A strong and reliable partner for Deutsche Bahn
“We are very pleased to be valued as a particularly strong and reliable partner by a customer as important to us as Deutsche Bahn,” says Kai Mentel, Managing Director of the HÜBNER Group with responsibility for the Mobility Rail division.“We consider the nomination for the DB Supplier Award to be an honor in itself. For us, it is a confirmation of our strategy of supporting customers throughout the entire product life cycle with a wide range of intelligent solutions and customized services. It is this approach that has made us one of the leading suppliers for the mobility sector as a whole.”
The prestigious prize is awarded every two years by Deutsche Bahn to recognize suppliers who are supporting the company’s procurement strategy in a particularly sustainable, efficient and reliable manner. Deutsche Bahn is supplied by a total of 20,000 companies, of which the best 15 are nominated and honored in five categories. The award presentation took place during the InnoTrans exhibition in Berlin, with the top prize in the category of rail vehicles and rail vehicle parts ultimately going to Siemens Mobility GmbH.
High-speed ICE trains running with HÜBNER systems for 35 years
HÜBNER and the Deutsche Bahn have worked together in a special relationship since the beginning of the 1990s. It was 35 years ago that HÜBNER supplied the gangway systems for the first generation of the Deutsche Bahn’s ICE trains, contributing pioneering work in the high-speed sector. For each of the subsequent generations of the ICE (1 through 4), HÜBNER has made substantial contributions with its experience and know-how. And this will also be the case for the upcoming fifth generation (also known as HGV 3.0), which is planned to come into operation in the early 2030s. HÜBNER is once again contributing innovative concepts with the aim of supplying the eventual train manufacturer with high-quality gangway systems.
“The history of the ICE in Germany is closely linked with the name HÜBNER,” says Dennis Böhm, Regional Sales Manager at HÜBNER responsible for Deutsche Bahn.“For 35 years, we have been the market-leading experts for gangway systems and are delighted that this long track record of expertise together with our commitment to quality, reliability and sustainability has been recognized with this nomination.”
Comprehensive commitment to sustainability
The performance of companies in the areas of sustainability and environmental protection is among the selection criteria for the DB Supplier Award. The HÜBNER Group scored highly in this regard with its holistic sustainability approach in developing particularly efficient and robust gangway systems as well as effective methods for managing their refurbishment.
Depending on the routes that are traveled, climate factors and operating hours, gangways on average need to be refurbished or in some cases entirely replaced approximately every 15 years. To handle these needs, the HÜBNER Group offers a refurbishment approach based on individual, highly efficient, needs-based solutions that maximize the availability of vehicles while minimizing costs.
Successful gangway refurbishment for the ICE 3 fleet
HÜBNER was able to demonstrate its refurbishment proficiency in renewing approximately 500 gangways over a six-year period in the Deutsche Bahn’s ICE 3 fleet. In summer 2023, this refurbishment work on the gangways in the ICE 3 trains of the 403 and 406 series was successfully completed. With this project, HÜBNER was able to make a significant contribution to modernizing parts of Deutsche Bahn's most important train fleet and keeping it fit for the future.
“Getting this positive recognition from Deutsche Bahn is a great incentive for us to continue to be a driver of innovation in the rail sector – with a clear focus on sustainability,” says Managing Director Kai Mentel. “With our comprehensive range of services and products for improved energy efficiency, we want to support our customers in optimizing their ecological footprint.”
