Ateliers de Constructions Mécaniques de Vevey
A historic Swiss metal-engineering and rail-vehicle manufacturer whose Vevey works closed in 1992 and whose Villeneuve rail factory later became part of Bombardier Transportation.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Ateliers de Constructions Mécaniques de Vevey, commonly abbreviated ACMV, was a Swiss industrial engineering company based in Vevey, in the canton of Vaud. Its origins date to 1848, when Benjamin Roy established Ateliers B. Roy & Cie. The business initially repaired agricultural machinery and mill wheels, but gradually developed into a broad metalworking enterprise capable of producing major industrial structures and specialized equipment. In 1895 it was reorganized as Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey SA. Over the course of its history, ACMV worked across several demanding areas of mechanical and structural engineering. Its activities included large metal structures, bridges, tunnel-boring machinery, hydroelectric equipment, liquefied-gas tanks, and railway rolling stock. This combination of fabrication, mechanical construction, and transport equipment reflected the industrial capabilities of the Lake Geneva region and allowed the company to serve infrastructure and public-transport projects rather than operating solely as a conventional machine shop. Railway manufacturing became especially important after ACMV opened a factory in Villeneuve in 1948. The Villeneuve site initially concentrated largely on freight wagons, then expanded into passenger and urban-transport vehicles. In 1954 it produced its first trams for Lausanne and Lugano. The company later built its first carriages for the Chemin de fer Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry in 1967, its first electric trains for the Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges in 1977, and its first low-floor trams in 1982. These projects established ACMV as a participant in Swiss regional railway and tram development. The original Vevey plant was modernized in 1962. Despite that investment, the Vevey facility ultimately closed in 1992, marking the end of the company’s original industrial base in the town. The Villeneuve operation continued as the principal rail-manufacturing legacy of ACMV. In 1997 the plant was sold to Deutsche Waggonbau AG, a German rail-vehicle manufacturer. Deutsche Waggonbau was acquired by Bombardier in 1998, bringing the Villeneuve factory into Bombardier’s international rail business. By 2004 it had become Bombardier Transportation’s Swiss production site, and a third assembly hall was added in 2008. As a result, ACMV is best understood as a historic company and industrial brand rather than an active standalone manufacturer. The ACMV corporate identity and the Vevey works are defunct, while the Villeneuve facility continued under successor ownership and remained associated with the production of long-distance, regional, mass-transit, and tram vehicles. The available reference material does not establish a current independent ACMV website, ownership structure, executive team, or continuing commercial operations under the ACMV name.
History
Ateliers de Constructions Mécaniques de Vevey was founded in 1848 in Vevey, Switzerland, by Benjamin Roy under the name Ateliers B. Roy & Cie. Its first work consisted of repairing agricultural equipment and mill wheels. From this practical repair business, the company developed into a diversified metal-engineering manufacturer. By the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, its capabilities extended to large structural fabrications, bridges, tunnel-boring machines, hydroelectric equipment, and tanks for liquefied gases. The business was formally reorganized as Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey SA in 1895. The company’s industrial role was not limited to general engineering. In 1948 it opened a second factory at Villeneuve dedicated to rail-vehicle construction, initially producing freight wagons. This facility became increasingly important as ACMV diversified into public-transport equipment. In 1954 the company built its first trams, supplied to Lausanne and Lugano. It subsequently produced carriages for the Chemin de fer Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry in 1967, electric trains for the Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges in 1977, and low-floor trams in 1982. These milestones place ACMV within the development of modern Swiss regional and urban rail transport. The original Vevey works underwent modernization in 1962, but the plant eventually closed in 1992. The closure ended ACMV’s direct industrial presence at its founding location, although the Villeneuve rail operation continued. In 1997 the Villeneuve factory was sold to Deutsche Waggonbau AG. Deutsche Waggonbau was acquired by Bombardier in 1998, and the factory consequently became part of Bombardier’s rail-transport manufacturing network. It was designated Bombardier Transportation’s Swiss production site in 2004, and a third assembly hall was added in 2008. The reference material does not identify a continuing standalone ACMV corporation, independent management team, public listing, or active website. The original ACMV brand is therefore treated as defunct. Its principal industrial legacy survives through the Villeneuve site and the rail vehicles manufactured there under later owners. The succession from ACMV to Deutsche Waggonbau and then Bombardier illustrates the consolidation of European rail manufacturing, while the company’s earlier work demonstrates the breadth of Swiss mechanical and structural engineering during the industrial era.
- 2008
Third assembly hall added
[1]Bombardier expanded the Villeneuve site with an additional assembly hall.
- 2004
Villeneuve becomes Bombardier’s Swiss production site
[1]The factory became Bombardier Transportation’s Swiss manufacturing location.
- 1998
Deutsche Waggonbau acquired by Bombardier
[1]Bombardier’s acquisition brought the Villeneuve operation into its rail-transport business.
- 1997
Villeneuve factory sold to Deutsche Waggonbau
[1]The continuing rail-manufacturing facility changed ownership and left the ACMV corporate structure.
- 1992
Vevey plant closes
[1]The original Vevey works ceased operations.
- 1982
First low-floor trams
[1]The factory built its first low-floor trams.
- 1977
First electric trains for BAM
[1]The Villeneuve factory produced its first electric trains for the Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges.
- 1967
First carriages for the AOMC railway
[1]ACMV produced its first carriages for the Chemin de fer Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry.
- 1962
Vevey plant modernized
[1]The original Vevey industrial plant underwent modernization.
- 1954
First ACMV trams
[1]The company constructed its first trams for Lausanne and Lugano.
Products and positioning
A historic Swiss heavy-engineering and rail-vehicle manufacturer combining metal fabrication, infrastructure equipment, and specialized rolling-stock production.
Structural engineering
Large metal structures and bridges
ACMV developed and fabricated major metal structures, including bridges and other large-scale engineered assemblies. These projects reflected the company’s ability to work with substantial metal components and integrate mechanical construction with infrastructure requirements.
Heavy mechanical equipment
Tunnel-boring machines
Tunnel-boring machinery formed part of ACMV’s specialized heavy-engineering output. The company’s involvement in this field illustrates its move beyond repair work into complex equipment for major civil-engineering projects.
Energy infrastructure equipment
Hydroelectric equipment
The company manufactured equipment for hydroelectric applications, extending its metalworking and mechanical capabilities into power-generation infrastructure.
Railway rolling stock · 1948
Freight wagons
Freight wagons were among the principal products associated with the Villeneuve factory after it opened in 1948, establishing ACMV’s long-term position in railway manufacturing.
Urban rail vehicles · 1954
Trams
ACMV built its first trams in 1954 for Lausanne and Lugano. Tram construction later included low-floor vehicles, with the first ACMV low-floor trams produced in 1982.
Passenger rail vehicles · 1977
Electric regional trains
The Villeneuve operation produced electric trains for the Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges in 1977, demonstrating ACMV’s expansion from wagons and carriages into powered regional passenger equipment.
Brand decisions
2004
Integration of Villeneuve into Bombardier’s Swiss production networkStrategyBackground
Following the acquisition of Deutsche Waggonbau, Bombardier reorganized the inherited facility within its international rail-manufacturing operations.
Action taken
The Villeneuve plant became Bombardier Transportation’s Swiss production site.
Aftermath
The site continued manufacturing long-distance, regional, mass-transit, and tram vehicles, with a further assembly hall added in 2008.
1997
Sale of the Villeneuve factory to Deutsche WaggonbauM&ABackground
After the Vevey works had closed, the Villeneuve rail-manufacturing facility represented the company’s principal continuing industrial asset.
Action taken
The Villeneuve factory was sold to Deutsche Waggonbau AG.
Aftermath
The factory subsequently entered Bombardier’s rail business when Bombardier acquired Deutsche Waggonbau in 1998.
Recent events
- 2008
Third assembly hall added at Villeneuve[1]
Other
Bombardier expanded the Villeneuve factory with a third assembly hall.
- 2004
Villeneuve becomes Bombardier Transportation’s Swiss production site[1]
Other
The Villeneuve facility became Bombardier Transportation’s Swiss production site for passenger and urban rail vehicles.
- 1998
Bombardier acquires Deutsche Waggonbau[1]
M&A
Deutsche Waggonbau AG was acquired by Bombardier, bringing the Villeneuve factory into Bombardier’s rail-transport operations.
- 1997
Villeneuve factory sold to Deutsche Waggonbau[1]
M&A
The Villeneuve rail-vehicle factory was sold to Deutsche Waggonbau AG, transferring the site into a new corporate ownership structure.
- 1992
Vevey plant closes after a long industrial history[1]
Other
The original ACMV plant in Vevey closed after decades of metalworking and mechanical engineering activity.
Sources1 sources
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