The GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH (GBM) and the Hamburger Hochbahn AG (HOCHBAHN) can announce the successful conclusion of a contract for the development and production of up to 15 LB8 trolley coaches. GBM's design of the LB8 won out over other applicants in a tender and was awarded the contract.
Many years of successful co-operation
This is a further stage in the successful co-operation between HOCHBAHN and GBM. The two companies have already been working together as partners for 8 years. In recent years, GBM has manufactured and delivered 9 LB7 lorry sidecars for HOCHBAHN at its plant in Brandenburg an der Havel.
LB8 - Modern vehicle for material transport
The new LB8 is a fundamentally new vehicle type compared to the LB7, which the HOCHBAHN uses on its route network for transport and maintenance work as well as network modernization.
The new LB8 carrier wagon concept developed by GBM is flexible and is intended to be used for the combined transport of 2 different containers, roll-off and ISO containers, at the same time. This enables HOCHBAHN to rationalize its material handling.
Development of LB8 has begun
Over the past few months, GBM has been busy with the pre-development of LB8. GBM's design engineers have successfully overcome the associated challenges in terms of flexible loading options and completed the preliminary development in accordance with all specifications. Now it is up to good cooperation to further realize the concept together. Special attention is being paid to the brake control system. The electronic brake control is a fundamental feature of the previous carrier trolleys. The LB8 goes one step further in this regard and has an optimized brake control system. This controls the brakes of a bogie individually for each loading side, depending on the load, in order to avoid over-braking on one side due to the flexible loading options.
In conclusion, GBM Managing Director Dr. Volker Keller was delighted and explained: ‘With the development of the new vehicle, GBM is demonstrating its ability to successfully handle an order of this magnitude. I am looking forward to this project and the cooperation in the coming years.’
