Global rail operator Alstom has been a fan of the Repair, Don’t Waste mindset since their first investment in specialist test and troubleshooting technology from ABI Electronics in 2015, equipping their Chilean site with the in-house capabilities to repair faulty circuit boards for Metro Santiago. Moving on to 2025, Alstom now has implemented the Repair, Don’t Waste philosophy across a total of 14 sites and we expect this number to increase significantly as net-zero target dates grow ever closer. The close relationship between ABI, Repair, Don’t Waste and Alstom is crucial to their long-term sustainability plans – and here’s why.
Alstom collaboration with Repair, Don’t Waste goes from strength to strength
A global leader in the transportation sector, Alstom are at the forefront of groundbreaking technological advancements which will revolutionize the way the world travels. Alongside other industries, rail is seeing a rapid push for digitalization across the board – not only for customer satisfaction but to adapt to an increasingly tech-focused landscape and leave polluting, outdated trains behind. Electrification and digitalisation are increasing the demand for PCBs – all of which are vulnerable to common faults and programmed obsolescence. Alstom is handling this upcoming challenge head-on by establishing in-house repair facilities to ensure that current and future demands for working PCBs for their products are met in the most sustainable way possible – by repairing, not replacing.
Circuit boards have hundreds of functions in the rail sector including driverless and signalling systems, door controls, braking and traction systems, A/C, and passenger announcement technologies, to mention a few. The number of functions increases further when considering fully electric trains and metro systems. PCBs are crucial to rail safety – a faulty circuit can cause untold problems, which is why we not only stress the importance of repair but also the importance of regular maintenance that increases overall system reliability. Alstom has chosen a Repair, Don’t Waste mindset to not only ensure the safety of their passengers but to also service their trains in a sustainable manner which contributes to ESG targets and net-zero aspirations. This move has dramatically reduced repair time from 100 days to less than 30 and allowed for over 100 technical components to be repaired and tested each month.
With ABI Electronics, Alstom is also contributing to their employee’s skills and the future of electronic repair in the workplace. Each engineer who is involved in circuit board repair receives bespoke training and certification to ensure that servicing, overhaul and reverse engineering are carried out to the highest standard and achieve the best possible results. Repair technicians are in high demand as companies continue to struggle with shortages, long lead times, inflation and early obsolescence of components and semiconductors. Our collaboration with Alstom ensures that the art of repair is protected and embellished, and those who are responsible for these sustainable actions are recognised as they should be.
Alstom’s maintenance services are of the highest standard and secure their place in the global marketplace as a responsible OEM. We at ABI are extremely proud to be part of the company’s strategy for reducing emissions and waste. Across the world, 70+ rail operators, OEMs and contractors have adopted the Repair, Don’t Waste ethos developing capabilities to troubleshoot, and increase product reliability while minimising NFF instances (No Fault Found). As a result, train availability soared to 100% or very close to that. We congratulate Alstom on their dedication to sustainability within the rail sector, and we hope to continue to see more international locations join their legion of repair heroes.
