The ORLEN Unipetrol Group made a significant investment in rail transport efficiency when it leased 81 “Safety++” rail tank cars for LPG transport. The latest Ermewa rail tank cars, manufactured last year, allow a larger volume of cargo to be carried, and feature special characteristics such as crash buffers, protective shields, and a reinforced bottom. The companies have entered into an agreement, which also includes ordinary operational maintenance by the supplier.
“I am pleased the contract with Ermewa contributes to our fleet’s upgrade for national and international transport provided by our subsidiary, ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava. The new tank rail cars made of fine-grained carbon steel meet all safety standards and requirements and enable transport of larger cargo volumes in one train, thus boosting transport efficiency. I believe our long-term collaboration with Ermewa will continue successfully,” said Ryszard Pilch, a member of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group’s Board of Directors responsible for logistics and transportation of fuels and products.
The rail tank car nicknamed “Safety++” was developed in co-operation with Poland’s tanker manufacturer CHEMET S.A. to maximise safety and optimise operational qualities. The development resulted in a tank car that is 18.1 m long and has a capacity of 117 m3. It has mounted buffers with zones absorbing impact energy up to 400 kJ. It uses TE25 protective shields instead of the elements against the next car’s impact. Other passive protection elements include a reinforced boiler bottom to increase resistance against puncturing.
By signing the leases for gas-transport tank cars, Ermewa SA and ORLEN Unipetrol RPA have further cemented their 26 years of collaboration. “The new Safety++ LPG tank car is auspiciously developing into a successful model,” confirms both regional CEO Cyrille Guyon and increased demand in Poland and Italy.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and on the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. In all these areas, it belongs among the critical players on the Czech and Central European market. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo with its Mogul brand in Pardubice, Spolana Neratovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes a network of Benzina ORLEN filling stations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With 421 filling stations, Benzina ORLEN is the largest chain in the Czech Republic. Since its entry in 2019 to Slovakia, Benzina ORLEN has been one of the fastest-growing chains and currently has 20 stations in its network. ORLEN Unipetrol employs more than 4,800 people. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became a member of the ORLEN Group, the largest crude-oil processor in Central Europe. In addition to its business development, ORLEN Unipetrol is proud to be a socially responsible corporation. Therefore, it pays an equal amount of attention to initiatives, focusing on the cultivation and support of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment.
Ermewa SA is a European leader in railcars leasing (2nd player in Europe) and provides also maintenance, repairs, and operations through its European network of certified workshops and partners. Its addresses all segments thanks to its 40,000 railcars, dedicated to transport hazardous and non-hazardous liquids, gaseous, bulk, and diversified general cargoes including food and non-food products. With a network of more than 220 experts based in 17 offices in Europe, it provides industrial companies, railway undertakings and freight forwarders with a range of more than 120 different types of railcars owned. Ermewa SA is part of Ermewa Group, including Eurotainer, Raffles Lease and Demi offering the administration and lease of ISO tank cars to companies and a network INVEHO, offering railcars construction and maintenance and repair workshops.