UR GROUP SELECTED AS PREFERRED PARTNER FOR PORTERBROOK ETHERNET BACKBONE STRATEGY
UR GROUP are pleased to be announced as the selected Strategic Partner to deliver the Ethernet Backbone and services for Porterbrook’s fleet-wide strategy beginning with the 150 & 158 DMU’s and the 319 EMU’s. Coinciding with the C6 maintenance programme, the selection has been made due to UR Group’s demonstration of expertise in strategies for successful technology adoption in Intelligent Transport Systems and continued program support. This follows the success of UR Group’s collaboration on Porterbrook’s Class 144e Technology Demonstrator.
Besides procuring new trains for lease to UK Train Operating Companies, Porterbrook also have an extensive fleet modernisation, upgrade and refurbishment strategy for its EMU and DMU rolling stock. Porterbrook has invested more than £500 million in the refurbishment and upgrading of existing stock to modern standards, extending the operational life of the vehicles.
This strategy will form the basis of Porterbrook’s Ethernet backbone deployment and can be leveraged across all platforms and configurations throughout their fleet. It represents the optimal balance of technology and future services availability while maximising return on investment for all parties. The strategy concept is conceived to continue to add value to their fleet as an asset, and allow adoption of continued technology evolvement well into the future.
In it’s basic form, UR Group will provide Certified Hardware, Cabling, Support, Supply Chain and Logistic Services for their on-board Ethernet backbone as well as providing bench testing, configuration support, warranty and obsolescence management.
Shane Duffy, Head of Supplier Management and Business Development for Porterbrook Leasing commented “It has become increasingly important that Porterbrook ensures it’s fleets are enabled for the application of new technologies to meet our customer's’ expectations. Following a full tender process, UR Group demonstrated a deep understanding of the system and its application to support Porterbrook in the roll out of an Ethernet Backbone for the selected fleets. In addition UR Group have a strong support network to add value to their proposition in both the initial system configuration; and ongoing operational requirements.”
Joe Matano, Managing Director of UR Group UK added “This represents the culmination of many months of close collaboration with Porterbrook. It has afforded us the best opportunity to demonstrate that the UR Group strategy in technology adoption for ITS, delivers real value to our partners. Taking the perspective of the customer, we have focused on protecting the value of their assets long term, with a leading-edge technology solution supported by UR Group’s commercial and supply chain services. This offers a future-proof vision with a close eye on return on investment.”
Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook") is a leading player in the rail leasing market and has a rolling stock fleet of around 6,000 vehicles on lease or on order, which includes over 4,300 passenger vehicles. Porterbrook has been highly successful in winning new train orders since privatisation, investing in over 2,000 new passenger vehicles and more than 1,500 freight locomotives and wagons, and in the refurbishment of much of its in-fleet equipment. The company also provides ongoing train maintenance services. In October 2014 the Porterbrook Group of companies was acquired by a consortium of investors including Alberta Investment Management Corporation (“AIMCo”), Allianz Capital Partners (“ACP”) on behalf of certain insurance companies of the Allianz Group, EDF Invest and Hastings Funds Management.
UR Group are an international provider of advanced connectivity solutions in IP networking, wireless, satellite, and fibre-optic based applications. We specialise in providing specialised, focused solutions in our key markets of ITS, Defence, Industrial Automation and Energy. We partner world-class manufacturers to bring ruggedised, reliable connectivity solutions with leading-edge technology which provides measurable return on investment in our customer applications, every time. Yet we understand technology alone is not enough. Through our Technology Enablement model we combine this solutions portfolio with customer-driven integrated services and internationally located and technically enabled sales teams who are placed to provide expert technology guidance. These specialist services are designed to assist our customers in successful adoption of the latest connectivity platforms, whatever the application demands. This solutions-based package brings a combined perspective which delivers real-life value to our customer programs. Our value proposition is unique in the marketplace today.
Roy Duff ([email protected])
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UR Group Holding S.p.A., Viale Edison 44, 20090 Trezzano, s/N (Milan) Italy.
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