Bombardier Transportation Austria GmbH

Last updated
Bombardier Transportation Austria
IndustryVehicle engineering
Headquarters
Vienna
,
Austria
ProductsAircraft, trams, other vehicles

Bombardier Transportation Austria GmbH is an Austrian subsidiary company of Bombardier Transportation located in Vienna, Austria.

Contents

It was founded in the 19th century by Jacob Lohner as Lohner-Werke or simply Lohner as a luxury coachbuilding firm. Around 1900 the firm produced electric-cars, being the first in Austria to do so; the cars were designed by Ferdinand Porsche. During the early 1900s the firm manufactured aircraft, after World War I the company manufactured trams, and after World War II the company began manufacturing scooters and mopeds using engines from Rotax, with which it merged in 1959, forming Lohner Rotax. In 1970 Canadian firm Bombardier Transportation acquired a controlling share in the company and renamed it Bombardier-Rotax GmbH. Under Bombardier the company became Bombardier Wien Schienenfahrzeuge (BWS), later Bombardier Transportation Austria GmbH. It relocated to a specialised factory in 2007, and now produces only trams.

History

Lohner luxury carriage Lohner ~ 1910 Lohner Kutsche 02.jpg
Lohner luxury carriage Lohner ~ 1910

In 1821 German Heinrich Lohner (1786–1855) established a workshop in Vienna, Austria, establishing himself as a wagonmaster. In 1823 he formed a joint venture with master saddlemaker (Sattlermeister) Ludwig Laurenzi, Laurenzi & Lohner. After the death of Ludwig Laurenzi in 1863 the company became Jacob Lohner & Co. under Heinrich Lohner's son Jacob Lohner (1821–92). Jacob Lohner transformed his father's craft business into a factory eventually manufacturing between 300 and 500 vehicles per year. The company supplied vehicles to the courts of the royal houses of Norway, Sweden, and Romania, as well as to the Austrian emperor; [1] [2] the company received the distinction k.u.k. Hofwagenlieferant ("Royal carriagemakers"). [2]

In 1887 Jacob Lohner's son Ludwig Lohner (1858–1925) took over the company. He decided that self-powered cars were the future, initially working with Béla Egger, and in 1898 hiring Ferdinand Porsche (from Béla Egger's electricity company). During his employment Porsche designed a number of vehicles. The Lohner Porsche chaise was powered by batteries, with two front wheel electric motors mounted in the wheel hubs. One of his electric vehicles was a popular exhibit at the Exposition Universelle (Paris world fair, 1900). Porsche later developed petrol-engined cars with electric transmissions, some versions of which had additional batteries. Vehicles using the petrol electric transmission with hub motors were sold to the German army and to the Viennese fire brigade. Porsche left the Lohner company in 1905, and joined Daimler affiliate company Österreichische Daimler Motoren Commanditgesellschaft Bierenz Fischer & Co. ; vehicles were later built using the Lohner Porsche system under the Mercedes brand of Daimler. [3]

Lohner L aircraft Lohner L.jpg
Lohner L aircraft

In 1909, the firm undertook aircraft manufacture, [1] producing reconnaissance aircraft for the Austro-Hungarian army during the First World War, and a series of flying-boat patrol aircraft for the Navy, [4] which were later copied by the Italian Macchi aviation firm for the Italian military in World War I.[ citation needed ] Lohner also produced aircraft for the budding Spanish Air Force. [5]

After World War I the company abandoned aircraft production, [note 1] and shifted its production to the manufacturing of trams, and coachbodies. During the Great Depression the factory in Floridsdorf shut down. [1] [2]

During the Anschluss with Germany, Lohner produced aircraft wings. The plant was damaged in 1944, and post World War II the company was in public administration until 1949 when it was returned to the control of the Lohner family. [1] [2]

In 1949 Lohner began manufacturing scooters and mopeds which were designed by Otto Kauba, [6] a production range that would include the well-known of which was the Lohner L125. [7] The scooter range included popular models such as the Sissy, L125 and L98, [2] but sales were eventually reduced due to the popularity of the motorcar. [1] Tram production also resumed post World War II. [2]

In 1959, the Lohner factory merged with Rotax which had supplied engines for its motorscooters. During the 1960s contracts included hay-loaders, gun carriages for the Austrian Army, and Bombardier Ski-Doos which were produced under license from 1966 to 1970. [2]

In 1970 the company was acquired by Bombardier purchased a majority of shares in the company and renamed it Bombardier-Rotax GmbH.

Bombardier Transportation

DUEWAG licensed articulated tram (1977) for Innsbruck Innsbruck tram 73.jpg
DUEWAG licensed articulated tram (1977) for Innsbruck
Type T light-rail unit of Line U6, Vienna U-Bahn (1995) Wien Underground U6.jpg
Type T light-rail unit of Line U6, Vienna U-Bahn (1995)

Reorganized later as a division of Bombardier-Rotax named Bombardier Wien Schienenfahrzeuge (BWS).[ citation needed ] After Bombardier's acquisition of Adtranz in 2001, the company's production plan designated the Vienna works for carbody production, specialising in Light rail vehicles (LRV). [8] [9]

The company moved to a new plant in the Donaustadt district of Vienna in 2007. [note 2] As of 2012 the company operates as Bombardier Transportation Austria GmbH & Co. KG, and manufactures trams. [10]

Aircraft

Notes

  1. The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919) restricted Austria from having a military airforce, and restricted the number of armament factories to one.
  2. 48°15′56″N16°28′17″E / 48.26548°N 16.47136°E , Hermann Gebauer Straße 5 ,A-1220 Vienna, Austria

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferdinand Porsche</span> Czech automotive engineer and inventor (1875–1951)

Ferdinand Porsche was an Austro-Bohemian automotive engineer and founder of the Porsche AG. He is best known for creating the first gasoline–electric hybrid vehicle (Lohner–Porsche), the Volkswagen Beetle, the Auto Union racing cars, the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, and several other important developments and Porsche automobiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferry Porsche</span> Austrian-German automobile designer

Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche, mainly known as Ferry Porsche, was an Austrian-German technical automobile designer and automaker-entrepreneur. He operated Porsche AG in Stuttgart, Germany. His father, Ferdinand Porsche Sr. was also a renowned automobile engineer and founder of Volkswagen and Porsche. His nephew, Ferdinand Piëch, was the longtime chairman of Volkswagen Group, and his son, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, was involved in the design of the 911.

Rotax is the brand name for a range of internal combustion engines developed and manufactured by the Austrian company BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, in turn owned by the Canadian Bombardier Recreational Products. Under the Rotax brand, the company is one of the world's largest producers of light piston engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AEG</span> 1883–1996 electrical equipment and aircraft manufacturer of Germany

Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft AG was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in Berlin as the Deutsche Edison-Gesellschaft für angewandte Elektricität in 1883 by Emil Rathenau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austro-Daimler</span>

Austro-Daimler was an Austro-Hungarian automaker company, from 1899 until 1934. It was a subsidiary of the German Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) until 1909.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magna Steyr</span> Automobile manufacturer

Magna Steyr GmbH & Co KG is an automobile manufacturer based in Graz, Austria, where its primary manufacturing plant is also located. It is a subsidiary of Canadian-based Magna International and was previously part of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch conglomerate.

Steyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria, which was broken up in stages between 1987 and 2001. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTU Friedrichshafen</span> Commercial internal combustion engine manufacturer

MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a German manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909. Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), a predecessor company of the German multinational automotive corporation Daimler AG, until he left in 1907. On 23 March 1909, he founded the new company, Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH, with his son Karl Maybach as director. A few years later the company was renamed to Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH, which originally developed and manufactured diesel and petrol engines for Zeppelins, and then railcars. The Maybach Mb.IVa was used in aircraft and airships of World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adtranz</span> Rail rolling stock manufacturer

Adtranz was a multi-national rail transportation equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the US. The company, legally known as ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation was created in 1996 as a joint venture between ABB and Daimler-Benz to combine their rail equipment manufacturing operations. In 1999, DaimlerChrysler bought ABB's shares and changed the company's official name to DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems. The company was acquired by Bombardier Inc. in 2001, which merged it into its Bombardier Transportation division, which became the largest rail equipment manufacturer in the world at the time.

Franz Josef Popp was one of three men responsible for the founding of BMW AG and the First General Director of BMW AG from 1922 to 1942.

Bombardier Transportation was a Canadian-German rolling stock and rail transport manufacturer, headquartered in Berlin, Germany. It was one of the world's largest companies in the rail vehicle and equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Bombardier Transportation had many regional offices, production and development facilities worldwide. It produced a wide range of products including passenger rail vehicles, locomotives, bogies, propulsion and controls. In February 2020, the company had 36,000 employees, and 63 manufacturing and engineering locations around the world. Formerly a division of Bombardier Inc., the company was acquired by French manufacturer Alstom on 29 January 2021.

Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming based in Stuttgart, Germany. The business areas Recaro Automotive Seating and Recaro Kids are operated by licensees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simmering-Graz-Pauker</span>

Simmering-Graz-Pauker AG (SGP), founded as Simmering-Graz-Pauker AG für Maschinen-, Kessel- und Waggonbau, was an important Austrian machine and engine factory, manufacturing: machinery, boilers and rail vehicles. It was established in 1941 through the merger of Simmering machinery and rolling stock company with the Graz machine and rolling stock company and the Paukerwerkstraße Corporation from Vienna. It was separated in 1989 into two divisions; SGP-VA Energie- und Umwelttechnik for power systems and SGP Verkehrstechnik for rail vehicles. The former became part of the Austrian Industries Technologies company and later became Austrian Energy & Environment, while the rail business was acquired by Siemens in the 1990s. It traded as Siemens SGP Verkehrstechnik before being fully merged into Siemens Austria in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lohner–Porsche</span> Motor vehicle

The Lohner–Porsche Mixed Hybrid was the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.

Lohner may refer to:

Kiepe Electric GmbH is a German manufacturer of electrical traction equipment for trams, trolleybuses other road and rail transport vehicles, as well as air-conditioning and heating systems, and conveyor device components. Founded in 1906, it was known as Kiepe Elektrik GmbH until 2003, when it was renamed Vossloh Kiepe, following its acquisition by Vossloh AG. Vossloh sold the company to Knorr-Bremse in January 2017, and in May 2017 Knorr renamed it Kiepe Electric GmbH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LEW Hennigsdorf</span> Former German rail vehicle manufacturer

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton</span> Motor vehicle

The Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton, erroneously called Porsche P1, is an electric vehicle built by Egger-Lohner. It is the first vehicle that Ferdinand Porsche somewhat contributed to. The vehicle resembles a horse-drawn carriage with an electrical motor attached to it. Approximately 4 were built.

Ludwig Lohner ran his family's company as it became one of the first manufacturers of cars and airplanes in Austria-Hungary.

Otto Kauba (1908-1962) was an Austrian engineer who designed aircraft in the period during and after World War II. He also designed motor scooters in the postwar period.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Sources:
    • Branko Remek (2012), Automobil a spalovací motor (in Czech), Grada Publishing a.s., Lohner, p.60, ISBN   9788024735382
    • Kurt Bauer (2003), Faszination des Fahrens: unterwegs mit Fahrrad, Motorrad und Automobil (in German), Böhlau Verlag Wien, Kleine Enzyklopädie des Fahrens, "Lohner", pp.250-1, ISBN   9783205770978
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Franz Straka (December 2007), "Ära Lohner : Von der Kutsche bis zur Motorisierung", www.strassenbahn-europa.at (in German), Railway - Media - Group
  3. Sources:
  4. Gunston 1993, 188
  5. "Ejército del Aire - 1913", www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es (in Spanish), archived from the original on 2010-09-25, retrieved 2010-11-05, 17-XII-1913 : Primer bombardeo aéreo de la historia con auténticas bombas de aviación: Los Capitanes Barrón y Cifuentes sobre biplano Lohner en Ben Karrix, Marruecos
  6. Rudolf Santner (1994), Österreichische Motorräder und Beiwagen: 1918-1960 (in German), Weishaupt Verlag, p. 77, ISBN   9783705900103, Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg begann Lohner 1949 mit der Herstellung von Rollern nach Plänen und unter der Leitung von Ing. Otto Kauba. Dieser von einem Rotax- Motor (Lizenz Sachs) eher mäßig schnell fortbewegte Roller war ab 1950 käuflich..
  7. Franz Straka, "Ära Lohner : Von der Kutsche bis zur Motorisierung", www.strassenbahn-europa.at (in German)
  8. "Bombardier Sets Course for the Future With New European Passenger-Vehicle Manufacturing Network Strategy", www.thefreelibrary.com, Business Wire, 13 November 2001, archived from the original on 11 April 2019, retrieved 14 February 2012
  9. "The Passenger-Vehicle Manufacturing Network Strategy in Europe" (PDF), www2.bombardier.com, Bombardier Transportation, 13 November 2001, archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2013
  10. Sources:

Sources

Literature