GE Transportation Grand Opens a New Locomotive Assembly Plant in Kazakhstan
July 7, 2009 · Published By Administrator
STANA, Kazakhstan & ERIE, Pennsylvania, USA-GE Transportation has announced the grand opening of a new locomotive assembly plant in Astana, Kazakhstan.
On July 3, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, hosted the official inauguration of the plant which will assemble GE Evolution® Series locomotives to serve railroad customers in Kazakhstan and the surrounding region.
“This is an historic day for both the Republic of Kazakhstan and GE because it demonstrates that strategic partnerships can promote long-term economic growth,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO of GE Transportation, during the official grand opening ceremony. “KTZ and GE Transportation have a long and fruitful history of working together to drive the Republic of Kazakhstan’s economic development by ensuring that its critical rail infrastructure remains modern, reliable and efficient now and in the future.”
GE Investment in Astana Assembly Plant
The 43,000 square meter plant is scheduled to begin production of GE’s Evolution Series locomotives by the end of 2009. At full capacity, the facility would be capable of assembling approximately 100 locomotives per year while employing more than 600 people. In 2006, KTZ ordered 310 GE Evolution Series locomotives and the first ten units are already in operation in Kazakhstan, and have demonstrated a one Evolution Series for two TE10 replacement ratio. This replacement ratio allows KTZ to pull more freight with fewer locomotives, thus saving on fuel and maintenance costs. The 300 other locomotives will be assembled in the Astana plant from components and kits manufactured in Grove City and Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.
GE’s continuing commitment to the Republic of Kazakhstan
The announcement is the latest in a series between GE Transportation and Kazakhstan. Since 2005, GE Transportation has helped upgrade the TE10 locomotives using a modernization package that includes a new microprocessor, electronic fuel injection engine and cooling system. Modernization can extend the revenue-generating life of a locomotive by up to twenty years. Moreover, the 3000th Evolution Series locomotive produced by GE Transportation was recently delivered to JSC Lokomotiv for KTZ. In May, GE Transportation announced a 15-year, $500 million service contract to further improve the performance of KTZ’s fleet of TE10 locomotives.
About the Evolution Series Locomotive
The Evolution Series locomotive, which will be assembled in the Astana plant, represents a $400 million investment by GE over eight years. The innovative locomotive is equipped with a 12-cylinder diesel engine that produces the same 4,400 horsepower as its 16-cylinder predecessor. The Evolution engine uses up to 5% less fuel, or approximately 1.1 million fewer liters of fuel over the life of the locomotive, while reducing emissions by approximately 40%.
Source: GE Transportation
Local Tags: assembly plant, ERIE, GE, GE Transportation, Kazakhstan, Pennsylvania, STANA
Filed Under Business, Finance, Technology · By Administrator
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