More than 200,000 tonnes of gypsum on rails

Knauf, a leading manufacturer of building materials, is represented at 320 locations in 90 countries. In many countries today, the name Knauf is synonymous with gypsum, a raw material with fascinating properties. Gypsum and gypsum-related products and insulation materials are manufactured and sold in almost all Western and Eastern European countries. Knauf has been working closely with the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) for more than ten years.

Block trains loaded with synthetic gypsum

The gypsum’s journey starts at different locations – block trains are used. In Slovenia, titanium gypsum is transported from Celje to Weißenbach near Liezen and FGD gypsum from Sostanj also to Weißenbach near Liezen. In Lower Austria, citric acid gypsum is also transported from Pernhofen-Wulzeshofen to Weißenbach near Liezen – a total of around 125,000 tonnes of gypsum per year by sustainable rail.

Single wagonload transport from quarry to plant

In March 2024, 80,000 tonnes were added from Tragöß in Styria. These quantities are first transported from the quarry to the loading point in Kapfenberg by electric truck and then loaded onto wagons on the train by a large forklift. These groups of wagons are then transported to their destination in a highly efficient and resource-conserving manner using single wagonload transport. The raw materials are then used to produce plasterboard at the main plant in Weißenbach near Liezen.

Off to the city

Another important part of the partnership is the so-called ‘city logistics’, which transports the finished gypsum blocks for the Viennese market to the port Vienna Freudenau. This logistics solution, which includes rail transport, handling and storage, demonstrates the potential of innovative logistics strategies that will be rolled out to other federal states in the future.

Commitment to green logistics

Significant CO2 savings have already been achieved by shifting transport from road to rail. In 2023 alone, this amounted to more than 1,300 tonnes of CO2 (EQ). The environment benefits and this underlines the common goal of RCG and Knauf to promote sustainable transport and continuously improve the carbon footprint – for a Europe worth living in.

07.11.2024