Inside the Industrial Technicentres : giving rolling stock a second life

A Unique Industrial Expertise

Across SNCF Voyageurs Matériel's 10 Industrial Technicentres, over 6,000 experts execute the most complex operations on all types of rolling stock, their major components and repairable parts, including Level 4 & 5 maintenanc

These industrial sites deploy cutting-edge technologies, including:

• Additive manufacturing (metal and polymer 3D printing)
• Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for predictive maintenance
• Collaborative robots (cobots), exoskeletons and autonomous vehicles
• Fablabs dedicated to rapid prototyping and continuous innovation The network also includes TechniNat, providing agile, end-to-end maintenance solutions for locomotives and freight wagons.

The network also includes TechniNat, providing agile, end-to-end maintenance solutions for locomotives and freight wagons.

This expertise continues to evolve as SNCF Voyageurs historic industrial sites undergo continuous modernisation, integrating state-of-the-art technologies to remain at the forefront of industrial performance while providing the flexibility needed to address tomorrow's rail challenges and customers' evolving expectations.

Through MASTERIS, these industrial capabilities can be deployed both in France and internationally!

Case in Point: The Rennes Technicentre & Lille’s Metro

For this large-scale industrial program on the Lille metropolitan area's VAL208 AG (Old Generation) metros, the mandate is highly ambitious: overhauling braking organs to brand-new condition, thereby extending the vehicles' lifespan from 30 to 45 years or 4,000,000 km!

The Rennes technicentre teams are deploying extreme precision on a highly constrained schedule:

• A High-Tempo Schedule: From late 2026 to 2031. On this new contract, 60 trainsets (along with exchange steering wheels) will be fully processed. The teams will dismantle, overhaul, and repair exactly 480 brake calipers and 120 brake control units.
• Custom Industrial Investments: To exclusively handle these urban hydraulic components used in urban rail systems, the technicentre invested in tailored tools: depollution benches, automated test benches, specialized washing machines designed specifically for urban rail hydraulic , and ventilated paint booths dedicated to this type of equipment
• Advanced Upskilling since 2012: Operators, historically experts in pneumatic components, underwent specific training to master the complex technology of hydraulic brakes.

It is through this alliance of high-tech engineering and local agility that MASTERIS and the Industrial Technicentres network significantly maximize the potential of urban and railway transport fleets.

The Industrial Power of Technicentres in Numbers:

• €2 Billion in revenue (€500M internationally via MASTERIS)
• 9,700 employees, including 2,200 engineers and technicians mobilized nationwide
• 17,000 rolling stock units maintained annually