EXPERIENCE FROM 30 YEARS

On behalf of a bank, SCI Verkehr provided relevant input factors for an annual collateral valuation of locomotives and freight wagons. The focus was placed on market development in the rail freight industry as well as the development of fleets.

On behalf of a US company, SCI Verkehr analysed the market for interlocking technology in Europe, North America and Asia. The market potential and the accessible market were determined for the years 2008?2013. The analysis was complemented by a presentation of the manufacturing landscapes and key products in the field of control command and signalling.

In 2004, SCI Verkehr developed a ?logistics report for the food industry in NRW? for the social partner project Nordrhein-Westfälische ErnährungsWirtschaft e.V. (NEW.S). This includes a number of optimisation approaches and recommendations for action, which reflects the complexity of the demands on logistics in the food industry. Since 2005, NEW.S and SCI Verkehr GmbH have been carrying out a series of workshops entitled ?Optimisation in Logistics? with company representatives in order to intensify the dialogue about these issues in the sector. For two further workshops in autumn 2006, SCI Verkehr is taking over the entire content preparation and management. This includes concept development, detailed planning, acquiring speakers and the presentation of the workshops.

Within the scope of diesel locomotive financing, SCI Verkehr determined the asset value of a vehicle fleet and ascertained starting points for their re-use upon expiry of the current transport contract. Alongside the technical valuation of the vehicle, the study focused in particular on the achievable sales revenue in the context of market development.

Analysis of existing models for financing rail vehicles amongst other in connection with the reorganisation of the RPST following the railway reform; economics and legal feasibility of new financing models.

On behalf of a leasing company SCI Verkehr evaluated new intermodal wagons and powder wagons for rail freight transport in the UK. The project included an evaluation by means of a DRC and DCF approach as well as an analysis of possibilities for re-using in Europe.

Market study of testing needs for railway vehicles and components in Germany and neighbouring countries. Conception of an extended Railway competency center in Wegberg-Wildenrath, in accordance with the forecast of needs for 2005.

The North Rhine Westphalia export campaign for the Central and Eastern European countries is supporting the NRW companies engaged in the PPP Structure in entering the markets in Central and Eastern Europe with focus on Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. By means of specific market information and contact networking, organisation of political support, assistance with project acquisition and search for cooperation partners in the target countries, consulting and assistance in conjunction with financing and aid concepts, in particular through European programs, assistance at location by means of own coordination offices in the countries, the market entry in the target countries of the participating NRW companies is to be made easier; as a contribution to improving the competitive edge of the NRW region in conjunction with the expansion of the EU towards the east. Following start-up financing by the State of NRW the NRW Export Campaign is structured to be sustained self-supporting from companies' contributions for successful project arrangements

The logistics sector is one of the leading sectors in Germany. For a state like Baden-Württemberg, the strengths of which lie in a number of technological and industrial sectors such as micro-system technology, mechanical engineering and the automobile sector, logistics are of particular relevance as a trans-sectional function. At the same time, the past focus on purely technological issues has led to logistics not being perceived as a core segment. The Baden-Württemberg Department of Trade and Industry has therefore assigned SCI Verkehr compile a strength/weakness analysis regarding logistics in Baden-Württemberg. The objective of the study is to highlight the importance of the industry and identify obstacles for Baden-Württemberg in order to provide the industrial companies situated there today with the optimum conditions for their day-to-day (logistical) work. As a result, SCI Verkehr is going to formulate a logistics strategy for Baden-Württemberg and identify potential flagship projects.

Analysis of existing and potential operations in regional passenger and cargo transport. Development and preparation of a business concept for an economically viable NE-Railway.

On behalf of an investor, SCI Verkehr prepared a comprehensive market analysis for the maintenance of freight wagons. This included a review of the basic principles of maintenance, an analysis of the main trends and drivers in the market, an explanation of new technological developments and an overview of maintenance companies and their locations. A focus of the analyses was also the benchmarking of prices of maintenance periods for different wagon types and components, as well as their development.

A midsized company in the food industry had to generate significant savings in the production processes in order to remain competitive in the market. SCI Verkehr identified saving potential in production and hosted the subsequent dialogue between the works council and management.

The commissioning railway company active in European rail freight transport is in an economically strained situation with clearly decreasing market shares, declining transport services and unsatisfactory performance. Defined objectives of the company are to increase production stability, reorganise operations of sales and production as well as increasing productivity and economic improvement of selected areas of operation. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to monitor and accompany the process as expert consultant.