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Mercedes-Benz Unimog honoured with Innovation prize

  • Proven road-railer technology from Unimog with BlueTec 6 technology impresses the jurors
  • Mercedes-Benz U 423 with 170 kW (231 hp) boasts high environmental compatibility and economy
  • High savings potential for fuel consumption compared with diesel shunting locomotives
  • Unimog on the rails: since 55 years and as the first vehicle in a road-railer version

Stuttgart / Suhlendorf – Every two years the “Privatbahn Magazin”, a leading business paper in the industry, rewards ground-breaking new products and features in the rail sector with a prize for innovation. The winner in the category Energy and Environment: the Mercedes-Benz road-railer Unimog U 423 with railway equipment.

The coveted trophy is awarded in the categories Rail Vehicles, Locomotives and Multiple Units, Components, Equipment, Railway Technology Products, Track and Infrastructure, Energy and Environment. A total of 20 exhibits at the trade fair Innotrans 2016 in Berlin were contenders.

The expert jury, comprised of specialists from rail companies, scientist and advisory board members of the Privatbahn Magazin, were particularly impressed by the Unimog and its environmental compatibility and economy. The focus was on the drive system with the 5.1-litre diesel four-cylinder OM 934 LA Euro VI engine rated at 170 kW (231 hp).

This low-maintenance, high-torque Mercedes-Benz engine generation harbours high savings potential when it comes to fuel consumption, especially compared with conventional diesel shunting locomotives. Also in its favour is the fact that in its road-railer version the Unimog is fitted as standard with special tyres and rims for operation on standard gauge and broad gauge (1435 mm – 1676 mm).

Further advantages of this Unimog variant: fast rerailing and rail/road changeover possible with a hydraulic lifting and pivoting system, speeds on the rails of up to 50 km/h – forwards and backwards – and on the road of up to 90 km/h.

Unimog meets various requirements since 55 years

Ever since 1962, when the first 411a model Unimog with the 23 kW (32 hp) OM 636 four-cylinder diesel engine (construction period 10/1961-3/1993) was delivered to a customer in North Baden as a road-railer vehicle, its advantages in this application segment have been well known. He is considered as a fully fledged shunting vehicle with a towing capacity of up to 800 t and as an implement carrier for a varied range of tasks in the field of track infrastructure such as clear cutting work, track-cleaning, maintenance of the overhead lines, track-laying and for clearing snow.

Award from a leading rail magazine

The “Privatbahn Magazin” has been published for 10 years now. With current news, reports and interviews from the corporate world, the fields of transport policy, economy, technology and logistics it is aimed at the management and stakeholders of the railroad industry and rail operators in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. The Article is published on a two-monthly basis by Bahn-Media in Suhlendorf / district of Uelzen (Lower Saxony).

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