Plasser & Theurer

Plasser & Theurer was established in 1953 by a group of nine people, amongst them was Josef Theurer, the company's first CEO. Theurer played a key role in managing the business over the following six decades.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/people/dr-josef-theurer/56076.article |title = Dr Josef Theurer |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 20 March 2020}}

Plasser & Theurer has long sought to integrate emerging technologies into its track maintenance products, particularly rapid developments made within the IT sector. By the mid-2000s, it held roughly 3,000 patents. The company has a dedicated R&D division that builds and tests prototypes, as well as continuously assessing various technologies from outside of the traditional rail sector. Further input is drawn from various partner organisations, such as universities, suppliers, operators, and infrastructure managers.{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/91060/interview-florian-auer-plasser-theurer/ |title = An interview with Florian Auer, Director of Technology & Innovation, Plasser & Theurer |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 17 October 2019}}{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/business/joint-venture-offers-rail-asset-digitisation-by-drone/63899.article |title = Joint venture offers rail asset digitisation by drone |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 11 April 2023}}{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/business/plasser-and-dual-inventive-sign-track-worker-safety-technology-partnership/61993.article |title = Plasser and Dual Inventive sign track worker safety technology partnership |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 30 June 2022}}

By 2006, Plasser & Theurer has delivered more than 13 000 machines to 103 countries.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/plasser-and-theurers-technical-advances-to-keep-ahead/28682.article |title = Plasser & Theurer’s technical advances to keep ahead |publisher = Railway Gazette International |first = Andrew |last = Grantham |date = 1 June 2006}} During the 2000s, Plasser & Theurer delivered numerous maintenance vehicles, including the high output track renewals plant, to the recently-created British railway infrastructure company Network Rail.{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/2605/new-high-output-track-renewals-plant-for-network-rail/ |title = New high output track renewals plant for Network Rail |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 2 March 2005}} It also secured Chinese orders for mechanised maintenance equipment, such for the Beijing Metro.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/beijing-metro-invests-in-mechanised-maintenance/31862.article |title = Beijing Metro invests in mechanised maintenance |publisher = Railway Gazette International |first = Liang |last = Baicheng |date = 1 May 2007}}

By 2009, the company accounted for 6% of all Austrian exports of the machinery, and iron, and steel construction industry.{{cite web |url = http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.p/p535276.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=en |title = Plasser & Theurer |publisher = aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at |access-date = 21 April 2009}} In the 2010s, the company built its first track maintenance machines for the German railway infrastructure company DB Netz.{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/31786/manufacturing-quality-series/ |title = Manufacturing quality in series |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 23 November 2016}} The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has been a repeat customer, signing multiple long term leasing contracts; in 2015, Plasser & Theurer agreed terms with the SBB for the lease of 65 tampers, cranes and other track maintenance plant over periods of five to 10 years.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/sbb-awards-on-track-plant-contracts/40660.article |title = SBB awards on-track plant contracts |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 20 March 2015}}

In the late 2010s, Plasser & Theurer underwent restructuring, orientating itself towards the core business of designing and producing track maintenance machines. During 2019, the company appointed a new chief operating officer, Dr Daniel Siedl, as well as a new chief technical officer- Dr Winfried Büdenbender.{{Cite web |url = https://www.railjournal.com/policy/plasser-theurer-announces-two-key-appointments/ |title = Plasser & Theurer announces two key appointments |last = Briginshaw |first = David |date = 5 September 2019 |website = International Railway Journal |language = en |archive-url = |archive-date = |access-date = 10 October 2019}}

On 1 January 2021, Deutsche Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH and Robel’s business unit Service & Support (S&S) merged to form Plasser Robel Services GmbH (PRS); the new entity, which comprises 250 employees at three locations in Munich, Opladen, and Freilassing, is the largest service organisation within Plasser & Theurer.{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/130868/deutsche-plasser-robel-service-become-plasser-robel-services/ |title = Deutsche Plasser and Robel Service become Plasser Robel Services |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 4 January 2022}}

During the early 2020s, Plasser & Theurer commenced deliveries to the Austrian Federal Railways of 56 electric-battery modular maintenance vehicles.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/plasser-and-theurer-unveils-%C3%B6bb-electric-maintenance-vehicles/64251.article |title = Plasser & Theurer unveils ÖBB electric maintenance vehicles |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 5 June 2023}}

File:09-32 CSM 7286.jpg]]

Plasser & Theurer manufactures railway maintenance machines for a wide variety of purposes, including adjusting and tamping tracks, the installation and maintenance of overhead wires and the associated equipment.{{cite web |url = http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-World-Railways/Plasser--Theurer-MANUFACTURERS-AND-SERVICES--ELECTRIFICATION-CONTRACTORS-AND-EQUIPMENT-SUPPLIERS-Austria.html |title = Plasser & Theurer |publisher = Janes.com |access-date = 21 April 2009}}{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/2200/machines-and-technology-for-high-capacity-lines/ |title = Machines and technology for high-capacity lines |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 3 April 2006}} The company has routinely custom-built hardware to meet an individual customer's requirement, such as to fit within restrictive loading gauges.{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/1019/professional-services-for-21st-century-railways/ |title = Professional services for 21st century railways |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 29 December 2006}} many of these machines are designed to perform multiple purposes, reducing the number of separate maintenance vehicles required by operators;{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/70754/test-cutting-edge-maintenance-trains-elizabeth-line/ |title = Testing of cutting-edge maintenance trains for Elizabeth line gets underway |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 28 June 2018}} examples include an inertial navigation system for measuring track geometry measuring being fitted to a tamping machine, permitting precise surveying without the use of a dedicated measuring train.{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/70388/safety-reliability-cost-efficiency/ |title = Plasser & Theurer: Delivering safety, reliability and cost-efficiency |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |first1 = Bernd |last1 = Metzger |first2 = Claudia |last2 = Peinsipp |date = 3 October 2017}} The company has also ventured into a fully-automated maintenance robotics to perform tasks such as welding.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/rail-welding-robot-on-show/36490.article |title = Rail welding robot on show |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 15 December 2011}}

File:DR 73909 "Saturn" Tamping Machine.jpg

Other products include railway bridge inspection and repair vehicles,{{cite web |url = http://www.allbusiness.com/trends-events/inspections/7915281-1.html |title = Bridge inspection/repair. (Plasser and Theurer BCR 100) |publisher = allbusiness.com |access-date = 21 April 2009}} and flash-butt welding machines.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/flash-butt-welder-enters-service/28576.article |title = Flash-butt welder enters service |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 1 June 2004}}{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaysafrica.com/2007/12/welders-for-gabon/ |title = Welders for Gabon |publisher = railwaysafrica.com |date = December 2007}} The company has also produced simulators for the training of maintenance staff.{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/tamping-in-three-dimensions/36571.article |title = Tamping in three dimensions |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 10 January 2012}} During 2015, Plasser & Theurer introduced the E3 brand for those products that conform with strict economic efficiency, pollution control and advanced ergonomic standards; in the following years, additional products have been developed that also meet these standards, which the company's management has viewed as a prospective competitive edge over rival equipment manufacturers.{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/128126/robel-e3-machines/ |title = Robel adopts and launches E³ machines |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 27 September 2021}}

• Deutsche Plasser - Founded in 1960 and based in Munich with facilities in Germany, Poland and Norway
• Plasser UK Limited - Based in London with sales, service and repair facilities
• Plasser Italiana S.R.L. - Founded 1963 and based in Velletri; designs and manufactures equipment
• Plasser Española, S.A. (Plasser Iberica) - Founded 1974 and based in Toledo with regional office and production facility[https://www.plasser.es/es/empresa/acerca-de-nosotros.html www.plasser.es]{{cite web |url = https://www.plasser.es/es/empresa/historia.html |title = Plasser Iberica Historia |publisher = plasser.es |access-date = 30 September 2023}}
• Nippon Plasser Kabushiki Kaisha - Founded 1971 with offices in Tokyo and Nagoya, training centre in Tokyo; provides sales and support in the Far East
• Plasser Far East - Founded 1979 and based in Hong Kong. Sales and support in Philippines, China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
• Plasser Australia - Founded 1970 and based in St. Marys, New South Wales; regional office and track maintenance and construction equipment plantFile:GRM3000T Tamping Machine.jpg in Harlem, New York.]]
• Plasser India Pvt. Limited - Founded in mid 1960s and based in Faridabad since 1965
• Plasser South Africa Pty. Limited - Founded in 1959 as Plasser Railway Machinery South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Currently trading as Plasser South Africa (Pty) Ltd since February 2009. Based in Roodepoort with machine sales and support services to neighbouring countries.{{cite web |url = http://www.plasser.co.za/ |title = Home |website = plasser.co.za}}
• Plasser American - based in Chesapeake, Virginia serving clients in the United States and Canada. Founded as Plasser Railway Maintenance Corporation in 1961 and took on the current name in mid 1960s.{{Cite web |title = Plasser American - Company - Our history |url = https://www.plasseramerican.com/en/company/history.html |access-date = 19 July 2023 |website = www.plasseramerican.com}}

• Maintenance of way

{{Commons category|Plasser & Theurer machines}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/77748/plasser-theurer-vienna-site-tour/ |title = Plasser & Theurer: Delivering safety, reliability and cost-efficiency |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |first = Johann |last = Dumser |date = 22 February 2019}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plasser and Theurer}}

Category:Rail infrastructure manufacturers

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Vienna

Category:Austrian brands

{{Europe-rail-transport-stub}}

{{Austria-transport-stub}}

{{Austria-company-stub}}