First 30 point machines based on Alstom technology have been produced at JV KazElectroprivod, the 50/50 joint venture between Alstom and Kamkor located in Almaty, from kits supplied by Alstom site in Bologna (Italy) and delivered to the Technical and Material Center of the Kazakhstan Railways in Karaganda. This is the first batch assembled in Kazakhstan, marking the start of the local manufacturing, which will be followed by the local manufacturing of components.

Alstom started its signaling activity in Kazakhstan, through JV KazElectroPrivod, in 2013, after signing a contract with KTZ for the supply of 10,000 point machines over a 10-year period. So far, totally 1,500 point machines have already been supplied to the customer and installed to replace old equipment. Most of them have been manufactured at the Alstom site in Bologna and shipped to Kazakhstan in order to execute the contract until the Almaty based facility is ready to start local manufacturing, which is now the case, as these first 30 point machines assembled in Almaty are the proof.

The capacity of the new plant, after ramp-up, will be 1,500 point machines per year. To implement the localization process, Alstom has organized training for the local staff in Italy. We hope that, in the near future, JV KazElektroPrivod will develop its activities, in addition to point machines manufacturing, to become a signaling centreable to implement complete signaling projects in Kazakhstan through the development of local engineering expertise.