A single point of contact for the entire process from project planning through design and manufacturing to assembly, commissioning, and service – with this full service, RWS has made an excellent name for itself in the industry. And every reason to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary this year.

Infected by the railway virus

When Managing Director Andreas Radam took the step into self-employment in 1999, he was able to draw on a wealth of experience. "I have spent my entire professional life in the railway industry," he says. "Before founding RWS, I worked in a systems house, spent two years abroad, technically supported 320 passenger coaches, and acquired the corresponding practical know-how. However, because I still felt that I couldn't contribute in the way I had imagined, the desire to become self-employed grew.

Thanks to funding from the state of Brandenburg, I was able to realize this wish in 1999 with a small team and a hall in Neuenhagen.

In Neuenhagen, RWS began the production and repair of electrical equipment for rail vehicles and offered services in engineering such as electrical planning and design services. The concept was successful. The company grew steadily, expanded its capacities, and today has two locations in Neuenhagen and Elstal and a team of 32 employees.

A toast to a hall

"Since September 2021, we have had a service and maintenance hall with three tracks for the conversion, commissioning, and maintenance of rail vehicles in Elstal," says Andreas Radam. "This hall makes a big difference; it is the tipping point. The local connection here in Wustermark is a great advantage; in Berlin, there are not many who can offer similar services. Usually, representatives of the system houses are on site during commissioning and accompany the work; since they do not have the necessary hall capacities, they rely on external partners. We carry out conversions independently. For example, the entire Flixtrain fleet that travels to Berlin is serviced in our hall."

Digitalization in the fast lane

Not only does RWS have a special trump card with the hall capacities in Elstal. The employees are also a crucial asset. "We have an excellent, motivated team in Elstal that is infected with the rail virus," emphasizes Andreas Radam. "The employees regularly participate in rail-specific training and courses so that we can keep up with new developments. Digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence are particularly in focus."

Clear track for the future

RWS is already working with AI and is currently dealing with a new development program to optimize error detection on vehicles. In addition, a PPS system is being implemented at the Elstal site to document planning and maintenance work.

"The future will be marked by increasing digitalization," explains Andreas Radam. "A particular challenge for us is the topic of ETCS, the European Train Control System, a new uniform standard for train control systems across Europe. The topic is very exciting for us; we have already retrofitted vehicles for Deutsche Bahn according to this standard and want to install the technology in electric vehicles in the future. To be able to work reliably in this area, however, we will need reinforcements in the team."

Room for further expansion was available from 2016 with the rail campus Elstal, where, with the financial support of the Havelland district, a network of rail-affiliated service providers was to be created on the premises of the former marshalling yard. "On this site, we could have offered services that are not possible at our Neuenhagen location," says Andreas Radam.

However, although the local authorities invested approximately 20 million EUR in the development of the area, to date only one service provider has established the corresponding production capacities there. "Another company has bought plots and buildings there and is letting the properties lie fallow, without really getting involved. This unfortunately blocks important impulses that could arise here – and would also sustainably strengthen our local economic site."