InnoTrans 2018: Railway innovation, taking centre stage at the Spanish Pavilion

MAFEX HAS COORDINATED, FOR THE 8TH CONSECUTIVE EDITION, THE PARTICIPATION OF 50 COMPANIES IN THE OFFICIAL SPANISH PAVILION, AMONGST WHICH RENFE AND ADIF WERE ALSO PARTICIPANTS.

The participation in Innotrans 2018 has achieved, once again, positive results for the Spanish railway sector. Under the auspice of Mafex, the Spanish Pavilion has been one of the most visited at the trade fair, due to the large number of technological innovations presented and the interest aroused amongst professionals from all over the world eager to find out more about know-how, the solid experience and the innovative advances of the exhibiting companies.

This edition has enjoyed the visit of the Minister of Minister of Public Works, José Luis Ábalos; President of Adif, Isabel Pardo de Vera and the President of Renfe, Isaías Táboas. Ábalos voiced his support to a very competitive industry, which has made its way around the world, thanks to its highly-skilled workforce and its firm commitment to R&D. In this regard, during his address at the Mafex stand, the minister stressed that “Spanish companies have become global leaders in the design, construction and management of railways.” This excellence is demonstrated by the participation of these companies in railway projects throughout the world.” He added, this is the reason the Spanish railway sector has become the flagship railway partner owing to its multiple qualities, its extensive technical knowledge, the highly-qualified nature of its experts, as well as the working synergy of the multidisciplinary teams, all of the foregoing evident in the planning, design and implementation of numerous transport systems.

Networking at the Mafex stand and co-exhibitors
Mafex coordinated for the 3rd consecutive edition the participation of 50 companies in the official Pavilion, in addition to Renfe and Adif.

The wide-ranging delegation of this year was formed by companies such as: Adif, Albatros, Amurrio, Aquafrisch, Arcelormittal, Ardanuy Engineering, Electrotechnical Arteche Smartgrid, Ceit-IK4, Cetest, Colway railway, Comsa, Danobat, Duro Felguera Rail, Flexix, Funorsa, Gamarra, GMV, Goal Systems, Goratu Machine Tools, CAF Group, Icon Multimedia, Ikusi, Implaser, Ingeteam Power Technology, Indra, Transformers Industrial, Ineco, International Hispacold, Jez Rail Systems, Kelox, La Farga, Limmat, Lander Simulation and Training Solutions, MB Systems S. Coop, Metalocaucho, MGN Transformations of Rubber, Nem Solutions, Newtek Solids, Patents Talgo, Premium, Renfe Operadora, Revenga Smart Solutions, Segula, Sice, Workshops Alegría, Corral Machining Workshops, Tecnatom, Tecnivial, Telice, Teltronic, Thales Spain, Uromac Systems, UTE Ogi (Azvi – Tria), Virlab Testing Laboratory or Xubi Gears among others. Likewise, other multinational companies with facilities in Spain and also partners of Mafex such as Alstom, Bombardier, Siemens, Stadler or Thales, were present at the fair through the corporate stands of their parent companies.

Antonio del Río, Head of Business – Transport and Alberto Herrero International BDM of ICON Multimedia attend a visitor.
From left to right, a selection of moments from meetings held by the companies; Enrique Sánchez and José Antonio Morales, Sales director and rail solutions director from the Integration and Engineering Projects BU of IKUSI, Inka Guixá, General Manager of La Farga, Angel Letosa, Head of LN Signalling and Security, Carlos López, Head of LN Transportes and Francesc Alavedra, Regional Manager for Catalonia and the Balearic Islands at SICE.

For Mafex, the presence in the world’s largest transportation showcase was a unique opportunity to analyse the priority factors in which the Association works for the global future of the railway. Amongst these, aspects such as sustainability, R&D, the digital ecosystem, and interoperability come to the fore.

One of the conclusions of this edition is that factors such as the growth of cities, climate change, digitalisation and interoperability place the train in a preferential position to become the axis on which the mobility of tomorrow turns.

Víctor Ruiz, President of Mafex, making an address at the Association’s Stand.

The increase of the population in urban areas, for example, makes it necessary to look for more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions, which is why it is necessary to continue with the defence of the railways to accomplish its being located in the main focus of the transport strategies in the long-term, as well as fostering their greater presence throughout the world.

Meeting between the Minister of Public Works and the President of Renfe alongside his counterpart at CAF, Andrés Arizkorreta and the General Sales Manager, Jesús Esnaola at the company’s stand.

 

A moment of the visit of the Minister of Public Works and the president of Renfe in Innotrans 2018 at the Stadler Rail stand alongside the President of Stadler Rail Valencia, Iñigo Parra and Group CEO, Thomas Ahlburg.

At InnoTrans, the need to pay special attention to the rapid technological advances and the path towards digitalisation that take place in our times was also evident. Innovation is not an option, moreover an obligation and the aim is not to fall behind and take advantage of the great competitive advantages and opportunities to incorporate the most cutting-edge advances into production processes. In this sense, fervent support in favour of European and Spanish R&D+i must be firmly championed.

The Minister of Public Works, the President of Renfe, the President of Adif and the President of Bombardier Spain, Oscar Vázquez, at the Bombardier stand in Innotrans.

Another point of debate in this edition was interoperability. A field that Mafex considers a priority and where it is necessary to move forward with the endeavours undertaken on a European level to achieve an open and integrated rail system that allows for the development of an increasingly competitive mode of transport.

Moment from the meeting held with Kaspars Rokens, COO of RB Rail AS, and Kaspars Briškens, Head of Business Development, at the Association’s stand next to senior management from CAF, Comsa, Sener along with Mafex’s representation.

 

The delegation of the Basque government integrated by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructures and Transport, Antonio Aiz, the head of SPRI, Alex Arriola, the director BTI- Spri Germany, Marta Sarricolea, the head of ETS, Aitor Garitano and Imanol Leza, CEO of Euskotren, together with the 30 Basque exhibiting companies in InnoTrans.