Source | Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), CompPair
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB, Bern Switzerland) and CompPair Technologies (Renens) have entered a collaboration to drive the performance and sustainability of key components on the SBB’s ICN train fleet, focusing on durability, cost-efficiency and reduced maintenance.
By introducing CompPair’s regenerative composite technology, the partnership aims to demonstrate a significant reduction in maintenance operations and extend the service life of affected parts. This solution enables in situ repairs, enabling damaged composite components to be healed in minutes, thus reducing downtime and improving cost-efficiency.
“Our goal is to showcase how advanced materials can make a tangible economic and ecological difference in the daily operations of the rail industry,” says Amaël Cohades, CEO of CompPair.
As part of this collaboration, CompPair’s HealTech technology will be integrated into the refit program of the ICN train fleet, beginning in 2025, through existing SBB suppliers. This strategic move ensures seamless adoption within the current maintenance ecosystem, while introducing a step forward in reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
The joint project targets the front parts of locomotives, specifically the cowcatchers — which are exposed to frequent impacts and traditionally requiring regular replacement — as the first component to benefit from CompPair’s solution. By replacing standard composite parts with repairable ones, maintenance teams will be able to heal damage directly on the part, reducing downtime and avoiding costly replacements. This not only improves operational efficiency but also supports SBB’s long-term sustainability goals.
“With this collaboration, we are taking a concrete step toward reducing material waste and maintenance costs while increasing the service life of key components,” says Pascal Vock, head of research and innovation at SBB.
The SBB is the primary national railway company of Switzerland, responsible for both passenger and freight transport. SBB operates a vast network of more than 3,000 kilometers of railway lines, with 9,000 passenger trains running daily.
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