Automated Turnout Manufacturing Expands Swedish Rail Capacity

Vossloh has commissioned a new turnout manufacturing plant in Sannahed, central Sweden, replacing its long-standing production site in Örebro. The facility was developed to strengthen the production capacity required for railway maintenance and infrastructure expansion across Sweden and the Nordic region.

Increasing Capacity for Railway Infrastructure Projects
The new site is located between Kumla and Hallsberg, near Sweden’s most important railway hub. According to Vossloh, the plant is capable of producing up to 900 turnouts annually.

The investment responds to growing demand for railway maintenance and modernization. During the inauguration ceremony in Sannahed, Swedish Minister for Infrastructure Andreas Carlson stated that the facility contributes to reducing bottlenecks and addressing the long-term maintenance backlog within the Swedish railway network.

Roberto Maiorana, Director General of the Swedish Transport Administration Trafikverket, described the project as an important addition to the industrial capacity needed to support railway maintenance operations in Sweden.

Automated Assembly Replaces Manual Production Steps
The Sannahed facility introduces an automated turnout assembly line incorporating robotic handling technology. Turnouts are assembled across five sequential production stations along a conveyor system inside a 150-meter-long production hall.

A robotic arm installs the sleepers before additional turnout components are assembled step by step. The automated workflow replaces several manual operations traditionally associated with turnout manufacturing.

Vossloh selected the automated production concept to improve manufacturing efficiency, increase consistency and support higher production volumes. The facility also integrates digital lifecycle management technologies, including the use of digital twins for turnout monitoring and documentation.

Oliver Schuster, chief executive officer of Vossloh AG, stated that the plant combines industrial turnout manufacturing with digital lifecycle management technologies designed to improve automation, quality and production capacity.

Training and Specialized Production Operations
The new site also includes a separate hall dedicated to specialized manufacturing activities and workforce training. According to Vossloh, the facility will be used for the training and continuing education of skilled workers involved in turnout production and rail infrastructure projects.

The inclusion of dedicated training infrastructure supports the long-term operation of the facility while maintaining technical expertise for specialized rail applications.

Replacement of Historic Production Site
The Sannahed plant replaces the nearby Örebro production facility, where turnouts for Sweden and neighboring Nordic countries had been manufactured since 1914. More than 200 representatives from industry and politics attended the inauguration ceremony, including international guests.

Vossloh, headquartered in Germany, supplies rail fastening systems, concrete sleepers, turnouts, crossings, lifecycle services and digital condition monitoring technologies for railway infrastructure projects worldwide. The company operates more than 60 production facilities globally and generated sales of €1.3 billion in fiscal year 2025.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.vossloh.com