InnoTrans 2024: Interview with the Chairman of the Board of PJSC “Kryukovsky Railway Car Building Works” Maxim Kramarenko

Ahead of the InnoTrans 2024 exhibition, we sat down with Maxim Kramarenko, Chairman of the Board of PJSC “Kryukovsky Railway Car Building Works” (KRCBW) — the flagship of Ukrainian railcar manufacturing and a leading enterprise in the field of railway engineering. During our conversation, he shared insights on the importance of InnoTrans for the company, the new products they plan to showcase at the exhibition, and the role of international cooperation in the company’s development, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

— Could you please tell us how important the InnoTrans exhibition is for Kryukovsky Railway Car Building Works?

— Participation in InnoTrans has always been and remains of great significance for our company. Since 2006, we have been a regular participant in this global exhibition, and until recently, we were the only Ukrainian manufacturer presenting our products at InnoTrans with a personal stand.

We have always considered participation in such a high-level exhibition not only as an excellent opportunity to showcase our achievements but also to establish new business contacts, exchange experiences with colleagues from different countries, learn about the latest trends and innovations in the industry, and strengthen our positions in both domestic and international markets, find new partners and clients, and gain valuable knowledge and experience.

— What does Kryukovsky Railway Car Building Works plan to present at InnoTrans 2024?

— In line with our plant’s development strategy, our specialists have designed and manufactured an intermodal platform wagon of the Sggrss 80′ type, intended for container transportation, which fully complies with European standards. The wagons have passed the entire necessary testing cycle at test sites in EU countries and have been certified for operation on the entire EU railway network. The certificates No. 1358/1/SB/2023/RST/EN/1419/V01, No. 1358/4/SB/2023/RST/EN/1419/V01, No. 1358/6/SB/2023/RST/EN/1419/V01 have been entered into the database of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), confirming compliance with all current requirements.

Our plant became the first in Ukraine to obtain the right to produce freight wagons for the 1435 mm gauge, meeting the relevant Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) requirements in the European Union.

We hope that our new products will allow Kryukov Railway Car Building Works to expand its markets and meet the needs of both EU companies and Ukrainian companies operating on the 1435 mm gauge.

For example, with the establishment of the UZ operator “Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland” and its integration into the EU freight rail system, we are now ready to offer UZ the possibility of equipping the newly created operator company with certified rolling stock for the 1435 mm gauge of domestic production.

In addition, we continue to work on developing new directions in the design and production of products for the European market, in cooperation with our international partners.

— What does KRCBW expect from participating in InnoTrans 2024?

— First of all, despite the difficult situation in our country, we are ready to demonstrate to the international audience the capabilities of leading Ukrainian manufacturers, establish new business contacts, and strengthen existing partnerships.

Furthermore, considering the strategy developed by the European Union Agency for Railways aimed at the technical harmonization of the railway systems of Ukraine and Moldova with EU norms and standards, we hope for active discussions with colleagues from different countries on the possibility of cooperation with Ukrainian enterprises in the production of rolling stock, collaboration in mastering the production of components, the shortage of which we have recently encountered. We are ready to exchange experiences and receive information on the latest trends and needs in this market segment.

— How does participating in such exhibitions as InnoTrans contribute to the development of your plant and the industry as a whole?

— Participation in exhibitions like InnoTrans allows us to stay up-to-date with global trends, implement advanced technologies and solutions, and present our products on an international level. This not only promotes the development of our enterprise but also the entire industry, as the exchange of knowledge and experience stimulates innovation, improves the quality of products and services, and enhances their implementation primarily for consumers of our products in Ukraine.

It is worth noting that a significant number of executives and leading specialists from “Ukrzaliznytsia,” one of our main customers, attend this exhibition. This provides us with the opportunity to use the knowledge gained and the experience acquired to develop and implement joint solutions aimed at improving the consumer properties of the products we manufacture for Ukrainian railways.

— This year, KRCBW is celebrating its 155th anniversary. How does the history of the plant reflect the development of Ukraine’s railway industry?

— The history of KRCBW is an integral part of the historical journey of the city of Kremenchuk, Poltava region, and the entire Ukraine. The plant’s history began with the Kryukov Car Repair Workshops in 1869, simultaneously with the newly built railway. In 1930, the workshops became a car-building plant, thanks to the persistent labor of the people and the mastering of new products. The plant was successful before World War II and continued its proud labor path after its end.

Today, Kryukovsky Railway Car Building Works is known for its products, scientific and technical potential, technologies, and production capacities, which are constantly being improved. In a short time, we have progressed from freight car manufacturing to creating several new sub-sectors of engineering that did not previously exist in Ukraine. We started producing motor graders, social-purpose rail transport, escalators, spare parts and components for rolling stock, mastered the localization of locomotives, deep modernization of metro trains, and provide warranty and service maintenance for our products. All this has been mastered in the last 30 years.

The products of our enterprise are certified according to the International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS) ISO TS 22163:2017, the international standard ISO 9001:2015, the national standard DSTU ISO 9001:2015, and have long been part of the international railway production system.

Now, in these challenging times for our country, we are striving to overcome the difficulties that arise, continuing to work confidently along the chosen path, and believing in the future of the plant and Ukrainian railcar manufacturing.

— What role do you think international partnerships play in the development of KRCBW?

— Cooperation with international partners plays a significant role in the development of our enterprise. It not only gives us access to advanced technologies and best practices but also allows us to explore new markets and directions for our work.

Examples of such cooperation include the supply of metal structures, assemblies, and components for railway cars to several European companies, Canadian railways, railways in India and Indonesia, cooperation with leading manufacturers of railway equipment in the USA and Japan in the supply of railway products to consumers in Ukraine, and much more. We value the opportunity to participate in international projects and strive for long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation.

We thank all our partners, including international ones, who continue to collaborate with our enterprise despite the difficult situation in Ukraine and believe in future prospects.

We invite all interested visitors and participants of InnoTrans to visit our company’s stand from September 24 to 27. Hall 3.2, Stand 260.

See you at InnoTrans 2024!

For more detailed information about our company, please visit our website: www.kvsz.com

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