Axalta Coating Systems has been awarded a project to coat the recently refurbished trains of the Beijing subway. The project began in November 2013 and will encompass one of the most popular Beijing subway lines, consisting of more than 300 rail cars. The refurbished trains, nicknamed "Blue Cat" for the distinctive blue color coating of Axalta’s paint product and striking similarity to a cat, will cross the city from east to west and hit speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
“The Beijing subway is used by millions of people each day, making it essential that its trains are coated with paint to last," said Timothy Dawe, managing director of Axalta Greater China. "This win is a testament to the superior quality of Axalta’s rail products and our ability to work with local partners in China to meet our customer’s needs. While the country transforms its transportation infrastructure into one of the most modern systems in the world, we are committed to support China’s rail ambitions with environmentally friendly coating solutions that provide quality protection and appearance.”
With 231 stations in total, the Beijing subway is one of the world’s busiest subway systems, stretching 395 kilometers. With an average of 10 million daily passengers, Axalta’s rail product was commissioned to coat refurbished Blue Cat trains with what Axalta terms its "sustainable, dynamic, protective and durable properties."
“Axalta prides itself on producing coatings designed to retain brilliant color and gloss while withstanding the forces of nature and frequent users," said Weiguo Lu, director of industrial coatings business, Axalta Greater China. "Our rail coatings will help Beijing’s subway systems retain its colorful finish for many years to come.”
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