NORMA Group Connects Lines in World’s Longest Rail Tunnel

MAINTAL, Germany & ERSTFELD, Switzerland

The longest rail tunnel in the world will be kept dry with the help of NORMA Group couplings that are used to connect rainwater pipes in the new Gotthard Base Tunnel.

NORMA Group, a global market leader in engineered joining technology, has supplied its technology for the construction of Europe’s newest rail tunnel, which will be officially inaugurated on June 1. Running under the Swiss Alps, it will be the longest rail tunnel in the world at 35.5 miles in length. NORMACONNECT FLEX pipe couplings connect pipes that remove rainwater from the tunnel.

“We are excited about having supported a public infrastructure project of such great magnitude,” said Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group. “The new Gotthard Base Tunnel will bring people from different countries together much faster, more reliably and more safely. This matches our high-performance joining products that connect pipes safely and reliably. Our engineered joining technology has the same qualities as this ambitious project.”

The Gotthard Base Tunnel at some points runs up to 1.5 miles below the towering Alps and reduces the travel time from Zurich, Switzerland, to Milan, Italy, from more than four hours to under three hours. In the future, around 260 freight trains and 65 passenger trains will roll through these two tubes daily at speeds of up to 155 miles per hour.

Around 28 million tons of rock mass had to be moved during tunnel construction, which took nearly 17 years to complete at a cost of $12 billion. Track and tunnel testing will begin in June, with the tunnel scheduled to open for passenger and freight traffic in December.

NORMACONNECT FLEX pipe couplings connect metal, stainless steel, concrete and plastic pipes and tightly insulate the gaps between pipe ends. The couplings can compensate for axial movements and changes in the length of straight pipe connections. The pipe joints also eliminate fire hazards because they can be mounted without welding. The couplings resist high-vibration loads because of their special geometry.

Additional information on the company is available on www.normagroup.com and www.normaamericasds.com.

About NORMA Group

NORMA Group is a global market leader in engineered joining technology. The company manufactures a wide range of innovative connecting solutions and water management technology offering more than 35,000 products to customers in 100 countries with around 6,500 employees. NORMA Group helps its customers and business partners to react to global challenges such as climate change and increasing scarcity of resources. NORMA Group joining products can be found in vehicles and trains, ships and aircraft, buildings and water management as well as in applications for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The company generated sales of around EUR 890 million in 2015. NORMA Group operates a global network of 22 production facilities as well as numerous sales and distribution sites across Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. NORMA Group has its headquarters in Maintal, Germany. NORMA Group SE is listed on the German stock exchange (Prime Standard) and included in the MDAX index.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160526005853/en/

Company Contact:
Daphne Recker
Group Communications
NORMA Group SE
Tel.: +49 6181.6102.743
daphne.recker@normagroup.com
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