Northern France Rails into INNOTRANS 2012

As France's largest centre for rail transport and technology, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy regions (in northern France) are home to 40% of France's railway-construction industry, with 13,000 people working in more than 150 companies across the sector. Businesses in these two regions offer the skills and know-how to provide a complete rail system, including infrastructure, rolling stock, control systems, maintenance and services.

At the INNOTRANS trade show in Berlin (Germany) in September of this year, the two French regions will organise the 320m² Northern France Rail pavilion, which will feature a high-tech cluster, the French Rail Industry Association and numerous examples of R&D facilities, among other exhibiting organisations.

Amid the new features to be presented on the pavilion will be the TRANSALLEY Sustainable Transport and Mobility Centre, which combines innovative R&D centres and higher-education organisations, together with businesses. Located next to the University of Valenciennes (in the northern French city), on the Campus for Innovation in Sustainable Transport, the centre's 34 hectares are due to house a hi-tech transport hub and the University's innovation centre. Additionally, the construction of a cluster of low-energy buildings (180,000m²) is also underway.

The RAILENIUM Technological Research Institute will also be showcased at the trade show. The institute, which is the only one of its kind in Europe, is dedicated to railway infrastructure and intends to become the world's leader in rail-related R&D.

RAILENIUM combines exceptional testing resources with an extensive workforce of public- and private-sector researchers at a site that will soon create 300 direct jobs. RAILENIUM aims to assist in the creation of a smarter, more sustainable, more cost-effective and more reliable rail infrastructure. The RAILENIUM initiative is open to European partners and will strengthen the role of northern France in the global rail industry.

Furthermore, another project to be unveiled at the trade show is CADEMCE, which stands for the Dynamic and Environmental Characterisation of Electrical Collection Equipment. Beginning in 2014, the CADEMCE platform will offer rail testing for electric-current collection, which will enhance the quality of electrical power and reduce research costs.

Please see below for a list of the businesses and research institutions on the Northern France Rail pavilion (Hall 3.2, Stand 210 A.G.) at INNOTRANS from 18 to 21 September 2012; further information is available on request.

AIF: French Rail Association www.aifonline.com

AMESCO: Railway wear-ring producer www.amesco.fr

BORFLEX: Rubber and polyurethane manufacturer www.borflex.fr

CERTIFIER: Rail-certification agency www.certifer.eu

CIMES: Digital-simulation research institute www.cimesfrance.com

COLMANT: Technical-fabric specialist www.colmant-coated-fabrics.com

DAVERGNE FONDERIE: Aluminium-bronze foundry www.davergne.com

DENY FONTAINE: Specialist in access-control solutions www.denyfontaine.com

DEPRECQ: Fine-sheet-metal producer www.deprecq.com

DEVISMES SAS: Designer and manufacturer of locks www.devismes.fr

FORGES DE FRESNES: Manufacturer of steel security parts www.forgesdefresnes.com

GALLAND: Catenary-equipment producer www.galland-sas.com

I-TRANS: Cluster of hi-tech excellence for the rail industry www.i-trans.org

NEU INTERNATIONAL: Provider of rail-maintenance-depot equipment
www.neu-railways.com
NORD FRANCE INVEST: Regional-development agency www.nordfranceinvest.fr
PINET: Specialist in hinge-and-locking systems www.pinet.eu
RFF: Company in charge of France's railway infrastructure www.rff.fr
SOCIETE INDUSTRIELLE DES FONTES: Cast-iron foundry www.sifontes.com
SOGEMA: Railway-depot-equipment producer www.sogema-engineering.com
SOPEMEA: Laboratory for environmental testing www.sopemea.fr
STRATIFORME: Composite-parts manufacturer www.stratiforme.com
STRATIME COMPOSITES SYSTEMES: Producer of composite parts www.stratime.com
TECHNI INDUSTRIE: Railway subcontractor www.techni-industrie.fr
TECHNI METAL ENTREPRISE: Rail and tunnel handling-equipment specialist www.techni-metal.fr

TECHNOPOLE VALENCIENNOIS: Sustainable-transport technology cluster

TITAGARH WAGONS AFR: Specialist in freight-car design and construction
www.a-f-r.fr
VIBRATEC: Vibration and acoustic consultancy firm www.vibratec.fr
About Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy
Representatives of the rail industry from the Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions will make up the Northern France Rail pavilion at the INNOTRANS trade show, in Berlin (Germany), from 18 to 21 September 2012. The pavilion will be on Stand 210 A.G. in Hall 3.2.

For further information about Innotrans, please go to: http://www.innotrans.de/en/

For further information, please contact :

Quote ref. : FTPB3756
Ms Katherine WOODS – Press Officer
UBIFRANCE Press Office in London
Tel: +44 (0) 207 024 3640
katherine.woods@ubifrance.fr