Sep 18, 2018   SOURCE: BusinessWire

GE Transportation and TÜLOMSAŞ Secure First Locomotive Order by Turkish Private Operator Korfez Ulastirma, the Logistics Affiliate of Tüpraş

GE Transportation (NYSE:GE) will supply five diesel-electric locomotives to Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş., the subsidiary of Turkey’s largest refinery, Tüpraş, operating in railway transportation.

Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş. is the first private operator in Turkey to make such a purchase since the government began issuing licenses to use mainlines one year ago. Announced today at InnoTrans 2018, the agreement includes GE Transportation’s PowerHaul® series locomotives, which are European Standards compliant and provide world-class fuel economy.

Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş. currently leases five PowerHaul locomotives that GE previously supplied to the Turkish State Railways and will now double its fleet through this purchase. “As our operations grow, the ability to move faster and more efficiently is key to transporting products between Tüpraş refineries,” said Tufan Basarir, General Manager for Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş. “We’re excited to supplement the strength of our fleet with the proven performance of these locomotives.”

These locomotives, like the five that Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş. already leases, will be built in Eskisehir, Turkey by TÜLOMSAŞ, GE’s strategic partner in country. TÜLOMSAŞ produces GE’s PowerHaul locomotives for the European, Middle Eastern and North African market. Under the agreement, GE will provide leading technology and design while TÜLOMSAŞ provides local manufacturing, assembly and final testing.

“We are honored to expand our strong presence in Turkey and become the preferred locomotive supplier to both state-owned and private operators,” said Gokhan Bayhan, GE Transportation's General Manager, Russia/CIS, Europe, Middle East and North African market. “This agreement represents a significant milestone to support a dynamic, growing market and we are proud to contribute to Turkey’s railways industry development goals with our technologies and experience.

“At TÜLOMSAŞ plants, we support production of the most developed and advanced technology locomotives with our experienced, qualified workforce, facilities and capabilities,” said Hayri Avcı, the General Manager of TÜLOMSAŞ. “Manufacturing these locomotives also powers an important sub-industry and will make a real contribution to the country’s economy.”

The PowerHaul series is a top-performing mid-weight locomotive, compliant with EU Stage IIIa emissions and TSI interoperability standards. It is equipped with a technologically advanced 16-cylinder 3,700 HP GE PowerHaul P616 engine with common-rail fuel injection. The locomotive can achieve maximum power output, while providing an 18 percent reduction in fuel consumption. It also has improved reliability and tractive effort with high-performance AC traction-control technology and individual axle-control.

Visit the GE Transportation InnoTrans 2018 webpage to learn more about this week’s announcements, demos and displays. The GE Transportation booth is located at Hall 3.2, Stand 401.

About GE Transportation

At GE Transportation, we move the world and improve the world. We are a global technology leader and supplier of equipment, services and digital solutions to the rail, mining, marine, stationary power and drilling industries. Our innovations help customers deliver goods and services with greater speed and savings using our advanced manufacturing techniques and connected machines. GE Transportation is headquartered in Chicago and employs approximately 9,000 employees worldwide.

About Tüpraş (Turkiye Petrol Rafinerileri A.S.) and Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş.

Operating four oil refineries, with a total of 28.1 million tons annual crude oil processing capacity, Tüpraş is the only producer in Turkey’s refining sector and largest industrial enterprise of the country with its subsidiary in sea transportation, Ditaş, its subsidiary in railway transportation, Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş., and affiliate in fuel oil distribution sector, Opet.

Forty-nine percent of its shares are traded in Istanbul Stock Exchange. Europe's 7th largest refining company, Tüpraş serves as an integrated oil company with both market share and corporate reliability, as well as production complexes and partnerships.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Tüpraş, Korfez Ulastirma A.Ş. is the first private train operator in Turkey and was founded to grow transportation of Tüpraş loads by rail. With a total of 549 wagons and five diesel locomotives leased from TCDD (Turkish State Railways), Korfez Ulastirma A.S. started railway operations in December 2017.

About TÜLOMSAŞ (Türkiye Lokomotif ve Motor Sanayi A.Ş)

TÜLOMSAŞ, the only locomotive supplier in Turkey, has a longstanding and vast experience in manufacturing and maintenance. The facility opened in 1894 as a maintenance and repair workshop for locomotives.

As an affiliated company of the Turkish State Railways, TÜLOMSAŞ has been responding to all the locomotive and wagon needs of Turkey for more than a century. Throughout the years it has developed into a heavy industrial player as well as the biggest and most modern locomotive and freight car manufacturer in the Middle East and the Balkans. TÜLOMSAŞ gained a new identity in 1986 as the Turkish Locomotive and Engine Industry Inc. Today, TÜLOMSAŞ fulfills the locomotive and freight car needs of TCDD, the Turkish State Railways, and other organizations in Turkey, while increasing its competitiveness in the global market through exports.

As of today, TÜLOMSAŞ has manufactured 900 locomotives, 650 diesel engines, and 11,000 freight cars. With an annual production capacity of more than 100 locomotives, 1,500 bogie freight cars, and 100 various types of diesel engines, TÜLOMSAŞ can be regarded as the locomotive of the Turkish heavy industry. Based in Eskisehir, TÜLOMSAŞ employs 1,500 people. Detailed info www.tulomsas.com.tr