On 22nd July 2020, Vossloh Fastening Systems celebrated the production of its one billionth tension clamp at its headquarters in Werdohl, Germany. This quantity is enough to equip 150,000km of track with rail fasteners, equivalent to about four trips around the world.
In 1968 rail fasteners using a bolted elastic tension clamp were installed for the first time in a test track of the then German Federal Railways. The product developed by Professor Herman Meier proved its worth and Vossloh was awarded the general license to manufacture the tension clamp. 52 years later, one billion tension clamps have now been manufactured by Vossloh.
Vossloh AG's CEO Oliver Schuster said: "The future depends on a past. We can, indeed we must, learn from our past. The establishment of this company and its development more than 130 years ago was only possible thanks to the incredible drive, the literal will to survive and the staying power of one man, Eduard Vossloh."
"Something new is being created here - our factory of the future. I am proud of this commitment to our headquarters, of this project and of all of you who make sure each and every day that it becomes reality."
Christian Renners, managing director of Vossloh Fastening Systems GmbH, added: "We will very soon have here the most advanced production facility worldwide for rail fastening systems. And this means so much more than just addressing the second billion tension clamps. Above all, unlike in the past, we will also produce other components ourselves. And last but not least, our ecological footprint at the location will be smaller.”
