International Railway Systems (IRS), the company that took over Astra Arad, the largest Romanian freight wagon producer, plans to increase production in order to consolidate its position on the market.
Astra Arad is currently working at full capacity. Freight wagon demand on the European market has been on an ascending trend in the past eight months and this tendency will maintain in the following three years. Therefore, company executives plan to maintain Astra"s field of activity and to increase production.
Presently, International Railway Systems owns MEVA S.A. Turnu Severin and ROMVAG Caracal, being the largest European freight railcar producer, with a production capacity exceeding 4,500 units per year, IRS Leasing Ltd - a leasing company, Severnav, a shipyard located in Romania, Drobeta Turnu Severin and Servtrans - Invest, the 2nd largest private operator on the Romanian market. International Railway Systems produces a full range of freight cars, tank cars and related parts while the IRS Leasing Ltd provides a variety of leasing, financing and asset management options for IRS railcar customers. IRS" majority shareholder is Cristian Burci, holding 80% in the company.