Hubner pusher articulation system enters India

By N. Balasubramanian

With innovative new developments and continual improvement of existing solutions, Hübner is helping to make public transport sustainable for the future. The articulation specialist has supplied its first ever pusher articulation system in the Indian market, which comes as an important breakthrough for the company as it looks to strengthen its presence in the market.

Upcoming Indian bus manufacturer Corona Bus has recently developed a first-of-its-kind modern articulated bus in India which is fitted with a Hübner pusher articulation system.

This comes as a major breakthrough for Hübner as it looks to tap the vastly potential articulation bus market in the country. The new range of articulated buses will be showcased at the BusWorld show in Mumbai in 2013.

The company has already delivered about 400 puller articulation systems for Ashok Leyland buses, which could be seen running in Chennai and Bangalore. Currently, Hübner is in talks with Ashok Leyland for developing new generation articulation buses specific to the Indian market.

“We see a huge potential in the Indian bus market. In India, travelling is very complicated and challenging, to overcome which articulated buses could be the most cost-effective solution”, says Mr. Markus Mazur, Head of Sales, Gangway Systems Buses, Hübner GmbH.

Articulated buses are the preferred choice for BRT systems and with more BRT lines coming up in the country, the company sees a huge potential for growth in the Indian public transportation sector.

Currently, BRT systems are running in some Indian cities including Ahmedabad, Pune, Delhi and Mumbai. Apart from India, the company also foresees a major growth in articulated buses in markets like South America, China, Middle East and Turkey.

At the IAA 2012 show in Hanover, Hübner showcased its double-pitch articulation which has been specially developed for buses that can be used on routes with a high and strongly fluctuating passenger capacity.

By integrating an additional pitch axis in the articulation, two-axle bus segments can be connected, allowing the realization of multi-segment, modular designed vehicle concepts. This technical solution permits the implementation of buses more than 30 metres long, which are ideal for BRT routes in so-called megacities in Asia and South America.

In addition to its double-pitch articulation system, the company also presented the EXEO III lift which could be assembled on coaches and intercity buses. Its modular design with different lifting arms achieves lifting heights of up to 2,000 mm.

As a system supplier, Hübner manufactures key components for the transportation industry, medical technology and life quality. The range of products and services includes the design and production of folding bellows, vehicle articulation and gangway systems and window systems. At the headquarters in Kassel, Germany and at 11 other international locations, Hübner employs over 1800 people making tailor-made solutions possible – from development through the prototype stage to market maturity.