Netinera has signed a deal with Rolls-Royce to provide general maintenance of 180 MTU PowerPacks.

photo: Rolls-Royce press materials/Netinera has signed a deal with Rolls-Royce to provide general maintenance of 180 MTU PowerPacks.

Rolls-Royce and Netinera, Trenitalia´s subsidiary, have established an 11-year contract for the complete overhaul of up to 180 pieces of the MTU PowerPacks based on the MTU Series 183 motors using the Reman method.

“We are very pleased that Netinera has once again chosen our Reman solutions. It shows how attractive our Reman PowerPacks and engines are: They offer absolute reliability and maximum availability at a very economical price,” stated Marc Goldschmidt, Vice President Remanufacturing & Overhaul Technologies at Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems.

The contract, which will be valid until 2032, makes Rolls-Royce contractually committed to provide a general overhaul of the PowerPacks utilized in local trains of the type Siemens Desiro (VT 642).

The industrial process of reconditioning important components and locomotive motors is known as the Reman method.

Reman runs several standardized processes used to disassemble and clean the MTU PowerPacks and engines. Then to test and re-build them using Reman parts or new components providing instant improvements. Fully anonymous processes don´t guarantee that the customers get the exact same PowerPack engine back. Reconditioned PowerPacks and engines are then delivered to the customers.

Overhauled PowerPacks are then set for a performance of an unbelievable 18,000 hours and 720,000 km. Some series of engines will get repaired with Rolls-Royce´s so-called swing units, which are described as exchangeable PowerPacks and engines.  By incorporating swing units, the railcars and locomotives can be returned to service very quickly, which understandably reduces downtime.

Netinera has been counting on Rolls-Royce Reman processes for many years. Rolls-Royce is also currently restoring a total of 235 MTU PowerPacks for Alstom Lint trains and 13 MTU engines of type 16V 4000 R41 for ER 20 locomotives at its Reman site in Magdeburg on behalf of Netinera.