Greenbrier Europe to produce the NIK handling system for TX Logistik

TX Logistik AG, a company of FS Logistix, and Greenbrier Europe, part of The Greenbrier Companies, a global rail industry leader, have signed an agreement for the production and leasing of NIK (Neutral Intermodal Key, formerly NiKRASA). Greenbrier Europe will manage the production and leasing of the handling platform, while TX Logistik will continue to lead the commercial development and sales activities. The agreement, which includes an initial order of 50 platforms, was signed by both companies at the Innotrans railway trade fair in Berlin.

 

This close collaboration is intended to help shift even more freight from road to rail in future. The cooperation partner, Greenbrier Europe, is convinced of the potential of the solution, which also encompasses possible further developments. “The handling platform is an excellent fit with our product range in the intermodal sector and expands the range of services we offer our customers,” says William Glenn, President of Greenbrier Europe. Gian Paolo Gotelli, CEO of TX Logistik AG, emphasises: “Together with our new production and leasing partner, we want to make it easier for shippers to access rail transport. This strengthens combined transport and benefits the entire market.”

The NIK handling platform enables non-craneable semi-trailers – which currently account for around 80 percent of European truck fleets – to be loaded onto rail quickly and easily. Using the system requires no changes to existing standards at terminals, on wagons, or on the rail network. This makes the system a powerful lever for changing the modal split in favour of rail freight transport in the long term, especially since it operates without changes to existing terminal processes. In addition to semi-trailers, silos and trailers with fixed bodies, mega trailers, trailers without bodies and container chassis can also be placed onto the rails. If the platform remains empty in the wagon, swap bodies and containers can still be loaded as usual without the systems interfering with each other.

This partnership also lays the foundation for the commercial development: in future, NIK is to be opened to the market and might be further developed in collaboration with partners from industry and logistics. The service is available to all market participants and can be accessed through purchase, various leasing models or partnerships. The more units that can be moved to eco-friendly rail transport using NIK, the more intermodal transport contributes to sustainable logistics and the achievement of climate targets in Europe.

Visitors can find out more about the NIK handling system and its practical application in combined transport at the Logistics corner at the FS Italiane Group stand in the CityCube, Hall B/610, until the end of Innotrans.