Military Equipment Production Instead of Trains: Factory in Germany Changes Profile. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Military Equipment Production Instead of Trains: Factory in Germany Changes Profile
Photo: esut.de

The French company Alstom has reached an agreement with the German corporation KNDS to sell its factory in Görlitz. The deal is expected to be finalized by 2027, but the factory will change its profile earlier.

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Starting this year, the factory will begin military equipment production instead of trains, including components for the Leopard 2 tank, Puma IFV, and Boxer APC. KNDS will retain between 350 and 400 employees, while the remaining workers will be transferred to other Alstom divisions.

Previously, the factory produced Twidexx Vario double-decker electric trains for Germany and Israel, as well as trams for Leipzig. Existing train orders allowed production to continue until 2026, but plans have now changed.

Why Choose Military Equipment Production Instead of Trains?

Last summer, Alstom announced a restructuring of its factories in Germany and Poland. Production from Görlitz and Bautzen, which were acquired in 2021, was planned to be relocated to Wrocław and Katowice in Poland.

At that time, the company also announced its intention to sell the factory without revealing the buyer. Eventually, KNDS, a company specializing in military manufacturing, became the new owner of the facility.

Future of the Factory: Military Equipment Instead of Railway Transport

Alstom is currently completing the process of transferring the factory to the German corporation, which will focus on military production. The transition will take several years, with a full profile change expected by 2027.

KNDS has already announced that the factory will manufacture components for armored vehicles needed by Germany and other European countries. This aligns with the EU’s new defense priorities.

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