CargoBeamer will launch its own wagon production facility

CargoBeamer, Europe's leading logistics service provider for the intermodal transport of non-craneable semi-trailers, is entering the production of intermodal wagons. In Central Germany’s Erfurt, the company will open a facility to produce CargoBeamer’s proprietary freight cars later this year. At the site, which was used to manufacture locomotives in the 20th century, the final assembly of the wagons will initially take place. After a short ramp-up phase, about 500 wagons are to be produced annually from early 2023. Until the start of production, the 3,000 square meter production facility will be modernized, including energy-efficient renovation of the roof and reactivation of an existing rail connection. Initially, around 15 people will be employed in Erfurt, with the headcount expected to grow to around 50 employees in the medium term.

The proprietary wagons are designed for the intermodal transport of semi-trailers and other loading units by rail. Its construction of a steel frame and a loading pallet enables horizontal, parallel, and automated loading of all kinds of loading units in a CargoBeamer terminal. While no additional conversations are needed on the clients’ trailers, transportation on rail means reducing carbon emissions by about 80% compared to covering the same distance by road. Furthermore, the craneable loading pallet allows CargoBeamer trains to be handled in any conventional crane terminal, where the pallet and transport unit are lifted off the train together.

Philipp Aubert, Managing Director of CargoBeamer Rolling Stock GmbH, explains: "To achieve our ambitious growth plans, the number of wagons – in addition to a dense network of routes and terminals – will be the key indicator for shifting more transports to climate-friendly rail. In recent months, we have discovered that production capacities for intermodal wagons in Europe are no longer sufficient for our plans and have therefore decided to carry out the final assembly of our freight cars ourselves. For CargoBeamer, where we are rapidly growing into an international company with locations and employees in a wide range of European countries, it is a particular pleasure to bring parts of the wagon production back to Germany and to strengthen the regional economic power in Central Germany by opening this site in Erfurt. At the same time, having our first manufacturing facility expands our know-how, allows us to actively counter market fluctuations and capacity bottlenecks in terms of production, and thus ensures our growth ambitions for the coming years."

About CargoBeamer

CargoBeamer AG, headquartered in Leipzig, Germany, is an innovative logistics service provider in the sector of combined transport between road and rail. As a pioneer in decarbonizing freight transport in Europe on a major scale, its mission is to improve the environment with disruptive and cost-effective solutions to shift freight transport from road to rail. The CargoBeamer system, consisting of patented wagons, transshipment terminals and logistics software, enables all types of semi-trailers to be transported by rail, resulting in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and other external costs. While semi-trailers account for 75% of all transport volume in Europe, only 5% can be transported by train due to the lack of technological systems to efficiently load and unload semi-trailers onto railcars, forming an addressable market for CargoBeamer of enormous size. Presently trains are operated in Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The company is working on realizing a European network of efficient CargoBeamer terminals, which will be connected in fixed timetables with trains consisting of up to 36 CargoBeamer wagons. This means sustainable rail transport for hundreds of thousands of semi-trailers per year, as well as significantly reduced CO2 emissions and relief for the environment and society.

Contact person

Tim Krause

Communications & Marketing Manager

E: presse@cargobeamer.com

T: +49 341 652339-19