From Pilot to Production: Alstom and Stilfold Advance Low-Carbon Train Engineering

Alstom is moving forward with plans to apply a Swedish-developed steel folding technology to train manufacturing. The company says the method could reduce material use, cut emissions, and lower production costs.

Alstom is deepening its collaboration with the Swedish start-up Stilfold. Following the successful completion of a pilot project, Alstom and Stilfold are taking the next step to evaluate how the company’s unique curve-bending method can be applied to a wider range of train components and structural elements.

The Stilfold method is based on bending and folding steel sheets in a controlled, origami-like process. The technology opens up new ways of designing steel components, with the potential to both reduce climate impact and lower costs.

From Pilot to Wider Industrial Rollout

"Through the pilot project, we have been able to confirm that Stilfold is a highly promising technology with potential across several types of train components. The results allow us to take the next step and deepen our collaboration with a view to identifying solutions that are both more environmentally friendly and cost-effective," said Ganesh Chandramouli, Head of Innovation, Strategy and Product Portfolio at Alstom Sweden.

A Stilfold-based structure requires less raw material compared to conventional manufacturing techniques, offering several advantages. The steel requires less processing, such as welding, which reduces both energy consumption and environmental impact. At the same time, material strength can be improved despite the reduced material usage, and structures can be made significantly lighter than with traditional methods.

"This is exactly the type of industrial validation for which we have built Stilfold. Taking this step together with Alstom from pilot to broader application confirms that our technology has the potential to redefine how steel components are constructed and produced," said Jonas Nyvang, co-founder and CEO of Stilfold.

In the next phase of the collaboration, Stilfold and Alstom will analyse additional existing solutions and identify components where the Stilfold technology can have the greatest impact, for example through weight reduction, simplified manufacturing or reduced climate impact.

Source: Alstom Press Release