"Astra Vagoane Călători" Arad to produce train cars for customers in the Czech Republic

Train carmaker "Astra Vagoane Călători" of Arad has won the tender for the manufacturing of 50 cars for the Czech Republic. Valer Blidar, the owner of the company, says that all of the company"s products meet the requirements of any market in the world.

"We had various collaborations with our major competitors and we did so well that in terms of quality there was no difference between us and them. This encouraged us, and we are now able to handle a market that is extremely demanding", Valer Blidar said.

The company has recently begun manufacturing of the 50 train cars for the Italian market, which are now in the final stages of production. The interiors of the cars are equipped with plus seats, grouped in pairs, LCD screens embedded in the side panels of the cars, and large TVs and infrared ticket scanners at the car entrances. Over 80% of the parts of these high class cars have been manufactured in Arad.

"The sales to our Italian customers will help alleviate the downturn of this crisis period, meaning that our employees and the company itself will not be affected", said Valer Blidar.

With a turnover of 65 million Euros and a net profit of 26 million Euros in 2008, "Astra Vagoane Călători", is the main supplier of train cars for the state-owned railway operator "CFR Călători", with which it had contracts worth more than 400 million Euros over the last two years.

This autumn, "Astra Vagoane Călători" will also begin production of the first low floor streetcar, called "Imperio", which it plans to sell abroad and on the domestic market.