Railway Industry

The former Ringhoffer Wagon Works, Kopřivnice Wagon Works, 1st Bohemian-Moravian Machine Works in Prague (later ČKD), Škoda Works in Plzen, together with many other producers have always been on the leading edge of their industries. The quality of products has also been demonstrated by extensive export activities covering all continents, the only exception being Australia. (NOTE: Antarctica, anyone?) Ringhoffer's saloon, sleeping and dining cars as well as the steam engines manufactured by ČKD and Skoda Plzen received worldwide recognition.

The prospects of the Czech railway industry are connected with the extensive modernization of the railway corridors that form a part of the pan-European railway system. All member companies of the Association of the Czech Railway Industry (ACRI) are actively involved in this process. In addition to the most conspicuous construction aspects of the projects (new tracks, switches, bridges, renovated railway stations), this also covers communication and signalling equipment and development of new railway vehicles also for underground and light railway networks.

The ACRI is an organization associating companies engaged in the Czech railway-supply industry. The association is a member of the Union of European Railway Industries (UNIFE). The ACRI represents the joint interests of the railway-supply industry with regard to Czech institutions, rail operators, rail-infrastructure managers and many other business relations and, through UNIFE, EU institutions. ACRI-associated companies currently employ more than 20,000 employees in the Czech Republic and generate an annual turnover of almost CZK 45 billion. The share of exports in the total turnover is more than 30%.

If you are interested to find out more about opportunities to invest in Hi-tech Engineering in the Czech Republic, do not hesitate to contact us at fdi@czechinvest.org. You can also contact CzechInvest's foreign offices.