Schaeffler and Alstom widen rail partnership under Alstom Alliance
Schaeffler and Alstom signed an agreement at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin to expand their Alstom Alliance cooperation to more rail vehicle types and to scale up local bearing remanufacturing.
- 2024
- InnoTrans 2024
- 100 percent
- Hall 21, Booth 430
What Happened
Schaeffler and Alstom are deepening their partnership: at the InnoTrans 2026 trade fair in Berlin, representatives of both companies signed an agreement expanding their cooperation within the Alstom Alliance to cover a broad range of products and solutions for regional trains, commuter rail, trams and metros. Schaeffler, which presents itself as a Motion Technology Company, is exhibiting at InnoTrans 2026 in Hall 21, Booth 430. The Alstom Alliance was concluded in 2024, and since then engineers from both companies have intensified their collaboration on bearing technology for locomotives and high-speed trains, particularly in product development and sustainability.
“Alstom is a strategically important partner for us in the significant growth market for rail vehicles. With products and solutions tailored precisely to their needs, we continuously enhance our customers' competitiveness. We look forward to deepening our cooperation with Alstom in order to further drive our joint growth.”
- Bearing technology for locomotives and high-speed trains, especially product development and sustainability
- A broad range of products and solutions for regional trains, commuter rail, trams and metros
“This partnership with Schaeffler is a strong example of how strategic collaboration can drive innovation, competitiveness and sustainability. By working closer together, we are building a more resilient supply chain while supporting Alstom's future programs and long-term ambitions.”
The Alstom Alliance is concluded, and Schaeffler and Alstom begin intensifying collaboration on bearing technology for locomotives and high-speed trains.
The two companies agree to intensify their cooperation on sustainability, with Schaeffler establishing regional remanufacturing centers to refurbish bearings locally and Alstom acting as pilot customer.
At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, representatives of both companies sign an agreement expanding their cooperation within the Alstom Alliance to more rail vehicle types.
Remanufacturing is the building block Schaeffler is putting in place for more sustainable rail operations. The company is focusing on establishing regional remanufacturing centers that refurbish bearings locally on a larger scale, with Alstom as its pilot customer. The first such workshops have already been equipped and the staff trained accordingly.
“Such regional remanufacturing hubs are intended to be established worldwide in the future and will also be open to other Schaeffler partners. In this way, we are not only promoting the sustainable use of resources. With our 100 percent return service, we ensure that the refurbished bearings meet the same quality and safety standards as new products, including warranty coverage.”
Previously from Schaeffler Group
Schaeffler has been building out its rail portfolio ahead of this agreement. It is developing high-speed rail wheelset bearings that target speeds of 400 km/h and more while more than doubling maintenance intervals. At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, the company is also showing an axlebox generator, its ITRS power system and electromechanical actuators that it says can automate rail freight wagons.
- Schaeffler develops high-speed rail wheelset bearings for 400 km/h and longer maintenance intervals
- Schaeffler showcases axlebox generators and power-on-demand actuators for automated rail freight at InnoTrans 2026
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Schaeffler Group's official releases.
Why this matters
The deal shows how a component maker and a train manufacturer are binding themselves more closely together: Schaeffler calls Alstom a strategically important partner in what it describes as a significant growth market for rail vehicles, while Alstom says the closer work builds a more resilient supply chain. The products covered end up in regional trains, commuter rail, trams and metros, so rail operators and their passengers are the final users.
Terms in This Story
- Alstom Alliance
- A program in which Alstom develops solutions for the rail sector together with selected strategic partners, from the early concept phase through to delivery.
- Remanufacturing
- Refurbishing used components so they can be put back into service instead of being replaced with newly made parts.
- Bearing
- A machine component that allows parts to rotate with reduced friction.
- InnoTrans
- An international trade fair for rail transport technology, held in Berlin.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.