Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems Budapest Reduces Yearly CO₂ Emissions by 600 Tons
Large, responsible corporations must deeply embed the principle of sustainability into the operations of the business. Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems Budapest, a market leader in the development and manufacturing of railway braking systems, places great emphasis on implementation of energy-efficient and green solutions at both of its sites in Budapest. Thanks to the development of the company’s solar power park, 600 fewer tons of CO2 will be released into the atmosphere each year.
For years, Knorr-Bremse Budapest has been developing a comprehensive strategy to ensure that sustainability goals and energy efficiency measures are integrated as effectively as possible into the company’s daily operations.
One of the key focuses of the company’s advancements, which also support European climate goals, has been replacing fossil fuel-based energy with electricity. One element of this project involved switching from gas heating to much more energy-efficient heat pump solutions in a number of assembly halls. Concurrently, the company has begun building its renewable energy-based power network. The first two phases of this multi-step innovation process have already been completed, including installation of a 400 kWh solar panel system and, in a subsequent phase, adding another 800 kWh system to the rooftops of its production units. Thanks to its own solar power park, Knorr-Bremse Budapest now emits 600 fewer tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year, significantly reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
Completion of the third phase of the green energy transition, which includes construction of an additional 400 kWh solar-panel covered parking area, is scheduled for year-end 2026. Once the development is completed, the company will be able to cover 10% of its energy needs with renewable power.
Meanwhile, the company has also completed a comprehensive lighting upgrade for all of its facilities, replacing traditional bulbs with far more energy-efficient LED solutions. Significant energy efficiency improvements have also been made in the machining units: during transformation of the machining centres, specialists ensured that old machine units were replaced with modern, energy-efficient solutions capable of performing the same tasks at the same high quality but with much lower consumption.
Electric consumption meters have been deployed throughout the factory to identify the most energy-intensive equipment in an effort to further optimize energy efficiency and meet the company’s ESG targets. By targeting these units for modernization and energy efficiency improvements, the company aims to make significant improvements to its total energy consumption.
Naturally, these advancements represent only a sample of Knorr-Bremse Budapest’s ambitious green agenda. Sustainability goals bear a prominent place in the company’s strategic guidelines. Its dedication to eco-friendly operations is no longer just a seasonal initiative, but has evolved into a core principle that informs all decisions, from the most minor operational ones to significant, large-scale investments.
