Customer Magazine

Spring 1/2018 (20) www.solarisbus.com

LONG LIVE ELECTRICITY! page 22

RECORD YEAR FOR SOLARIS TROLLINO SUPERSIZE page 12 page 18

ISSN 1689-6076 In this issue: As an introducion

12/17 RECORD YEAR FOR SOLARIS 2017 was an exceptional year for the company in terms of the number of sold vehicles. Solaris has climbed the highest podium of Polish city market for the 15th time in a row and extended the list of countries with its products by two new ones: the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

18/19

TROLLINO SUPERSIZE - novelty products Dear Readers of the Solaris Magazine, A bi-articulated of 24 meters lenght is a brand-new project As we sum up 2017, a record year keep improving what we already skilled staff that works in the various of Solaris’ Research and Development Office (BBiR). The premiere is for our company in terms of sales, have on offer and also design new segments of our company. Apart scheduled for 2018. it is becoming evident that 2018 products. One of these novelties is from recruiting new employees promises to be even better in this the bi-articulated trolleybus which on a dynamically changing labour respect. The great number of orders is to be unveiled in the second market, Solaris has been committed 22/29 we secured would not have been half of this year (see pages 18-19). to a dual education programme possible without the trust you have Lately our efforts in the area of which starts with vocational and put in our brand for over 20 years. research and development have technical secondary schools and LONG LIVE ELECTRICITY! You made that clear, among others, been focused mostly on battery continues up to the university in a recent customer satisfaction which are rapidly taking level. This means graduates of the E-mobility market still grows. By advocating eco-friendly technology, survey which we report about in new markets and which prove that aforementioned programmes gain Solaris meets demand expressed by operators all across this issue of the magazine (see public transport vehicles can be at the same time knowledge and Europe. pages 34-35). a more environmentally friendly the corresponding professional alternative than passenger cars. experience (more on the dual Real success in business is not the That is also why a major part of this education system on pages 38-39). short-lived ravings of the media, edition is dedicated to the electric 04/09 Novelties nor some awards, but the long-term Urbino and to contracts for battery I truly hope that these and 10/11 ElekBu 2018 process of building one’s reputation buses. numerous other features on Solaris’ 30/31 Baltic Feats - a process which is affected by operations will entice you to read 32/33 Tramino in Cracow many factors, such as the innovative The execution of any project would this latest spring edition of our 34/35 Our greatest success – a satisfied customer nature of products. That is why we be impossible without the highly Magazine. 36/37 Road safety above all 38/39 Direction > Career. Solaris trains specialists My warmest regards and enjoy the read!

Publisher: Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., ul. Obornicka 46, Bolechowo-Osiedle, 62-005 Owińska, , tel.: +48 61 6672 333, faks: +48 61 6672 345, e-mail: [email protected], www.solarisbus.com Editorial staff: Karolina Sarmow, Mateusz Figaszewski, Marcin Napierała, Anna Kozłowska, Maciej Sankowski, Alicja Malewicz- Solange Olszewska Pełczyńska CEO Photos: Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., vblEveline Beerkircher, Stadwerke Solingen GmbH, Mateusz Hejmo Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. Design and typeset: Weave Studio Dominika Banaszak Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. is ambassador of the programme Marka Polskiej Gospodarki (Brand of Polish Economy).

2 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 3 Similar tests will be taken in sum- in . In October 2012 However, the recipient of the first Premiere of articulated Trollino in Gdynia mer this year, also over a span of the 8.9 LE electric electric Solaris Urbino 8,9 LE in a couple of weeks. The same model carried passengers in . Switzerland will be the city of St. will visit cities in the other Swiss Zero-emission or low-emission Gallen. Deliveries are scheduled for The Gdynia city hall and local regions, too. vehicles of the Polish producer this year. transport operator Przedsię- are already in use in Lenzburg and biorstwo Komunikacji Trolej- Solaris is the first manufacturer La-Chaux-de-Fonds (hybrid buses) busowej have signed a contract electric buses of which were tested and in Winterthur (). with Solaris for 30 trolleybuses. Thanks to Solaris’ winning bid, the bus fleet of PKT will welcome a new addition – a batch of articulated Trollino 18, although the order also consists of Trollino 12 which are Low-emission hybrids take the stage already well-known in city.

Apart from featuring traditional The latest version of hybrid Urbino 12 hybrid buses. Last year Presented last year, the new Solaris trolleybus drivelines, the Solaris buses included in Solaris’ the low-emission vehicles have Urbino hybrid in 12 or 18 metre ver- vehicles commissioned by Gdynia product range last year are in- also been added to the bus fleets sion is the result of widening the will be fitted with additional Photo: Visualisation of the new Trollino 18 for Gdynia. creasingly rousing the interest in Kielce and Tomaszów Mazowiecki product range of the latest vehic- batteries which enable driving off city lacking a trolleybus traction on some lines with trolleybuses”, of customers. Within one year – 25 for each town. The same num- le generation shown for the first the traction line. In the case of the line. The delivery of the trolleybuses says Katarzyna Gruszecka Spychała, since their debut, a total of ber of vehicles is going to Płock time in 2014. By choosing the serial 14 Solaris Trollino 12 trolleybuses, to Gdynia will begin in September vice mayor of Gdynia. The new 345 buses have been commis- this year. Meanwhile, Pabianice HybriDrive of the US manufacturer the batteries will have a capacity of this year and shall be completed articulated vehicles, which have not sioned. and Szczecin have ordered 18 and BAE Systems Solaris was able to use 58 kWh, whereas the 16 articulated by spring 2019. Upon completion been a common sight on Gdynia’s 16 buses respectively. Smaller tow- a low-capacity diesel engine (the vehicles will be equipped with 87 of this order the total number street until now, will carry nearly The company’s biggest order so ns also go for ecological drives. 210 HP Cummins ISB4.5E6) for its kWh batteries. This means that of Solaris Trollinos operating in twice as many people as standard far was placed by a public trans- Over the past months alone, bu- design. This eco-friendly, partially both types will be able to cover Gdynia will rise to 88. vehicles at a comparable cost port operator in the francopho- ses with a hybrid, diesel-electric, electric drive allows to significantly a distance of a few dozen kilometres of operation. Thanks to the new ne part of , i.e. by Société drive were ordered among others cap fuel consumption and pollu- in zero-emission mode without the “Trolleybuses have become a re- electric vehicles, over 1/3 of the Régionale Wallonne du Transport by Czechowice-Dziedzice, Legnica, tant emission into the atmosphere. use of a pantograph. Thanks to this cognisable quality mark for green passengers using public transport (SRWT). By 2019 the carrier’s fle- Luboń, Oświęcim, Piła, Pobiedziska, solution the trolleybuses for Gdynia transport in Gdynia. As soon as next in Gdynia will travel by trolleybuses. et will be enlarged by 208 Solaris Swarzędz and Wągrowiec. will be able to run in areas of the year we will be able to replace buses

Solaris Urbino electric in Switzerland

At the beginning of this year the benefits of the new Solaris Urbino 12 electric were demon- strated to residents of central Switzerland. Preparing for the launch of zero-emission trans- port in the future, operators from Lucerne and Zug tested the vehicles in regular passen- ger traffic.

The public transport companies Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern AG vbl and Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe AG ZVB each had a test version of the Solaris Urbino 12 electric at their disposal for a few weeks. Consequently the two firms amassed knowledge about and experience in the use of Photo: vblEveline Beerkircher electric vehicles in winter weather.

4 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 5 Ostrava chooses CNG 40 buses for Rzeszów

The municipal operator in year the total number of Solaris ve- pressed natural gas (CNG) stored in Before the end of 2018 Rzeszów The electric buses will be equipped Apart from electric buses, Solaris Ostrava has ordered 40 Urbino hicles on the Czech market will ex- composite CNG tanks with a total will see 10 electric and 30 co- with 87.6 kWh Solaris High Energy will also deliver 30 articulated 12 CNG buses. Once the order ceed 1000 buses and trolleybuses. capacity of 1575 litres. nventionally powered buses batteries. They will be charged by Urbino 18s, fitted with diesel engi- is completed, the number of produced in the Bolechowo the means of a reversed panto- nes meeting restrictive Euro 6 stan- Solaris vehicles operating in 80 passengers can be on board of Ostrava is not only the first custom- factory roll out on the town’s graph (lowered from the charging dards. It will be a first time for the the Czech Republic will exceed the air-conditioned buses equipped er of Solaris in the Czech Republic, streets. The contract signed by station to the vehicle roof) and articulated buses of the new gene- 1000. with wireless Internet and easily but also the company’s first foreign municipal authorities and re- a plug-in which is applied to re- ration with the green dachshund accessible USB ports. The external buyer ever (purchases around the presentatives of Solaris Bus & charge batteries using a weaker logo in this city. By the end of this year 24 Solaris and internal lighting will be made year 2000). In 18 years of business Coach stipulates also the con- power during longer stopovers. Urbino 12 CNG (Compressed Natural of environmental-friendly and eco- co-operation, the number of buses struction of infrastructure that Gas) buses commissioned by local nomical LED lamps. The vehicle will and trolleybuses sent to Ostrava will enable the recharging of operator Dopravní Podnik Ostrava be fuelled with low-emission com- has reached 250. vehicles both by day, en route a.s. will arrive to the Czech city of in the city, as well as by night at Ostrava. The remaining 16 commis- the bus depot. sioned vehicles are to be delivered in the first quarter of 2019. The con- “By winning the public tender in tract is worth about PLN 45 million. Rzeszów we signal our customers It is the second-biggest contract of that we offer not only well-tried the Polish manufacturer for com- solutions with regard to electric pressed natural gas fuelled buses buses, but that we are also able to in Czech Republic. The largest or- provide comprehensive solutions der to-date – for 105 vehicles – was with respect to charging infrastruc- also carried out by the company for ture,” noted Zbigniew Palenica, Vice Ostrava in 2015. After completion CEO of Solaris in charge of sales, of the deliveries scheduled for this after sales and marketing.

Urbino electric with another award in Innovative Trollino for Solingen

The Solaris Urbino 12 electric Solingen-based German company Stadtwerke has ordered four The Stadtwerke Solingen carrier de- has won the title of Innovation 18.75-metre Trollinos. It is the first order placed by this carrier with cided in favour of the 18.75 metre of 2018, awarded by German Solaris. As a result, Trollinos will carry passengers in all German vehicles with a double axle drive. trade journal Busplaner. The cities where the public transport fleet includes trolleybuses. The two traction motors boast each distinction was awarded in the a power of 240 kW. Thanks to the category “Public Transport”, for application of Solaris High Power the contribution to the deve- batteries installed behind the last lopment of electromobility on axle, it was possible to increase the the German market, in particu- autonomous driving range of the lar for designs of electric buses vehicle beyond the overhead line. for Fürth and Nuremberg. Batteries with a capacity of 60 kWh Photo: Representatives of Solaris Deutschland, Alexander Schmidt and Rolf Oneis with Klaus are being charged when the vehic- The chief argument in favour of the Dieregsweiler-Grünfelder (Infra Fürth) receive the award. le uses the traction line. Thanks winning contestant was a contract “The awarded title confirms that was awarded by the German maga- to this solution the advantages of for the delivery of the electric bu- choosing in favour of the develop- zine for the tenth time. Solaris has trolleybuses have been successful- ses to Fürth and Nuremberg. For ment of ecological drives was the won the award as many as three ti- ly combined with the attributes of both cities it will be the first ever right step years ago and today this mes; the winning bus models so far battery buses. electric vehicles in public transport. strategy results in the company’s were the Hybrid Their presence in both cities will strong position on European mar- featuring a serial hybrid drive with In order to ensure the most conve- present a great opportunity to test kets, including the German one,” batteries, and an nience in summer, the trolleybuses innovative solutions of the Polish stated Alexander Schmidt, the re- external charging system (plug-in), have been fitted with air conditio- manufacturer and to acquaint the presentative of Solaris Bus & Coach as well as the company’s first Solaris ning in the driver’s cabin and two inhabitants with vehicles using al- S.A. working for Solaris Deutschland. Urbino electric unveiled in 2011. air-conditioning modules in the ternative power sources. The title “Innovation of the Year” Photo: Stadwerke Solingen GmbH passenger area. Meanwhile, during

6 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 7 colder days, the vehicles are heated are equipped with three TFT Solaris trolleybuses have been on Solaris considers the orders from by means of a heater. Consequently, screens, including one TFT screen the German market since 2010. 12 Bergamo and Milan another token the only liquid (apart from lubri- which faces opposite to the driving articulated Trollino 18 are curren- of appreciation for the company on cants) in the bus is the liquid in direction and allows to follow the tly in use in Eberswalde, whereas 4 that market. While the 12 buses for the cooling system of the traction route. Drivers will have a compre- Trollino 18.75 vehicles carry passen- ATB Bergamo are the first vehicles batteries. hensive monitoring system at their gers in Esslingen am Neckar. from Bolechowo going to that pla- disposal, which will ensure views of ce, they are well known to residents The vehicle offers 46 seats to pas- any spot in the vehicle as well as of of Milan. In 2014 and 2015 a total sengers on board. The trolleybuses the position of the pantograph. of 125 buses went all the way from Bolechowo to the ATM Milano ope- rator. In 2017 Solaris delivered 225 buses to Italy in total; the number also includes part of the biggest contract ever signed by the com- pany, for 360 InterUrbino coaches Romania goes for e-mobility commissioned by Rome

Demand for environmentally The order carried out by Solaris The first vehicle (a 12-metre Trollino) friendly buses is continuously is the company’s first contract for produced for the Romanian opera- rising in Europe. Romania has electric buses in Romania. However, tor left the Bolechowo factory’s ga- now joined the group of states the Bolechowo-based producer has tes over 15 years ago, whereas the where the zero-emission ve- a much longer history of collabora- total number of ordered buses has hicles of Solaris are in use. The tion with the country located along already exceeded 170. fleet of Cluj-Napoca will gain 10 the western coast of the Black Sea. 74 x Urbino 18 for Düsseldorf new Urbino 12 electric buses. These are the first electric bu- ses in Romania ever. Solaris has signed yet another of Dortmund, , Hagen and over 3000 Solaris buses and contract with Rheinbahn Kassel. All in all, there are already trolleybuses cruising in Germany. The model commissioned by the Düsseldorf. The German opera- Romanian operator has been fit- tor has ordered 74 articulated ted with a central 160 kW electric new generation Urbino 18 motor and 200 kWh traction bat- buses. Since commencing their teries. Adding electric buses to the co-operation in 2005, the Polish fleet means also investments in manufacturer has delivered the charging infrastructure which over 90 vehicles to Rheinbahn will involve the construction of 11 Düsseldorf. slow-charging station and two fa- st-charging stations using panto- The commissioned vehicles graphs. The framework agreement will be equipped with a 240 kW stipulates the supply of up to 30 engines meeting restrictive Euro 6 completely emission-free vehicles emission standards for vehicles. within the next three years. External lighting will be made of energy-saving and eco-friendly LED technology. Each bus can fit 100 standing passengers and 41 seated ones. The owners of mobile devices will be able to use wireless Internet and, thanks to the USB ports, recharge their mobile phones and Electric debut in Italy tablets. The doors will be fitted with a passenger counting system that facilitates measuring the passenger At the beginning of the year The new Urbino 12 electric handed innovative touch panel of its own number and identifying routes Solaris delivered 12 electric over to carrier ATB Bergamo are design in both vehicle types. The which require, for instance, more buses to the public transport powered by axles with integrated power level can be restored using frequent service. operator in Bergamo. It is the traction motors boasting a power a charger that allows for the con- first vehicle of this type made of 2 x 125 kW. The power used by current recharging of two buses at The tender for Düsseldorf is one of by the Polish producer and the vehicle will be stored in a pack 40 kW. the biggest ever won by Solaris for sold in Italy. Another 10 Urbino of Solaris High Energy batteries its 18-metre new generation Urbino electric have been added to the with a total capacity of 240 kWh. Having delivered nearly 850 ve- buses. In Germany the same model fleet of Milan operator ATM. The producer has installed an hicles to customers in Italy so far, can be also seen on the streets

8 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 9 LET’S MEET IN 2018 This year Solaris Bus & Coach SA will put its vehicles on display in several ElekBu 2018 countries in Europe at the following events: • ElekBu in Berlin - 6-7 March The ninth edition of ElekBu, held by the VDV Akademie, took place in Berlin • SilesiaKomunikacja in Sosnowiec - 24-25 April at the beginning of March. During the conference representatives of firms • Transports Publics in - 12-14 June dealing with municipal transport had the opportunity to showcase their • InnoTrans in Berlin - 18-21 September projects and achievements in the area of electromobility and to talk about • Transexpo in Kielce - 23-25 October potential directions of development. • International Bus Expo in Rimini - 24-26 October • Czechbus in Prague - 20-22 November

This year, for the first time, ElekBu the challenges operators have to High Energy batteries boasting was held on the premises of the face if they decide to exchange their a capacity of 240 kWh and it can be Berlin-based Estrel Congress Center. vehicles for electric buses. charged both through a plug-in as The event in Berlin is a unique com- well as a roof-mounted pantograph. bination of a conference and exhi- At the ElekBu trade fair held concur- The traction motor has a power of bition of products, hence it is also rently to the conference, products 240 kW. Owing to the reduced un- a place for the exchange of expe- and services were displayed among laden weight of the vehicle and the rience and for dialogue between others by producers of electric bus- advantageous distribution of axle participants of the electromobility es, batteries, chargers and compo- load, the passenger capacity of the market. This year the speeches de- nents for zero-emission buses. One presented vehicle amounts to 140. livered as part of the panel discus- of the attendees of the exhibition This bus contains all of high-tech sion concerned among others the part was also Solaris, presenting its solutions used in the new Urbino organisation of infrastructure for new-generation articulated Urbino 12 electric awarded the prestigious the charging of a battery bus fleet 18 electric. title of “Bus of the Year”. both at the bus depot and outside of it, the development of batteries, The new Solaris Urbino 18 electric their production and recycling and has been equipped with Solaris

10 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 11 “We are aware that our success would be impossible if we failed to meet expectations of our customers whom we value above all else. In 2017, we carried out a comprehensive customer satisfaction survey in order to find out what we could do better according to our business partners. RECORD YEAR We received valuable comments but were also extremely satisfied to see that nearly 80% of the respondents were happy about the co-operation with our company. It is the biggest value we have managed to create for the Solaris trademark in the past two decades,” FOR SOLARIS - Solange Olszewska, owner and CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A.

2017 was an exceptional year for Solaris in terms of the number of sold vehicles. Holding a market share of much over 50%, Solaris Bus & Coach has claimed the pole position on the Polish city bus market for the 15th time in a row.

12 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 13 The Polish producer of buses has have found their way to customers stable and strong position on the summed up a highly successful in foreign markets. This means, domestic market. The company has year and looks confidently into the export constituted nearly 70% of been ranked first in the segment future. The vision, boldness and total sales in 2017. Solaris’ biggest of low-floor city buses for the 15th consistence of actions are strong export market that year was Italy. time in a row in Poland, boasting foundations for maintaining the The result achieved is, among a market share of 56%! leader position in Poland and others, the effect of implementing reinforcing the position as one of a major part of the biggest one-off All in all, Solaris has supplied 445 the chief European players on the order in the company’s history, for buses to Polish operators. In 2017 its public transport vehicle market. 360 inter-city Solaris InterUrbino biggest customers in Poland were: buses for Rome-based bus and MPK Kraków (97 buses, including Last year Solaris set a record in coach operator Cotral. Furthermore, 20 electric ones!), PKS Grodzisk sales, delivering in total 1397 buses unsurprisingly German customers Mazowiecki (49 buses) and MPK in and trolleybuses to customers. The as well as Norwegian and Latvian Częstochowa (40 buses). best outcome so far was recorded carriers ranked high among the in 2014 when the company sold other export customers. In 2017 the Sales of electric 1380 buses and trolleybuses. The list of countries to which Solaris sales results of 2017 thus represent delivers its products was extended buses soar a significant climb compared to the by two new ones: the Netherlands preceding year (2016) when the firm and Luxembourg, which received Of the 442 city buses sold by Solaris invoiced exactly 1300 vehicles. together 41 Urbino buses. in Poland, 48 were fully electric vehicles; of these, 22 had been electric drive vehicles to foreign What’s new? vehicle to constitute a platform for Solaris on export ordered by PKM Jaworzno, while customers from , Germany, bi-articulated electric and hybrid Solaris on the operator MPK in Cracow bought , Italy and Slovakia. “In 2017 we demonstrated the buses, too. The next débuts slated markets 20 units. Furthermore, the electric première version of an articulated for this year are those of the new Polish market buses of Solaris have also been The rising share of zero-emission electric bus of the new generation, Solaris Urbino 12 with a hydrogen In 2017 a total of 952 buses acquired by Ostrów Wielkopolski, or low-emission vehicles is the Solaris Urbino 18 electric, as fuel cell as well as a low-budget and trolleybuses designed and However, the export success of and Września. Last year doubtlessly proof that e-mobility well as the articulated version of the version of the low-entry Solaris produced in the factories of Solaris Solaris would not have been the producer known for its green is no longer a fleeting fashion but trolleybus Solaris Trollino 18. Both Urbino 12 LE, whose working title in the province of Greater Poland possible, had it not been for its dachshund logo also sold innovative a market necessity. As one of the models have already found buyers will be “lite”. The unveiling of these first producers of electric buses in in Poland, Belgium and Slovakia. vehicles is scheduled for the second Europe, today Solaris can reap the This year we plan to unveil three half of the year,” adds Eng.D. Dariusz fruits of the company owners’ bold new vehicles. The first of these is Michalak, Deputy CEO of Solaris. decisions from many years ago. And the new Solaris Trollino 24. It will be . All signs indicate that the record sales year of 2017 heralds potential yet, the company does not rest on a bi-articulated vehicle of 24 metres. achievements of this year. At the moment Solaris has signed orders for laurels and relentlessly pursues the We will start off with a trolleybus over 1400 vehicles and by the end of 2018 that number will have certainly development of its product range. version, although the goal is for this increased.

Luxembourg 1 Iveco Ursus 2 Scania Belgium 12 Sales – Poland 20 Sales - Export 23 Autosan Danmark 12 27 Sweden 16 SOR Sales in volume of low-floor city Switzerland 18 30 Chart: Sales of Solaris Bus & Coach in buses of over 8 tonnes in Poland Romania 19 2017, broken down by country, in vehic- Volvo in 2017, according to producers Slovakia 21 le numbers. 35 France 27 Solaris is leader for 15th time in Austria 30 a row MAN Spain 31 72 Czech Republic 38 Netherlands 40 Source: company data - JMK Bus Solaris Market Analysis Israel 57 Source: company data - JMK Bus Market 442 Analysis Latvia 96 Norway 109 Germany 200 Italy 225 Poland 442 Mercedes 144 0100 200 300 400500

14 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 15 Our buses, trolleybuses and are operating in 700 cities in 32 countries as at 31.12.2017

16 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 17 After the recent unveiling of a trol- will consist of two traction mo- camera installed behind the sec- leybus equipped with hydrogen fuel tors propelling the two drive axles. ond bus articulation, will be at the cells as range extenders, produced A pack of 94 Ah (58 kWh) batteries drivers’ disposal. Another must for for Riga’s operator Satiksme, the installed in the bus will be charged the driver’s cabin is a screen al- Development Department of Solaris during the drive, collecting current lowing the driver to monitor views TROLLINO is now working on a completely new from the overhead line via a bipo- from the CCTV cameras installed at addition to its portfolio - a bi-artic- lar pantograph traditionally in use the doors as well as from the rear- ulated, three-unit trolleybus meas- in trolleybuses. What is more, the view reversing camera. The vehicle uring over 24 metres. energy accumulated in the batter- will also encompass a comprehen- ies will be used to fuel the trolley- sive passenger information system SUPERSIZE The idea behind the new proto- bus whenever it is detached from consisting of trolleybus destination type, Solaris Trollino 24, is to create the electric traction line. In order to displays and three 29-inch screens a platform for a future, serial pro- ease manoeuvres in urban traffic, installed in the passenger compart- novelty products duction of 24-metre hybrid or elec- the fourth axle of the vehicle will be ment. A total of 53 seats have been tric drive vehicles and trolleybuses. a steering axle. Apart from featuring provided in the passenger compart- The end of the production of the a unique door layout of 2-2-2-2-2, ment, 16 of which are accessible bi-articulated trolleybus is sched- the vehicle will also be fitted with from the low floor, which ought to uled for mid-2018. Next they will be an electric power steering (EPS) facilitate access for passengers with delivered for test drives to selected system. reduced mobility. The producer has European cities and during those also provided space for wheelchairs In over 20 years of experience of Solaris, the company has accustomed drives the trolleybus will undergo The air-conditioned driver’s cab- and prams or pushchairs and a bay its clients to regularly expanding its range of innovative vehicles. In 2006 further type-approval tests both in in will be equipped with a heated devised for bicycle transport. Solaris was the first European producer to launch the serial production overhead line mode and without it, and vented swivel seat allowing before the vehicle can be released for a maximum ergonomic setting of hybrid drive buses, whereas since 2011 its offer includes electric buses. for passenger traffic. for the driver’s convenience. Two The latest project of Solaris’ Research and Development Office (BBiR) is 8-inch screens displaying a view The new Solaris vehicle will be from a camera directed at the a bi-articulated trolleybus of 24 metres. a high-tech product. The driveline pantograph and another external

Solaris added trolleybuses to its offer in 2001. Since then nearly 1200 vehicles of this type have been ordered and supplied to custom- ers from 16 countries. The new Trollino 24 is innovative through and through and it will, at the same time, constitute a platform for the development of bi-articulated electric and hybrid buses.

18 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 19

LONG LIVE ELECTRICITY!

When the first Polish electric bus was unveiled in 2011, no-one expected that Europe would fall in love with this ecological means of transporta- tion. Today Solaris Urbino electric buses travel hundreds of kilometres every day in a dozen or so European countries. E-mobility has turned from mere fashion to market necessity.

22 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 23 Over the past few years we have In line with analyses carried out by the factory in Bolechowo. It is be- of our buyers. What is even more ket seems only to be getting started All new electric buses are equipped witnessed a dynamic development Cambridge Econometrics, in 2020 coming evident that the memora- important though is that each of now. Provided the declarations of with a pantograph charging system of electric bus production and the some 35% of newly registered city ble words “Diesel has died. Long the above named solutions have Poland’s biggest cities (including which makes it possible to recharge use of these in public transport. buses in public transport had an live electricity!”, uttered by Krzysztof been used in practice in vehicles al- Warsaw, which plans to purchase the batteries both en route as well According to a report by UITP, as electric drive, with battery buses Olszewski, founder of Solaris, at ready delivered to our clients. an additional 130 battery vehi- as at the bus depot. In standard part of the ZeEUS project, in 2013 accounting for 20%, plug-in hybrid a conference in in 2006, cles for its fleet) are implement- version the vehicles are fitted with electric buses constituted merely drive buses accounting for 10% turned out to be prophetic and pre- The latest model presented by the ed swiftly, Poland may soon take a plug-in permitting overnight re- 1.2 percent of all city buses. Thanks and buses with hybrid motors con- dictive of a new era for the market firm during the last year’s Busworld the pole position in that ranking. charging of the battery using a sta- to the huge interest on the part of stituting 5 percent of the overall of city buses. fair in Kortrijk was the new gener- tionary charger placed at the bus public transport authorities and number. According to the authors ation of the Solaris Customers in Poland are getting depot. Each bus features also air thanks to various subsidising forms, of the report, in view of the pre- The product range of the car mak- Urbino 18 electric. In spite of how strongly involved in changes for conditioning of the passenger area the number has sky-rocketed. In dicted constant decline of battery er with regard to zero-emission recent the première of this bus was, electromobility. The cities leading and the driver’s cabin, as well as 2017 alone the number of all com- prices and much lower operation vehicles has widened considerably the vehicle is already cruising in in that respect in the Vistula Land state-of-the-art, energy-saving LED missioned electric buses exceeded costs compared to other drives, in since the début of the first electric Cracow, Jaworzno and Warsaw, and are Jaworzno, Cracow and Warsaw. lighting. Passengers of the electric 1000 vehicles, which constitutes the same scenario it is anticipated Solaris bus. At the moment cus- soon it will roll out in Brussels and And yet, technological change is Urbinos can also use on-board a 279-percent climb year on year. that in 2050 all city buses in public tomers may choose from several the Italian town of Bolzano. not limited to large urban centres. USB ports which allow to recharge transport will be either completely length options (ranging from 8.9, Electric Solaris buses also run in a phone or another mobile device or partially electric. 12, 18 to 18.75 metres) and from Poland among Chodzież, Inowrocław, Sosnowiec, during the bus ride. Thanks to the several charging modes (plug-in, Ostrołęka, Ostrów Wielkopolski and installation of ramps for wheel- There are currently 23 Solaris’ efforts are part of a glob- pantograph and fuel cells as range European leaders Września. chairs and special bays, the vehi- electric buses in use al movement for the implementa- extenders). The Bolechowo produc- cles are prepared for the possibility in Jaworzno, which tion of e-buses, which sees such er also offers two types of batter- Solaris is ranked second in Europe Operators PKM Jaworzno and MPK of transporting disabled users of constitutes 40% of countries as France, Germany, Italy ies in its eco-friendly vehicles: the in terms of the number of vehicles Kraków are among European lead- public transport. Apart from a com- or Poland either setting or already Solaris High Power and Solaris High ordered and delivered by the pro- ers with regard to the deployment of prehensive passenger information the whole bus fleet having set legal frameworks that Energy, and also two types of power ducer. 50% of that output goes to do- zero-emission electric buses. There system, the producer has also fit- of that city. Cracow, in promote vehicles having a lesser transmission; this can be achieved mestic buyers. Consequently Poland are currently 23 electric buses in ted commissioned bus models with turn, owns 26 electric impact on the environment and by means of an electric axle with is one of the European pioneers in use in Jaworzno, which constitutes a smart fleet management system buses and intends requiring less energy. At the same integrated motors or a direct drive terms of development of electro- 40% of the whole bus fleet of that consisting of a tracking device and to purchase another time, by advocating eco-friendly traction motor. Owning to these mobility. Apart from the UK, which is city. Cracow, in turn, owns 26 elec- GPS antennae, which allows for the technology the Polish producer is features and thanks to a feasibil- an unrivalled leader in this respect, tric buses and intends to purchase projection, in real time, of arrival 160 vehicles of this also meeting demand expressed ity study carried out at customer only the Netherlands and France another 160 vehicles of this type and departure times of the bus for type soon. by public transport operators all request, each electric bus made by boast a bigger fully emission-free soon. Both municipal operators can particular stops. across Europe. The best evidence Solaris is a truly custom-made ve- fleet of city buses. Ranked fourth on also boast a full range of electric thereof are new orders placed with hicle, adapted to the varying needs a par with Germany, Poland’s mar- bus models of the Solaris brand.

Electric buses Electric buses market in EU market in EU

CNG/Bio-gas Electric (Fuel Electric Cells) 1200 Diesel-Hybrids Clean Diesel Total number of vehicles orde- +279% Market share projections of red in EU*. 1000 1051 newly registered alternative- powered buses in Europe in electric, hydrogen and hybrid 2020 - 2030. plug-in buses included. 800 7,5% 16,2% 19,2% 18,2% 600 2,1% 27,2% 16,5% Source: company data - JMK Bus Market +51% 47.7% 7,4% 12,5% Analysis 400 22,1% 376 13,5% * This figure includes EU with Great Britain, +58% 45,2% Switzerland and Norway +27% 32,7% 200 248 11,9% 156 122 0 Source: ZeEUS/UITP(VEI) - 2017 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2020 2025 2030

24 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 25 2 x Urbino 12 electric 4 x Urbino 8,9 LE electric 17Szczegóły x new Urbino techniczne 12 electric MPK Kraków 3 x new Urbino 18 electric

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Charging: pantograph (Schunk), plug-in (Urbino 12 - plug-in only) Pantograph chargers: 80 kW on Pawia street (integrated with an existing traction pole). Nominal traction power: 600 V. Fluctuation of voltage in accor- dance with EN50163 standard, 600-750V, +/- 20-30%, 65 kW on Bosacka street, 250 kW at the „Wola Duchacka” depot Plug-in chargers: Combo 2: up to 60 kW Batteries: 80 kWh (8,9 m), 210 kWh (12 m), 160 kWh (12 m), 200 kWh (18 m) Drive: Medcom (8,9 / 18 m), Kiepe Electric (12 m) Central motor TSA Electric axle ZF AVE 130 (12m)

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Charging: pantograph (Schunk), plug-in Pantograph chargers: 190 kW 5 x 180 kW

Plug-in chargers: Combo 2: 1 x 90 kW, 8 x 85 kW Batteries: 160 kWh (8,9 LE/ 12 m), 240 kWh (18 m) Drive: Medcom Central motor TSA

1 x Urbino 12 electric 4 x Urbino 8,9 LE electric 9 x new Urbino 12 electric PKM Jaworzno 9 x new Urbino 18 electric

26 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 27 Electric buses run extreme- ly quietly which means their popularisation will also effect a reduction of the noise level

Electric buses in fight for environment

And yet, the transition of cities to Emissions from road transport con- environmentally friendly public stitute the second-largest factor transport vehicles on a mass scale of smog generation in the country, EUR 9.3 billion will not be possible without prop- right after emissions related to the - total average reduc- er educational measures. These heating of detached houses. Thanks tion of socio-econo- should entice residents to swap to EU norms determining mandato- mic costs of noise in their individual transport means for ry limits of exhaust gas emissions, city buses and make them aware buses with diesel engines achieve annual terms* of the benefits resulting from such quite good results. Nonetheless a transition. the restrictive EURO 6 norm is not enough to make such buses equal * Simulation for 11376 city buses in The popularisation of electric ve- the results obtained for buses with Poland. A total number of city buses hicles, which alternatively may be alternative drives. In a scenar- (as on 31 December 2015) was stip- called “green” or “clean”, entails io drafted by the electromobility ulated, without buses running on alternative fuel. Data by the Central also a rise in the quality of life in championing foundation Fundacja Statistical Office (GUS), transport divi- cities as well as several advantag- Promocji Pojazdów Elektrycznych sion Business results in 2015. Based on the exchange rate of 20 es for the environment in the form it is anticipated that emissions of March 2018. of reduced emissions of pollutants nitrogen oxides (NOx) may contract and limited noise levels. by over 80% by 2050.

28 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 29 BALTIC

2017 was a record year for Solaris in many respects. However, 2018 promises to turn out even better in terms of sales. Two export destinations that have an extraordinarily huge impact on the production figures FEATS of the Polish producer are Baltic states: Lithuania and Latvia.

Two particularly important events trolleybuses will contribute to the feature a range of other enhance- stood out among all the others last city’s efforts to reduce air pollu- ments for the driver and passen- year, namely the signing of a frame- tion, the more so since last year the gers: a passenger counting system, work agreement with Latvian public Bolechowo-based producer began full air conditioning and free access transport operator Rigas Satiksme the deliveries of its top innovative to WiFi-Internet. Passengers using and the signing of an agreement for vehicle - the world’s first trolleybus public transport will be also able to an impressive number of 150 bus- using both batteries and fuel cells recharge their mobile phones us- es and 41 trolleybuses with Vilnius as range extenders. Operator Rigas ing one of the generally accessible carrier UAB Vilniaus viešasis trans- Satiksme has placed an order with USB ports. A CCTV system will be in- portas. the Polish manufacturer for 10 ve- stalled both inside and outside of hicles of this type which can ride the bus, as will a state-of-the-art A total of 96 vehicles made in up to 100 km without having to be passenger information system. For Bolechowo rolled out onto Latvian hooked up to a traction line. even greater travel safety, an al- streets last year. 70 of these are the colock will be installed right next recently delivered city buses Solaris Equally impressive in volume as the to the dashboard. This device pre- Urbino. The order was broken down Riga order was a commission from vents drunk drivers from starting into 35 new Urbino 12 and the same UAB “Vilniaus viešasis transportas“ the engine. number of articulated Urbino 18 (VVT), a Lithuanian operator, signed buses. They use economical and in the final weeks of 2017. Pursuant The Solaris Trollino 12 trolleybus- eco-friendly engines of respective- to these agreements, Solaris shall es will feature similar equipment. ly 210 and 240 kW, all meeting the deliver a sizeable 150 buses of the Vilnius inhabitants are well-ac- restrictive Euro 6 standard. The ve- latest generation to Vilnius; 100 quainted with Solaris trolleybuses. hicles delivered by Solaris are also of the contracted vehicles will be The first vehicles of this type were the first models of the new genera- 12-metre buses, the remaining 50 purveyed to the Lithuanian capi- tion of Urbino city buses to arrive in will be 18 meters long and artic- tal as early as 2004. Adding up all this region of Europe. ulated. It is the biggest contract buses and trolleybuses, there are for a one-off delivery of buses in nearly 200 vehicles with the Solaris However, this is not the end of Lithuania since 1990. What is more, logo cruising around the cities of deliveries made to Riga. In 2017 the Polish producer will procure 41 Vilnius, Kaunas and Panevėžys. Solaris Bus & Coach supplied 25 ar- trolleybuses to the Lithuanian cap- However, thanks to the agreement Owning to last year’s deliveries, the number ticulated Solaris Trollino 18 trolley- ital, too. signed with VVT in November last of vehicles bearing the green dachshund logo buses to the capital of Latvia. This year for the supply of 150 buses and particular product is well-known The vehicles ordered by VVT will the new contract for 41 trolleybus- has already exceeded 500 in Latvia. Solaris among citizens of Riga, since 50 be equipped with engines meeting es, this number will be doubled in has been present on the market since 2001. Trollinos of that model were dis- the highly restrictive Euro 6 emis- 2018. patched to Riga in 2001-2005. The sions standards. Apart from stan- latest models of the zero-emission dard equipment the buses will also

30 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 31 TRAMINO in Cracow

City bus operator Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne S.A. in Cracow has chosen the provider of its new trams. In line with a signed framework agreement, the consortium of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. and Stadler Polska Sp. z o.o. will supply up to 50 low-floor Traminos to the capital of the Lesser Poland province.

The producers will manufacture 35 Polish vehicles. This time, it will be vehicles to start with; the respecti- our trams,” commented Solange ve executive agreement was signed Olszewska, CEO of Solaris Bus & Basic in the presence of professor Jacek Coach S.A. specifications: Majchrowski, Mayor of Cracow. The order is worth over PLN 314 million. The new trams will have doors me- As part of the so-called first option, asuring 1.4m, which is wider than this commission volume may be in- doors of earlier versions. This solu- Total length - 33.4 m creased by 15 trams. tion will help speed up the passen- Vehicle width - 2.4 m ger flow at stops. The special Number of seats - 80 The low-floor trams will be 33.4 design of the bogie frames ensures metres long. They will be furnished a reduction of the wear of wheels Total passenger capacity with air conditioning, CCTV came- and of the rail tracks, but it will also - 227 (5 people/m²) ras, LED lighting of the interior and contribute to limiting vibrations a modern passenger information during the ride, which in turn will system comprising a voice anno- increase the travel comfort. Thanks uncement system and screens to the application of novel solu- displaying the tram route. Each tions the new trams will offer a safe over a distance of about 3 kilome- tram will be fitted with a special journey. Each compartment will tres (the remaining trams will have platform that will make boarding be equipped with so-called ener- an installation that can be adapted and alighting easier for wheelcha- gy absorbers which will decidedly to this system in the future). This ir-bound disabled persons. Ticket minimise the effects of collisions solution has been devised to ena- vendor machines will also be in- with other vehicles. The trams will ble trams to ride whenever there stalled inside, enabling passengers be also more environment-friendly. is no possibility of using a traction to pay for tickets by card or in cash. Furthermore, a recuperation system line (e.g. in the case of an outage USB ports allowing for the rechar- will facilitate the recovery of energy of the power grid or in the power ging of mobile devices will be loca- generated during braking. An er- plant). ted in railings for the convenience gonomic and comfortable seat will of mobile phone and smartphone guarantee excellent working con- The Cracow-based operator has users. The compartment doors will ditions for tram drivers. purchased 424 Solaris buses so be equipped with a passenger co- far, including dozens of hybrid and unting system that will facilitate the Cracow tests new electric drive vehicles. In 2015 the counting of passengers and identify carrier tested the Solaris Tramino in routes which require, for instance, solutions regular passenger traffic for a few more frequent rides. months. The first new trams should Two of the new trams under this make it to Cracow at the beginning “The cooperation between Solaris delivery will be the first in Cracow of 2020. In line with the agreement, and the Cracow operator MPK star- to feature an innovative system the deal is to be completed in the ted back in 1997. That is why I am allowing the tram to move while third quarter of 2020. so glad that the capital of the re- the pantograph stays lowered and gion of Lesser Poland will get new detached from the overhead lines, Hejmo Mateusz Fot:

32 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 33 Customer Satisfaction Index Net Promotore Score Our greatest success – The survey carried out by Solaris Bus & Coach When determining the NPS researchers assume S.A. measures the percentage share of an- the existence of three contract partner groups: swers reflecting high satisfaction (rating of 6 promoters, passives and detractors. Identifying and 7 on a scale from 1 to 7) in the overall customers and allocating them to a particular A SATISFIED CUSTOMER group is based on the likeliness of a customer number of answers provided in the survey. The CSI can range 0-100%, where 0 indicates recommending the firm, on a scale of 0 to 10, that no-one declared satisfaction with the where 0 indicates “I would definitely not re- co-operation, while 100% means that all re- commend it to others” and 10 means “I would spondents who have answered the question definitely recommend it”. The scale used in the about this particular issue declare full satis- study is supposed to help determine promoters faction. of a company (scores 9-10), passive customers (scores 7-8) and detractors (scores 0-6). The NPS is a standard indicator used by many firms to measure customer experience. An NPS of more The dialogue with one’s customers is one of the cornerstones of a suc- than 0% is considered a positive result, whereas cessful business. Countless studies confirm that attentiveness, observa- NPS = 47% a score of over 50% is referred to as “excellent”. tion of the market and of the behaviour of buyers facilitates the creation of products and services which will permanently ingrain themselves in the market reality. Conversation results in a dynamic situation where firms on one hand create trends and on the other - adjust their offer to the custo- “By deciding once again for a customer satisfaction survey Solaris has proven its organisational mers’ expectations. The very same mechanism applies also to the market maturity and client-oriented approach, which is consistent with the firm’s strategy of affiliate mar- of public transport vehicles. keting. The study was based on a carefully planned methodology using the international experience of leading researchers of business relations and it was carried out in compliance with international standards. The data collection mode devised by Solaris and the satisfaction measuring tools enabled a comprehensive evaluation of customer experience with the whole customer service process. The results obtained present the exceptional satisfaction of customers with the vehicles in use and the partnership relation with Solaris,” – remarked dr hab. Grzegorz Leszczyński and dr Marek Zieliński from Smart Business Solutions about the study results.

The study carried out for the also requested to provide their Polish market yielded a Response opinions and comments about Rate of 81%, which qualifies the the co-operation with the firm. It is part of the marketing strategy of to engage the services of market aspects have been reflected in results obtained in the study as All comments were passed on Solaris Bus & Coach S.A to regularly research firm Smart Business the questions which concern all highly representative. The first of to Solaris daily, in line with the monitor customer satisfaction Solutions which, based on a self- stages of collaboration with the the crucial indicators used in the Close the Loop technique. This by means of professional tools, devised methodology, collected firm in line with the customer path study, meaning the Customer technique consists in responding meaning customer satisfaction market data and based on existing in Solaris. This path is Satisfaction Index, settled at to customer objections at the surveys. In this way the company a statistical analysis, assessed the a precise rendering of all stages of 77%. The second indicator, used same time as the survey is carried seeks to find out how satisfied customer satisfaction level. cooperation with a customer. The to measure the satisfaction of out, so as to show the customer customers who order Solaris buses chief indicators used in the study buyers with a purchased and used the company’s will to improve and use its after-sale service The devised research tool covers were: the Customer Satisfaction vehicle, i.e. the Net Promoter processes. really are, but the firm also gains crucial parameters of the customer Index and the Net Promoter Score. Score, settled at 47%. Most of the the possibility of identifying and service process: the quality of the respondents – 61% – indicated eliminating potential critical events service itself as well as the quality Solaris as a market leader in various areas of collaboration. of the response to customer needs among bus producers whom In order to do so, Solaris decided and expectations. Both quality the respondent had previously worked with. Apart from a numeric rating, the respondents were

34 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 35 ROAD SAFETY above all

Solaris’ concern to raise safety in road traffic pushed the company to launch a “Safe Driver” training pro- gramme back in 2005. Participants learn how to re- spond adequately when driving a vehicle in dangero- us situations.

Even the best-equipped vehicles “We want to teach drivers how to and the most innovative technical recognise the first indications of solutions require properly trained a threat on the road and to show drivers. Transporting hundreds of them how to react according- passengers per day, bus drivers ly right from the onset when they have a particularly responsible have a much bigger chance of suc- task. In order to improve safety for ceeding with a manoeuvre and of all road users, Solaris has devised protecting the health and life of a training programme dedicated for passengers,” says Marcin Gąciarek, drivers and named “Save Driver”. an instructor at Sobiesław Zasada During the lessons the instructors Centrum Spółka z o.o. Sp. k. teach what to do when something unexpected happens on the road. Over 1000 people have so far ben- efited from the driver training pro- The “Save Driver” trainings are or- gramme launched by Solaris in ganised on the premises of the 2005. Sobiesław Zasada Centrum Spółka z o.o. Sp. k. training centre situated in Bednary near Poznań; it is one of the best training centres for drivers in Poland. The programme is at- tended by drivers working for pub- lic transport operators. The training is usually divided into a theoretical and a practical part, executed on a special training track. At the facil- ity, drivers are honing their driving technique by learning appropriate responses, such as the reaction when the vehicle is skidding, emer- gency braking, manoeuvring around unexpected obstacles on the road, and by practising taking a corner with the bus. All of these skills are trained in various arranged weather conditions.

36 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 37 WSPÓLNY Solaris trains specialists KIERUNEK

www.solarisbus.com Young people keep wondering nowadays how to gain professional expe- rience, whereas employers often struggle with a lack of skilled workers in their companies. The answer to the needs of both sides is to create dual education programmes in trade schools, high schools or universities.

Solaris is one of the first firms Polska). A passed exam grants pro- Together with the Technical Uni- in Poland which committed to fessional qualifications recognized versity of Poznań (Politechnika the cause of vocational training, on the European labour market. In Poznańska) and industrial firms of as early as 2007, in co-operation 2017 12 mechatronics technicians the Greater Poland region Solaris with schools in the province of completed the vocational training has been implementing a new Greater Poland. The first Company programme of Solaris. This year, in education programme since July Sponsored Class under the voca- a test run, the programme was wid- 2014, modelled upon dual study tional training programme was es- ened to encompass also technical courses. The study course is run tablished in the Bolechowo plant secondary school pupils. in collaboration with the Machine and, after four years, a similar Construction and Management programme was also launched in Thanks to the Company Sponsored Department of the Mechanics and Środa Wielkopolska. The positive Class programme pupils are tutored Machine Construction faculty (spe- effects of the Company Sponsored by qualified teachers of a particu- cialisation: industrial engineer- Class programme has encouraged lar trade and thus gain practical ing) and with the Department of Solaris to extend the dual educa- skills. Solaris concludes employ- Engineering Management at the tion partnership to the Technical ment contracts with all trainees Faculty of Logistics. Apart from University of Poznań (Politechnika of the programme based on their lectures and seminars held at the Poznańska). Not only does the pro- status as underage workers. Over Technical University, the curriculum ject give young people a great ca- a period of three years apprentices includes also a 6-month summer reer head start, but it also supports get to know the production process internship in Solaris and paid in- local education and constitutes in detail. At the beginning of the ternships lasting for the duration an investment in the local labour third course year the young learn- of the whole course, while some market. ers are able to complete most tasks course subjects are carried out and activities a regular employ- on the company premises. In 2017, The first Company Sponsored Class ee does. The Company Sponsored 17 pupils were participating in the programme was developed in Class programme gives the gradu- programme; moreover, we continue co-operation with the vocational ates a better head start on the job co-operation with most of our grad- school Branżowa Szkoła I Stopnia market also because it takes into uates. in Murowana Goślina and the account market needs. Thanks to school complex Zespół Szkół nr 1 these internships in Solaris facil- “Thanks to the co-operation with in Swarzędz. A sponsored class is ities, the students are given the the Technical University of Poznań a group of students who are taught opportunity to learn about the and with local schools our firm a vocation by taking classes in organisational culture of a large has the opportunity to take part a specialised vocational school and production plant and to get accus- in the education of young special- at the same time doing an intern- tomed to cutting-edge technologies ists. We find it extremely important ship in a company facility. The train- and production systems. Attending because thanks to this venture we ing takes three years. At Solaris, the a Sponsored Class also provides truly influence the skills and com- students can opt to learn the trade a chance of employment, as, after petencies of young people who, of a metalworker, a mechatronics graduating and passing the final after successfully completing our technician or complete a welding exam, the best graduates are of- programmes, may become our em- course. Since 2014 the mechatron- fered to stay with the company as ployees,” notes Monika Rudnicka of ics technicians follow an extended employees. Since the launch of the the Recruitment and Development curriculum, preparing additionally programme, training courses have Department. for a vocational exam organised been completed by 71 pupils, where- by the Polish-German Chamber as 56 graduates have found employ- of Commerce and Industry (AHK ment at the factory in Bolechowo.

38 / Customer Magazine / Spring 2018 Spring 2018 / Customer Magazine / 39 A breakthrough worth stopping for The DIWA.6 Stop-Start Technology

The DIWA.6 Stop-Start Technology is designed to make stops more economical and environmentally friendly: It reduces the fuel consumption of the vehicle by up to 10 - 12 % and helps to lower emissions. Public transit buses that are equipped with the Voith Stop-Start Technology are successfully proving their effi ciency and reliabi- lity every day.

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