The 11th edition of InnoTrans, the world’s largest trade fair that focuses on transportation and mobility, was held on 20th-23rd September in Berlin, Germany.
MAPNA Group showed a strong presence in this edition of the event, displaying its products and services along big names of the industry including GE, Siemens, Alstom, Faiveley, Škoda, Bombardier, and Mitsubishi-Hitachi.
MAPNA President Abbas Aliabadi, senior officials of the group’s rail division and representatives from the Communications & Marketing Directorate were present in Messe Berlin Exhibition Center, where they presented MAPNA capabilities in the rail sector and discussed collaboration.
Members of Iran’s parliament, CEOs of urban rail transportation companies from across Iran, CEO, senior officials and experts from IRI Railways Company were also among participants in InnoTrans 2016.
Passenger locomotive Iran Safir, diesel-electric freight locomotive MAP24, diesel-hydraulic railcar movers and tunnel locomotives were some of the items on display by the group. MAPNA’s services and projects, including Tehran-Mashhad railway electrification project, and maintenance and repair service, were also introduced to the visitors.
MOBILITY 4.0
Since 1996, InnoTrans trade fair has been held every other year in Berlin. The opening ceremony of the 11th edition witnessed participation of more than 1000 rail transportation experts. Violeta Bulc, current European Commissioner for Transport, and Alexander Dobrindt, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, were keynote speakers of the opening ceremony.
Bulc touted the advantages of European harmonization for the rail industry, including the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) initiative, pointing to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Australia, South Korea examples of successful implementation of the initiative. She also highlighted EU funds spent on the rail sector, including those allocated by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).
Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Alexander Dobrindt also addressed the audience. “We are about to step into a historically new, innovative age of digitization, data and connectivity” he said. “We are laying the foundations to ensure that rail transport maintains its role as a leading innovative force and successfully enters the next phase, ’Mobility 4.0’ and the ‘digital age of rail transport’.”
2955 exhibitors from 60 countries attended this edition of InnoTrans, 7% more than the 2014 expo, and a record since its establishment. A total of 112,000 m2 was allocated to exhibitors and 127 rail vehicles were displayed at the track area outdoors. 149 products were displayed for the first time according to organizers.
