KNORR-BREMSE ESPANA SA

Their core work

Knorr-Bremse España is the Spanish subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse AG, a global manufacturer of mission-critical railway and commercial vehicle systems. Their product portfolio covers the full spectrum of train subsystems: braking systems, running gear, carbody shells, entrance systems (doors), modular interiors, and HVAC. More recently they have expanded into advanced traction electronics, contributing expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) power electronics and independently driven motors for high-speed trains. In Horizon 2020, they participate as industrial partners within large Shift2Rail consortia, providing real-world engineering know-how and access to production-grade rail components that research-only partners cannot supply.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their first project (PIVOT2, 2019) is squarely in classical mechanical railway engineering — structural components, doors, brakes, climate control — the domain where Knorr-Bremse has decades of industrial production experience. Their second project (PINTA3, 2020) marks a clear pivot toward power electronics and digitally-informed operations: SiC traction systems, independently driven high-speed motors, and smart maintenance frameworks. The two-year window is short, but the keyword shift from structural hardware to traction electronics and reliability analytics is unambiguous and mirrors the broader Shift2Rail programme's push toward more intelligent, energy-efficient trains.

Knorr-Bremse España is moving from supplying physical railway hardware toward contributing to the electronics and data-driven layers of next-generation train systems, making them an increasingly relevant partner for traction electrification and predictive maintenance projects.

How they like to work

In both H2020 projects Knorr-Bremse España appears as a third party rather than a formal participant or coordinator, which typically means they contribute specific assets — testing facilities, prototype components, or proprietary engineering data — without bearing direct contractual responsibility for deliverables. Their 42 consortium partners across 9 countries suggest participation in large, multi-actor Shift2Rail Innovation Actions where their role is to provide industrial grounding to research-led efforts. This pattern indicates a company that selectively engages in EU projects to validate or demonstrate technology rather than to lead research agendas.

Despite only two projects, Knorr-Bremse España has been exposed to 42 unique consortium partners spread across 9 countries, reflecting the large-consortium structure of Shift2Rail programmes. Their network skews toward transport-sector industrial and research actors rather than cross-sectoral partnerships.

What sets them apart

As the Spanish arm of one of the world's leading rail systems manufacturers, Knorr-Bremse España brings industrial-grade product knowledge and production-ready component access that academic or SME partners in research consortia typically cannot offer. Their position in Getafe — a major aerospace and rail industry cluster near Madrid — further anchors them in a dense ecosystem of transport engineering competence. For consortium builders, they represent the difference between a research proposal and a credible demonstration pathway to market deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PIVOT2
  A broad Innovation Action covering nearly every major train subsystem — carbody, running gear, brakes, doors, interiors, and HVAC — making it the most complete demonstration of Knorr-Bremse España's cross-subsystem railway expertise.
• PINTA3
  Focused on SiC traction demonstration and independently driven motors for high-speed trains, this project signals the company's entry into advanced power electronics — a strategically important expansion beyond their classical mechanical product base.