Decarbonisation of freight transport

We are living in a period of major societal, environmental, climatic, and economic challenges that impact our planet.

Climate change is an absolute societal priority.

Ermewa is a responsible actor, fully aware of the stakes and resolutely committed to the ecological transition through its actions, its solutions, and its judicious use of resources.

These voluntary commitments are the leitmotiv of the men and women of Ermewa who daily activate all the levers to favour and accelerate the shift of goods transport to rail, a key factor in reducing the carbon impact in Europe.

Ermewa environnment

We work with our customers to provide them with sustainable, value-added solutions that support and promote the decarbonisation of their supply chain.

What does it mean in practice?

Apply the 3 key elements of a sustainable development strategy: Environment (E), Social (S) and Governance (G)

Strictly comply with legislation and constantly strive to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment and health

Ensure the quality of our materials and services in a sustainable manner

Continuously invest in state-of-the-art equipment that exceeds accepted safety standards and has a low carbon impact:

connected wagons to improve the visibility and reliability of our customers’ supply chain

lighter wagons, with bigger payload capacity

more aerodynamic and less noisy wagons that allow the crossing of urban areas

Deploy reliable and efficient intermodal fleets on the European network

Reduce the dwell time of our wagons in workshops:

predictive maintenance of wagons, as close as possible to customers’ plants

mobile teams that can operate on site or in the event of a breakdown during transport for all types of corrective maintenance or repair work, anywhere in Europe, 7 days a week

Click on the boxes below to find out more.

Pallet wagons

Recycled steel transport

Pallet wagons

Rail transport has many assets and is developing its model to accelerate and increase the modal shift, which is necessary to achieve the climate objectives.

There is a strong desire to open up to more ecological modes of transport, accelerated by the pressure of carbon taxes.

Our teams have been involved in decarbonising our clients’ supply chains for many years. They are working with our partner manufacturers in Europe and our customers to design new wagons adapted to the transport of palletised goods.

The innovations are primarily aimed at increasing the carrying capacity of trains (+15%) and improving the safety of operators. They aim to facilitate loading and unloading, optimise handling times, better protect the goods transported and reduce maintenance time and costs. New functions and automation will be adapted to the wagons, including the electrical supply of equipment and the DAC (Digital Automatic Coupling).

Transporting goods by rail is an important asset for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For the record, a train means:

50 trucks less on the road

3 times less noise pollution

6 times less energy consuming

8 times less air pollution

9 times less CO2

Recycled steel transport

The steel industry accounts for a significant share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe. Market players are transforming their industrial facilities and production methods to meet the climate challenges.

Among the solutions being considered, increasing the recycling rate of scrap metal is a simple and quick way to implement. Indeed, producing steel from scrap would reduce GHG emissions by 80%(1). The USA already produces more than 70% of its steel via the recycled sector, compared with only 30% in Northern Europe.

The volume of scrap metal to be transported in Europe will increase in the coming years to promote the decarbonisation of the industry. Our teams are committed to the steel recycling circular economy project and are working with market players to design more efficient and even safer wagons to meet the increase in mass transport expected by the steel industries.

(1) source l’Usine Nouvelle 

Transporting goods by rail is an important asset for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For the record, a train means:

50 trucks less on the road

3 times less noise pollution

6 times less energy consuming

8 times less air pollution

9 times less CO2

CO2 capture

DAC

Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC)​

CO2 capture

CO2 capture is now a major issue for the industry.

Based on this observation, our teams are working on the design of a brand-new innovative gas wagon (26 bars, temperature -40°). It will be equipped with a more extensive insulation than those used in our standards, which will make it possible to transport large volumes of CO2 to secured airtight storage areas.

This project is being carried out in collaboration with two of our customers and our partner manufacturers. 

Transporting goods by rail is an important asset for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For the record, a train means:

50 trucks less on the road

3 times less noise pollution

6 times less energy consuming

8 times less air pollution

9 times less CO2

Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC)

The modal shift of freight transport to rail is essential to achieve the climate objectives set by Europe (Green Deal). But this is only possible with a competitive and attractive rail freight transport.

Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) will take rail freight transport from the 19th to the 21st century. It is a key factor in facilitating a massive modal shift from freight to rail.

This technology will enable stakeholders to benefit from a more efficient, more competitive and more carbon-free rail freight transport.

Transporting goods by rail is an important asset for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For the record, a train means:

50 trucks less on the road

3 times less noise pollution

6 times less energy consuming

8 times less air pollution

9 times less CO2