ON SEPTEMBER 20 the European Railway Wheels Association was launched at the 13th International Wheelset Congress in Roma, at which 84 papers were presented. The association aims to promote improvements in wheelset technology, focusing on safety, reliability and economy. It will provide the industry and public with information covering product standardisation, market needs and new developments.
Full membership of ERWA is available to European manufacturers of wheels, wheelsets and tyres. Associate membership is open to other European or non-European companies and organisations. There are currently 10 members of the association, from Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden. Lennart Nordhall, Managing Director of Lucchini Sweden AB, has been elected as the association’s first President.
The Congress was organised by Gruppo Lucchini, from whom further details and copies of the papers are available (www.lucchini.it). The next congress will be held in the USA in 2004. n
