CO₂e intensity reduced to 50.4 CO₂e tons/€ million

The increase in energy intensity is mainly due to the consolidation of an Indian production site – a foundry for frogs – within the Customized Modules division. In contrast, despite the overall higher energy consumption, the CO2e intensity measured in CO2e emissions in tons per €1 million sales revenues was noticeably reduced overall despite consolidation of the emissions-intensive Indian production site. This was due to significant efficiency improvements and savings, as well as the increased conversion of the sites to green power.

Vossloh does not as yet have sufficient data to determine the greenhouse gas emissions relating to the upstream and downstream areas (Scope 3).

The Company’s operating units are working on further reducing CO2 emissions through a wide range of measures. When it comes to energy-efficient production, the Werdohl Vossloh Fastening Systems “factory of the future” is considered a “beacon” throughout the Group. The shortest possible distances through the linear design of the individual stations, a change in the energy source of heat generation, highly efficient insulation of the heat treatment plant and the use of a high-efficiency burner, as well as modernization of the washing plant with smaller and lower-temperature baths: These are just some of the measures that have significantly reduced energy consumption per 1,000 bent rail clamps at the Werdohl site. Following the conversion, for example, the washing station operates with 25 percent greater energy efficiency than before.

The Customized Modules division completed the redesign of value flows in the frog segment in France in 2021. Certain specialized manufacturing steps taken by individual sites enable a more efficient production process with shorter throughput times, which is also reflected in lower CO2 emissions. In 2021, the division pursued several projects to equip suitable factory buildings with solar roofs. At the Outreau foundry, for example, up to 15 percent of the energy demand is to be generated in a climate-friendly way in the future. For the Reichshoffen technology center, plans to heat water via solar collectors were put forward over the course of 2021. The solar generation facility for India’s Bangalore plant was completed in 2021 and is already up and running. Several sites belonging to the Customized Modules division have wallboxes where employees can charge their e-cars for free. At the same time, the division provides financial support for employees to purchase an e-bike for their commute to work. At the Indian sites in New Delhi and Hyderabad, over 75 percent of the workforce now come to the Vossloh plant on company-sponsored e-bikes, avoiding CO2 emissions on their commute to work. This is not only good for the environment – especially in comparison with the widespread use of motor scooters – but also a healthier way to travel to work. In 2021, several units in the division switched from traditional suppliers to green electricity providers.

After Leipzig switched in 2021, all German sites started using green electricity in the Lifecycle Solutions division. Since many of the Vossloh Rail Services machines only run on diesel fuel, the business unit switched in 2021 to a fuel tariff that offsets CO2 emissions by investing a surcharge in climate action projects. Since then, this compensation program has also been used for all of the Group’s company cars in Germany.

In the Tie Technologies business unit, an internal group of experts drew up various proposals in 2021 to reduce energy consumption in the production of concrete ties at the Colorado plant. Among other things, the time that machines lay idle was reduced. In close coordination with suppliers and customers, systematic analyses and tests also began to determine how material- and energy-saving changes in the composition of the concrete and in the curing processes affect the quality of the rail ties. At the same time, a project was also set up with the aim of taking over the CarbonCure technology. In this manufacturing process, processed CO2 from industrial waste gas streams is added to the fresh concrete; the carbon dioxide binds as a nano- mineral. This process improves the environmental impact of concrete without compromising its performance.