BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 30. Kazakhstan’s
RWS KZ holding and RWS Prommashkomplekt, part of RWS KZ, signed a
memorandum of understanding with Deutsche Bahn on September 29 to
prepare solid-rolled railway wheels manufactured by RWS
Prommashkomplekt for supplies to the European market, RWS KZ
said.


The next stage will include certification of BA 318 wheels under
the agreement with Deutsche Bahn, as well as BA 319 wheels for
freight and passenger rolling stock, the company said.


The agreement provides for the manufacturer qualification
procedure required for admission of the products to supplies,
including a production audit, qualification and operational testing
of the wheels in line with Deutsche Bahn’s internal requirements
and European standards for solid-rolled railway wheels.


According to RWS KZ, the company is developing production of
solid-rolled wheels for the European railway market in 920-mm
sizes, including BA 303, BA 004, BA 318 and BA 319.


The company is undergoing TSI WAG certification in accordance
with European requirements for freight and passenger rolling stock.
Testing is being completed to obtain certificates of conformity
with EU requirements for BA 303 and BA 004 wheels.


After the certification and qualification procedures are
completed, the parties will be able to discuss specific orders,
including technical requirements, production and supply volumes and
delivery timelines. Cooperation with Deutsche Bahn represents
another step by the company toward realizing its export potential,
RWS KZ said.







Testing is being conducted at accredited testing laboratories on
specialized equipment and includes, among other procedures,
thermomechanical and fatigue tests in accordance with European
standards. The tests are designed to assess the reliability and
durability of the wheels under operational loads.


“Obtaining EU Certificates of Conformity will enable the company
to supply products to customers in EU countries and move toward
signing its first commercial contracts. The company is already
negotiating with potential European partners and receiving requests
for technical information,” RWS KZ Holding CEO Sergey Pavlinger
said.


At the initial stage, the company will focus on wheels for
freight and passenger railway rolling stock. Further expansion of
the product range will depend on the needs of the European market
and potential customers.


The company uses modern heat treatment technologies and
high-precision full-profile machining in wheel production. The raw
materials are currently supplied by foreign producers that ensure
the required quality characteristics and stable supplies.


Following completion of the construction of an
electrometallurgical plant in Ekibastuz, the holding plans to use
its own raw materials and localize production, RWS KZ said.