| 25-10-2007
Olympic
Games Boost Orders from Chinese Bus Manufacturers. The
Olympic Summer Games in Beijing in 2008 have initiated quite a few infrastructure
measures. Especially the public transport network in China's capital is undergoing
massive investment. As many as four large Chinese bus manufacturers rely on the
axles of Voith Turbo Drive Systems for the extension of their bus fleets. 
Double-articulated
bus by Yutong
Eurostar
Xinxin will be launching an open-top double-decker sightseeing bus for Shanghai.
But this bus type will not only drive in Shanghai but also in other cities, such
as Beijing. The driveline of the three-axle vehicle consists entirely of Voith
Turbo components: the front and the rear axle (as a portal axle), the third follow-on
axle and the DIWA.3 E transmission. Xinxin intends to build some 100 vehicles
every year and also plans to export them to other continents.
This also
applies to the second bus manufacturer - Yutong. 22 000 buses are being
built
by Yuton every year, making the company one of the large Chinese bus builders.
Voith Turbo Drive Systems delivered an independent front suspension (IFS), a driven
inverted portal axle and two non-driven portal axles to Yutong for a 25-meter
prototype bus. The double-articulated bus is currently undergoing test drives.
Three other Yutong buses are also in a prototype phase: a 9.5-meter and a 10.5-meter
low-entry bus with IFS and double decker, with IFS, driven portal axle and tag
axle from Voith Turbo Drive Systems. The
third manufacturer relying on Voith axles is Ankai. The company has already
taken
delivery of ten axles for a 12-meter coach. Ankai anticipates annual production
figures of this bus type of up to 300 vehicles. "Our
advantage in this case is that we were even more intensively involved in the
development
of the prototype vehicle. Optimum integration of our components is
consequently
ensured," says Alessio Faconco, Product Group Manager of Voith
Turbo
Drive Systems. A
12-meter high-floor bus made by Golden Dragon is also fitted with Voith Turbo
front axles. Axles for 15 of these high-floor buses have already been delivered.
Golden Dragon, too, intends to build 300 vehicles. Whether it is Xinxin, Yutong,
Ankai or Golden Dragon ¨C all of the four large bus manufacturers expect
further
orders with regard to the Olympic Games. Voith
Turbo, the specialist for hydrodynamic drive, coupling and braking systems
for
road, rail and industrial applications, as well as for ship propulsion
systems,
is a Group Division of Voith AG. Voith
sets standards worldwide for papermaking technology, power transmission,
energy
technology, and industrial services. Voith was founded in
1867. With approximately
34,000 employees, annual sales of € 3.7 billion and
over 250 locations
worldwide, Voith is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe. Voith
is an official partner of the initiative "Germany-Land of Ideas." Editor:Ida
Zhang from Chinabuses.com
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