Stadler Celebrates 15th Anniversary of Szolnok Plant with Milestone Aluminium Double-Decker Carriage Unveiling

Szolnok, Hungary – Stadler, a leading manufacturer of rail vehicles, recently marked a significant milestone in the Hungarian rail industry as it celebrated the 15th anniversary of its train carriage plant in Szolnok. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the first aluminium double-decker carriage body produced at the plant, underscoring the continued growth and innovation at this key facility.

The celebratory event was hosted by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, alongside Peter Spuhler, CEO of Stadler. Both dignitaries acknowledged the importance of this achievement, emphasizing its role in the advancement of the Hungarian rail sector.

Peter Spuhler shared his thoughts, stating, “This event highlights the importance and growth of the Szolnok plant over the last 15 years. It’s a significant achievement, and the introduction of a 45-million-euro refurbishment programme announced in 2023 has set the stage for further advancements, including the implementation of friction-stir-welding (FSW) technology. This new technology will allow us to produce more sustainably, using less raw material, energy, and generating less waste. We are excited to begin integrating this technology by the end of this year.”

Opened in 2009, the Szolnok plant was initially designed to produce up to 200 carriages per year with a staff of around 200. Starting with a small team of 100 employees, trained in Switzerland, the plant produced 52 carriages in its first year. Over the past 15 years, the plant has grown into the largest production site and one of the most modern facilities in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region.

Now, as Stadler Szolnok continues to evolve, it will expand its production capacity to include both single-deck and double-deck carriages. This expansion, made possible by a significant investment, has already created 170 new jobs. With a total of 5,600 carriages produced, the plant has supplied trains to 14 different countries, including the USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands. To date, Stadler has invested a total of 200 million euros into the Szolnok facility.

Commenting on the plant’s success, Peter Spuhler added, “We are very proud of how our plant has developed over the last 15 years. Today, it is the largest carriage plant in the Stadler Group. Hungary is a strategic market for Stadler, and I am delighted that more and more Stadler trains are operating on the Hungarian rail network. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of our employees, so I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to them as well.”

As Stadler Szolnok continues to lead in rail vehicle production, the anniversary celebration marked not only the successful past but also an exciting future, with more innovations and sustainable production methods on the horizon.