2009-06-30 - Additional IRIS certification recognizes ABB’s compliance with international standards, broadening market opportunities and highlighting ABB’s cross-divisional offering for the rail sector.
ABB has been awarded a certificate of compliance with International Railway Industry Standards (IRIS Certification) for its traction transformers and medium-voltage products. The certification was awarded to ABB Sécheron, ABB’s center of excellence specializing in power products for the rail sector.
The new certificate follows three earlier awards earned by ABB for its surge arresters, converters and motors. IRIS is the quality standard for the railway industry. Developed by UNIFE, the Independent Association of European Railway Industries, and supported by system integrators, equipment manufacturers and operators like Bombardier Transportation, Siemens Transportation System, Alstom Transport and Ansaldo Breda. IRIS is an internationally recognised standard for the evaluation of railway industry management systems.
“ABB’s activities in the rail sector have enjoyed rapid growth in recent years and this additional certification confirms the Group’s position as a leading independent supplier to the industry,” said Jean-Luc Favre, head of ABB Sécheron and leader of ABB’s rail industry sector initiative. “In a competitive market, differentiation is crucial and only suppliers who have achieved the appropriate levels of IRIS certification will be awarded contracts in the future. ABB has reaffirmed its ability to meet exacting standards across the board.”
The rail sector offers a low-carbon alternative to road haulage in the form of electric goods trains, particularly in areas where renewable power is available, and respite to commuters in increasingly urbanized populations in the form of intercity, light rail and metro systems.
According to a 2008 survey*, road haulage generates almost eight times more CO2 than rail freight over an equivalent journey, and private car travel generates almost four times as much CO2 as an equivalent journey by train.
For more information on ABB’s offering to the rail industry, visit www.abb.com/railway
* www.ecotransit.com