Škoda Group is investing 460 million CZK (19.6 million EUR) in its plant in Šumperk to enable the manufacture of 13 electric trains for Czech Railways (ČD).
In recent years, the Šumperk plant has primarily been used to service rolling stock. However, thanks to its ongoing modernisation, the site is also now being used to manufacture 13 EMU 240 units for the Olomouc Region.
The EMU 240 model is Škoda’s latest RegioPanter unit. Throughout production, painted and welded cabinets for the new vehicles will be delivered from Škoda’s plant in Ostrava, while the chassis will be produced in Pilsen.
Complete assembly of the electric trains will then take place in Šumperk, with 6 units scheduled to be produced in 2023 and a further 7 units due in 2024.
To support this process, a new gluing box with two stalls has been built at the Šumperk plant, along with a crane and a retrofitted test room.
In addition, as part of the site’s modernisation, an unmanned robotic workplace has been built for the welding and processing of traction motors.
The complete modernisation of the facility is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024 to increase its spatial capacity for rolling stock maintenance by 30%.
“The increasing volume of orders goes hand in hand with the expansion of production capacity. The return of production to Šumperk is a completely logical step. The operation staff have detailed knowledge of our trains, given that they have been involved in servicing them for many years. I believe that we will continue to increase the capacity of Šumper production in the future.”
