Theeuropean Rail Supply Industry Association
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the European Rail Supply Industry Association Introduction from the Director General Dear Reader, Across Europe and around the world we have seen a growing awareness, both among politicians and in the wider public, of the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution. Thanks to the excellent products and innovative technologies developed by European train- builders and rail equipment suppliers, rail transport provides a proven means of moving people and goods quickly and efficiently, and it also offers unmissable opportunities to achieve rapid decarbonisation alongside major improvements in air quality – notably in urban areas. Decisions made at European level have major impacts on the rail industry both within Europe and worldwide. This is true not only for legislation and policies that directly address mobility and transport, but also for those relating to industrial renewal, regional development, research and innovation, public procurement, international trade, employment and skills – among others. Therefore, it is vital that the EU has the right policies, both to boost demand for rail projects and infrastructure investments, and 03 Introduction from the Director General also to help Europe’s rail supply industry maintain its global leadership. 04 About us 06 Mission Since 1992, UNIFE – the European Rail Supply Industry Association – has represented the rail supply industry to the EU institutions. 07 How UNIFE works We have proven to be an important asset to the industry through our many activities – both technical and political – such as: 09 Public Affairs promoting policies that create business opportunities for European suppliers (including SMEs), lobbying for direct investments 11 Standardisation & Harmonisation in rail projects as well as funding for research and innovation, and advocating for market access and a level playing field for European companies seeking to sell their products around the world. 13 European Rail Research 15 IRIS Certification™ In an increasingly challenging global context, our ambition is to reinforce the European rail supply industry’s competitiveness 17 Organisational structure and foster a more favourable environment, so that our Members can continue to grow their businesses in Europe and worldwide. 19 Committees & Working Groups UNIFE is also proud to help its Member companies improve their knowledge and expand their business networks, for example by 22 Members facilitating their participation in EU-funded research and innovation projects. 25 Benefits of UNIFE Membership 29 Get connected To learn more about UNIFE, please peruse this brochure and visit our website (www.unife.org). You can also follow UNIFE on 31 Getting to UNIFE Twitter or LinkedIn for up-to-date news about our activities. Philippe Citroën UNIFE Director General About us Based in Brussels since 1992, UNIFE represents the European rail supply industry at both the European and international levels System Integrators Infrastructure and Energy the capacity of the railway system. and is a trusted partner of the European Union institutions in all matters related to rail and transport. They are committed to supporting the UNIFE system integrators provide UNIFE Members offer the world’s best development and deployment of the turnkey railway systems - comprising rail infrastructure/energy products UNIFE represents the interests of more than 100 small, medium-sized and large companies in the rail sector as well as national European Railway Traffic Management infrastructure, rolling stock and and services: from the supply of track industry associations from across Europe. UNIFE’s Members include European companies involved in the engineering, design, System (ERTMS), which will provide a signalling components - throughout and energy components, installation manufacture, maintenance and refurbishment of rail transport systems, subsystems and related equipment. All segments of the common signalling system across the the world. and maintenance equipment to the rail industry are represented amongst the membership: system integrators, railway infrastructure and energy suppliers, rolling whole of the European Railway Area. provision, building, maintenance and stock manufacturers (including subsystem suppliers), signalling suppliers and railway engineering companies. UNIFE Members For more and up-to-date information Rolling Stock and Subsystems renewal of integrated track and energy have an 84% market share in Europe and supply more than 46% of the global market for rail equipment and services. on ERTMS, please visit www.ertms.net. systems. Suppliers and contractors UNIFE Members produce regional, deliver and maintain high-quality track Our Members are committed to providing the best technology in order to meet the challenges arising from growing demand intercity and high-speed trains, electric Railway Engineering infrastructure and energy systems in alongside the decarbonization of transport. Furthermore, UNIFE, which is one of the supporting bodies of the European Union and diesel locomotives as well as freight Europe and around the world. UNIFE Members also provide Agency for Railways and the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC), works on interoperability standards and coordinates wagons for all types of cargo. UNIFE also engineering expertise for rail and EU-funded research projects that contribute to the technical harmonisation of railway systems. represents subsystem manufacturers Signalling and Telecommunications urban transport – including planning, from wheels to pantographs including design and supervision. door systems, couplers, HVAC units, on UNIFE Members also produce signalling board signalling equipment and all the and telecommunication systems that necessary equipment for trains. ensure safety and also help to increase 4 5 Mission How UNIFE works I. Public Aairs II. Standardisation & Harmonisation • Advocating policies that increase the global • Collaborating with the EU Agency for Railways on the competitiveness of the European Rail Supply Industry denition of rail regulations (including the Technical • Supporting modal shift policies that give priority to rail Pillar of the 4th Railway Package) and • Encouraging investment in rail projects Technical Specications for Interoperabiity (TSIs) • Promoting rail transport as the best solution • Supplying expertise for European and International to meet social challenges of the future Standardisation Bodies (e.g. CEN-CENELEC, ISO) • Contributing to the development of the Single European Railway Area III. European Rail Research IV. IRIS CerticationTM • Coordinating EU-funded research projects • Playing an active role in ERRAC - the European • Promoting the globally recognised rail quality Rail Research Advisory Council management system, which enables ecient • Cooperating with the Shift2Rail Joint business processes throughout the supply chain Undertaking and contributing to the follow-up • Cooperating with certication bodies and of its activities standardisation organisations to ensure the • Shaping the future of rail research & innovation monitoring of IRIS CerticationTM in Europe • More than 1800 IRIS CerticationTM certicates issued worldwide The four priorities to achieve our mission: Promoting European policies and programmes favourable to rail Working towards an interoperable and efficient European railway system Ensuring European Rail Supply Industry leadership through advanced research, innovation and quality Providing UNIFE Members with strategic and operational knowledge European Union European Rail Supply Industry 6 7 I. Public Affairs: ensuring a positive policy framework for rail business Through its Public Affairs activities, UNIFE is in frequent 1. Supporting EU policies that favour industrial excellence and contact with EU and national decision-makers in order to enable European suppliers to continue producing the best rail support the development of a political and financial framework products in the world; that is conducive to creating more business for European rail 2. Advocating EU measures that improve the business suppliers – both inside and outside of Europe. environment in the EU and internationally and ensure that European suppliers can produce and sell their products under In order to enable the rail supply industry to maintain its world fair and efficient market conditions; leadership and the 400 000 jobs it provides in Europe, the UNIFE Public Affairs strategy is based on three inseparable 3. Promoting political and financial instruments that stimulate pillars: the demand for rail products in the EU and globally. Research and Innovation Favour industrial Skills and Training excellence Industry 4.0 Improve the EU Single Market European and international International market access and fair global competition business Promoting a positive policy framework environment Business environment for SMEs Stimulate Public grants for rail projects for our industry’s global leadership investment in the EU and Mobilising development banks and private investment worldwide Rail-friendly Transport Policies Violeta Bulc, EU Transport Commissioner (2014-2019) 8 9 II. Standardisation & Harmonisation UNIFE has a leading role in coordinating the rail industry’s In the framework of the Technical Pillar of the EU’s Fourth Railway work on European standardisation and technical regulation, Package, UNIFE has actively contributed to the revision process covering the entire railway system including rolling stock, of TSIs in relation to Rolling Stock (LOC&PAS),