants were able to take part live and in color, i.e. in presence, in the specially selected location, namely the Raumquartier in the city of Brandenburg an der Havel, and on the other hand, participants were able to log in to the event digitally and actively participate.

The agenda offered multi-layered topics, which were accompanied by the moderator duo Heike Uhe and Ralf Meinsen. The KNRBB started the event with a review of projects and network activities and an outlook on the Int.Rail.Digital funding project approved by the Berlin Senate, the Innolok 3.0 project and the events planned for 2021. This was followed by a short presentation by the Mittelstand 4.0 Kompetenzzentrum Cottbus. Mr. Stefan Hartig explained the core business of the Mittelstand 4.0 Kompetenzzentrum and the cooperation with KNRBB, which aims to make companies fit for digitalization – especially in an international context. A series of workshops is planned, which will be adapted to the needs of the companies and will include various topics – from social media in business to AI.

Dr. Torsten Latz from Deutsche Bahn AG described in his presentation the key points of procurement and the classification in the master strategy of the DB AG group. He started his presentation with a video, which at the same time clearly presented the general goal of DB AG: Germany needs a strong rail. The last topic on the agenda was a presentation by Maria Leenen, managing partner of SCI Verkehr GmbH. The presentation included a sound graphical analysis of the facts and figures of the European railroad market 2021 as well as the COVID 19 crisis and market trends.

Between the speakers, there were discussion rounds, in which the on- and offline participants took an active part. The event was rounded off by active networking among the participants.

News

Int.Rail.Digital – Kompetenznetz Rail continues its internationalization activities

Thanks to financial support within the framework of the “Program for Internationalization” of the Berlin Senate Department for Economy, Energy and Enterprises and ERDF funds, the KNRBB will be able to continue its activities and events for internationalization in the field of rail transport technology in the period from May 2021 to September 2023.
With the approved Int.Rail.Digital funding project, the challenges of digitization in international networking can be better met. However, in addition to digital or hybrid event formats for initiating and supporting national and international cooperation processes, analog options will continue to play a significant role at network meetings.

News

German-Swedish call for funding R&D projects

In February of this year, the German-Swedish call for joint R&D projects addressed to small and medium-sized enterprises in Sweden and Germany was launched. With this joint call, the Swedish project management agency Vinnova – Swedenʻs Innovation Agency together with the German project management agency AIF Projekt offer public funding for joint R&D projects between Swedish and German small and medium-sized enterprises (up to 499 employees).
The aim of the funding is to initiate joint R&D projects for the development of products, technology-based services or methods within technology and application areas between German and Swedish partners.
Are you interested in collaborating in R&D with a Swedish company or do you already have a finished project in the drawer? The Kompetenznetz Rail cooperates in the Swedish area with the KNRBB network partner SWERIG, a Swedish industry association for exporting companies within the railroad sector, and we will forward your request to our direct contact.

News

New web presence of Innolok 3.0 GbR

We are pleased to present our new homepage www.netzwerk-innolok.de. The website with its dynamic design is clearly structured and offers all interested parties, customers and partners clear information on the Innolok 3.0 network project.

The focus is on activities relating to the modernization of used shunting locomotives and the initiation of other innovative projects as well as the network partners involved. An intuitive user interface provides a quick and uncomplicated insight into the range of services.

We hope you enjoy our new homepage of the Innolok 3.0 network project.

17th International Entrepreneur Meeting on 22 September 2020 in Brandenburg/Havel

The day of the event was deliberately chosen: The Brandenburg Lake District combined with a fair-weather front and a limited number of participants provided the perfect setting for the 17th International Business Meeting of the KNRBB GmbH. The route of the boat trip provided a unique backdrop for networking of the more than 30 network partners from the railroad engineering sector who had travelled to the event.

On this day, the industry and the KNRBB cooperation partners had originally planned to meet at the leading international trade fair for rail transport technology InnoTrans 2020 – unfortunately, this will not take place until April 2021 due to certain corona-conditions. We did not want to wait that long with a personal exchange, because a real network meeting during the pandemic period was requested by the majority of participants, as it is a welcome change to the ongoing web meetings. The personal exchange was, is and remains an important and valued pillar for a network and its partners.

During the cruise, all network partners had the opportunity to present the company, its portfolio/ expertise, and current innovative technologies in the form of a pitch. The time window of three minutes was hardly exceeded and it was also time for the formulation of compliments to the network and the integration of the presentation of new products, which are not available in the network, but which immediately aroused interest among the participants.

Two new network members also took the opportunity to introduce their company and its core competencies in the form of a pitch. The companies Franz Kiel GmbH and MCR Energie Lausitz GmbH, which have just joined the network, as well as the associated railroad company LEAG, immediately entered into a lively exchange with the existing network partners during a joint meal.

We hope to see you again soon at business events and network meetings!

KNRBB presentation for the 16th International entrepreneur meeting on 12 December 2019 in “Turbinenhaus” in Brandenburg

TRAKO 2019 in Danzig: KNRBB GmbH present with network partner

15th KNRBB entrepreneur meeting on 16. Mai 2019 in Museum of Industry in Brandenburg