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    1. Management

    Knorr-Bremse to equip Alstom’s Citadis tramway platform for another five years, appoints two to Knorr Brake Company’s leadership team

    July 30, 2021
    Knorr-Bremse has been awarded a five-year extension of its worldwide brake system framework agreement with Alstom and has added two leaders to its HR and sales departments, respectively.

    Alstom and Knorr-Bremse extended their hydraulic brake system framework agreement for Alstom’s Citadis trams for another five years.

    Having started in the last quarter of 2020, Knorr-Bremse is supplying braking, as well as entrance systems for 69 Citadis light-rail vehicles (LRVs).

    “Knorr-Bremse has accompanied Alstom in the Citadis success story as major systems supplier for more than 20 years now. We are happy to extend this long-standing partnership for another five years,” said Mark Cleobury, member of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH.

     All trams will be equipped with service-proven hydraulic braking systems, including carbody components like electro-hydraulic units and electronics, as well as bogie equipment including hydraulic calipers, brake discs and pads, magnetic track brakes and load sensors. As for the entrance systems, which will meet current People with Reduced Mobility requirements, double-leaf doors will make the low-floor vehicles easily accessible for all passengers and, thereby, contribute to more available urban mobility.

    More than half of the 69 vehicles will be operated by Semitan in the city of Nantes, France. The streetcars with seven car sections each will replace 46 high-floor “Tramway Francais Standard 1” (TFS-1) streetcars from the 1990s, while at the same time increasing transport capacity.

    Two new hires

    Knorr Brake Company (KBC) has appointed two seasoned executives to the leadership team. The moves are part of the company’s commitment to deliver its technology roadmap and drive growth, in alignment with KBC’s parent company, Knorr-Bremse.

    Diane Moore has been named senior director of human resources and Kevin Simms has been named vice president of sales and marketing.

    “Diane and Kevin have distinguished themselves as dynamic, committed and strategic leaders. I am pleased to welcome them to the team,” said Jason Connell, president and CEO at Knorr Brake Company. “Their respective expertise, acumen and the ability to deliver results with true impact helps to make the KBC team even stronger. Joined by Diane and Kevin, we continue to advance our customer-first approach and to drive a trajectory for integrated solutions that deliver unparalleled customer value and sustained business growth.”

    Moore has a proven track record of success across the depth and breadth of the HR landscape. She brings nearly 30 years of comprehensive human resources experience – including 19 years with New York Air Brake LLC, the sister company of Knorr Brake Company. Moore joined KBC in May 2021 from Anaren Microwave Inc., where she most recently served as vice president, human resources. In her new role at KBC, she leads the HR team as the company continues its business growth in the passenger rail industry.

    Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from State University of New York (SUNY) – Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., along with a Master of Science, Human Resources Management and an MBA from University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. She and her family are residents of Syracuse, N.Y.

    For Simms, building long-term customer relationships is the hallmark of his more than 25-year career in the rail industry. He joins KBC after serving as a senior consultant at Hatch LTK. Prior to his role at Hatch, Simms ascended through the top leadership ranks over nine years at Voith Turbo Inc., including his most recent post as managing director, North America.

    A Knorr Brake Company alumnus, he previously served for 10 years in progressive sales and business development roles at KBC, and four years as a North America liaison and key account manager for the European-based rail division of Knorr-Bremse. Simms is responsible for enhancing and leading the KBC sales and marketing strategy, including sales team oversight, developing new business opportunities and creating customized solutions to meet customer needs.

    Simms holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MBA from Loyola University, Baltimore, Maryland. Simms and his family are residents of Leesburg, Va.