The Slovak company Železiarne Podbrezová, which focuses on steel production and is one of Europe's leading producers of seamless steel tubes, has received the first of three EffiShunter 600 locomotives from CZ LOKO. The remaining locomotives will be delivered in late March and early April.
„Železiarne Podbrezová is the first Slovakian siding operator to opt for a complete modernization of its locomotive fleet. For us, this means a huge commitment to meet customer expectations in the demanding conditions of steelworks,” said Michal Schaffer, CZ LOKO Sales Manager.
The new EffiShunters 600 were created by rebuilding the forty-year-old ČKD Class T448 shunting locomotives - only the bogie and frame remain from the original vehicle. Their deployment should bring significant savings in operating and maintenance costs.
„From the modernization, we expect mainly higher operational reliability, lower operating costs, and lower maintenance costs. In this way we will extend the life cycle of the locomotives and improve the working conditions of our drivers," said Peter Krajan, head of transport operations at Železiarní Podbrezová
Compared to the original locomotives, modernized locomotives reduce fuel costs by around 25 percent. With lower failure rates and higher operational reliability, the cost of routine maintenance also decreases. The new control system allows online access to the speedometer and operational data. The vehicles have a hood dust filter, stainless steel air tanks, and air lines or an air-conditioned driver's cab. The 563 kW Caterpillar C18 diesel engine meets EU Stage V emission standards.
"The fleet will be managed in the MyLOKO electronic system, which is used, among other things, for maintenance management, monitoring of location, consumption, and other important variables," added Michal Schaffer.
