WASCOSA became the first wagon keeper in Europe to be awarded the ECM Certificate according to the new EU Directive EU 445/2011 on 30 August 2012. This came into force in May 2012 and replaces the former ECM certification in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The certification was carried out by the Swiss conformity assessment office SCONRAIL AG with offices in Winterthur.
The certification in accordance with EU 445/2011 ranks higher than the ECM certification in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which remains valid until 31 May 2015. The professional implementation of EU Directive 445/2011 contains the following four functions: the management, development and rendering of maintenance services as well as the fleet management. All keepers of freight cars in Europe must hold a valid ECM certification by 31 May 2013 at the latest.
«In order to do justice to the claims at the highest level, WASCOSA has realigned its organisation to the new ECM standard and modified the maintenance management process. By establishing a Components sector that is independent of daily business and handles the wagon keeper's responsibility for the central safety management function, WASCOSA satisfies the stricter European requirements of this new certification», explains Irmhild Saabel, Technical Manageress and Member of the Management Committee.
«WASCOSA satisfies the new, high requirements and once again sets a standard by becoming the first wagon keeper in Europe to be awarded the ECM certification in accordance with EU 445/2011», says Philipp Müller, CEO of WASCOSA.
ECM certificate in accordance with EU 445/2011 (PDF)
Ueli Ritter, Manager of the Swiss conformity assessment office SCONRAIL AG hands over the ECM Certificate in accordance with EU 445/2011 to Irmhild Saabel, who is responsible for WASCOSA-Components. © WASCOSA AG