Bode
Bode is a German manufacturer of door and access systems for rail vehicles and public transport, headquartered in Kassel, Germany, and among the principal suppliers of passenger door technology to train and metro OEMs globally.
History and development
Bode was established in Kassel in 1968 as a specialist door and access systems manufacturer, emerging from the city’s established railway vehicle industry. Its technical development spans several successive generations: it supplied doors for the Berlin S-Bahn in 1932 under predecessor operations, developed the pneumatic jackscrew drive for bus doors in 1968, pressurised doors for high-speed trains including the ICE 1 in 1986, and the first electric swinging-sliding plug door for rail vehicles in 1992.
In 1995, Schaltbau AG acquired Bode, enabling Schaltbau to broaden its range of railway transportation technology products and enter the bus equipment and automotive markets. Bode remained within the Schaltbau Group for thirty years, operating as an integrated business unit. In May 2026, Waterland Private Equity agreed to acquire Bode from Schaltbau Group, separating the supplier into an independent platform after more than three decades under the same ownership.
Products and services
Bode specialises in the production, maintenance, and service of door systems for rail vehicles, buses, and commercial vehicles. Its rail-specific portfolio includes exterior sliding plug doors, boarding aids — sliding steps and ramps — interior fittings, and onboard electronics including a door control unit and diagnostic software deployed across its installed base.
The Bode BISS sliding step system has been on the market since 2003, with more than 40,000 systems delivered to date. The company holds IRIS certification and supplies across the full vehicle lifecycle, from new-build OEM integration to fleet refurbishment.
Role in the European context
Bode generated more than EUR 250 million in revenue in fiscal 2025 and employs over 1,400 people, serving OEMs and public transport operators across Europe, North America, and Asia. Its position as a specialist door systems supplier — independent of any single rolling stock OEM — gives it exposure across the major European vehicle platforms, from high-speed to commuter rail.
The company operates subsidiaries and production sites in Poland, the USA, Switzerland, the UK, South Korea, and Turkey. The Polish facility in Rawicz handles a significant share of assembly production.
Current programmes and ownership transition
Under the new ownership structure, Bode’s headquarters in Kassel and existing management will remain in place, with the senior management team investing alongside Waterland. Closing remains conditional on antitrust clearance.
Waterland has outlined plans to accelerate international growth and strengthen service and after-sales operations, and intends to pursue add-on acquisitions to broaden Bode’s capabilities and geographic reach.
For Schaltbau, the divestment reflects a strategic decision to concentrate on its two remaining businesses: Pintsch, covering railway infrastructure components, and Schaltbau GmbH, focused on DC switching technology.
Waterland buys Bode door systems business from Schaltbau
Waterland Private Equity has agreed to acquire Bode, a German provider of door and access systems for rail vehicles and public transport, from Schaltbau Group, separating th…