Stadler puts CHF 33 million into its Biel steel foundry
SWITZERLAND: Stadler will invest around CHF 33 million (EUR 35 million) in modernising and expanding its steel foundry in Biel, the manufacturer announced on 14 August. The company says the plan secures the site’s 115 jobs and will grow the foundry’s headcount by around five percent, and it adds a new dispatch hall, with the upgraded facility due to enter operation in 2028.
The company describes the Biel operation, Stadler Stahlguss AG, as one of Europe’s leading steel foundries for hand-moulded and machine-moulded castings, producing components it says are used in rail vehicles worldwide. The existing facilities no longer meet the long-term requirements of modern and sustainable production, according to the company, which submitted the building application over the summer.
In-house casting and certifications
Stadler produces the castings in-house at its own Biel foundry rather than buying them in. The site holds Deutsche Bahn’s manufacturer-related product qualification (HPQ), which qualifies manufacturers for specified rail vehicle components, and is certified to weld rail vehicle parts under EN 15085-2.
Less energy and less waste
A new photovoltaic installation and related measures are expected to cut the site’s energy consumption by roughly 15 percent. The rebuild also targets production waste: moulding sand and other casting materials will be reused far more efficiently, which the company expects to cut the resulting waste by around 80 percent.