Knorr-Bremse
Knorr-Bremse is a German manufacturer of braking, control, safety and other systems for rail vehicles and commercial vehicles.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Knorr-Bremse is a German industrial group specializing in braking and related control technologies for rail vehicles and commercial vehicles. Founded by engineer Georg Knorr in Berlin in 1905, the company built its early reputation by commercializing pneumatic railway brakes that improved the speed, consistency and safety of train braking. Its development of the Kunze-Knorr freight-train brake after the First World War and the later Hildebrand-Knorr brake established the company as an important supplier to European railways and helped standardize pneumatic braking across national networks. The business expanded into road transport during the 1920s. It developed pneumatic braking systems for trucks and became an early European supplier of systems capable of applying braking simultaneously across a truck and its trailer. Over time, its commercial-vehicle portfolio grew to include air compressors, disc brakes, anti-lock braking systems, electronic braking systems, traction-control functions, air suspension controls and other chassis technologies. Knorr-Bremse has supplied systems for trucks, buses, trailers and specialist vehicles, generally serving vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators through an original-equipment and aftermarket model. Rail remains the other central pillar of the group. In addition to complete braking systems, Knorr-Bremse supplies doors, couplers, air-conditioning and HVAC equipment, toilets, windscreen wipers, wheel-slip protection, train-control and digital systems, air supply equipment, driver-assistance technologies and onboard energy solutions. The company has also expanded through acquisitions and partnerships in railway components, signaling, embedded electronics and related control technologies. Its acquisition of Westinghouse Brakes in 2000 strengthened its rail systems presence in the United Kingdom, while the 2024 purchase of Alstom's North American rail-signaling business broadened the group into signaling through KB Signaling. The company was heavily affected by the Second World War and the post-war division of Germany. Facilities in eastern Berlin were expropriated and dismantled, while the western business was rebuilt from Volmarstein from 1946. A new headquarters was completed in Munich in 1953, and post-war reconstruction, including freight-car investment supported by the Marshall Plan, helped restore demand for railway braking equipment. Knorr-Bremse later reorganized its rail and commercial-vehicle operations into separate businesses and pursued international expansion through subsidiaries, joint ventures and acquisitions. Knorr-Bremse became a privately controlled company under the Thiele family in the late 1980s and was floated on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2018. It operates internationally, with a presence in more than 30 countries and approximately 100 locations. In 2022, the group reported worldwide sales of EUR 7.15 billion and employed more than 31,000 people. Marc Llistosella became chief executive officer at the beginning of 2023. The group's strategic identity is based on safety-critical engineering, long-term supply relationships with rail and vehicle manufacturers, regulatory compliance and the integration of mechanical, pneumatic, electronic and software technologies.
History
Georg Knorr founded Knorr-Bremse in 1905 in Boxhagen-Rummelsburg, then outside Berlin. Drawing on earlier railway-brake work, the new company developed and produced a rapid-release pneumatic brake intended to stop passenger trains more quickly and consistently. In 1911, Knorr-Bremse merged with Continentale Bremsen-GmbH to form Knorr-Bremse Aktiengesellschaft. During the following decade, the company expanded its Berlin manufacturing base and secured important railway supply relationships. A decisive early product was the Kunze-Knorr freight-train brake, introduced in 1918. Its design improved the handling and safety of freight trains and was adopted beyond Germany. Knorr-Bremse also benefited from agreements with Prussian state railways to supply pneumatic braking systems for passenger and freight trains. During the interwar years, the company expanded its industrial footprint and entered the road-vehicle market. It obtained a patent in 1922 for pneumatic braking on commercial vehicles and soon developed a system capable of braking all four wheels of a truck and its trailer together. By the end of the 1930s, its systems were fitted to a large share of German medium-heavy trucks. The company introduced the Hildebrand-Knorr, or HiK, train brake in 1931. Variants were subsequently adapted for different train types, and the system gained international use. The Second World War disrupted the business and left a difficult historical legacy. Knorr-Bremse manufactured weapons for the German armed forces and used forced foreign labor at a company-associated camp in Berlin. After the war, eastern Berlin facilities were expropriated and dismantled by Soviet authorities. In the western occupation zones, the company was re-established in Volmarstein in 1946. Post-war reconstruction was supported by railway investment, including freight-car construction financed in part through the Marshall Plan. In 1953, Knorr-Bremse completed new headquarters in Munich and introduced both an automatic load-dependent braking system for commercial vehicles and the Knorr Standard Brake, also known as the KE brake, for trains. The KE brake received International Union of Railways approval and was sold in many countries. During the 1960s, the business extended its compressed-air expertise into air suspension, level regulation, pneumatic gearshifts and door actuation. It also developed new air compressors and exhibited its first heavy-truck disc brake in 1969. International expansion accelerated from the 1970s. Knorr Brake Corporation was established in 1973 to build a North American presence. The company worked with MAN on truck anti-lock braking, with the first standard-equipment installation reported in 1981. Its DB 60 direct-release freight-train control valve gained Association of American Railroads approval in 1985 and entered North American use. That same year, Knorr-Bremse GmbH and Süddeutsche Bremsen AG merged to form Knorr-Bremse AG. The Thiele family acquired all shares by 1988. Technology development increasingly combined mechanical, pneumatic and electronic controls. Knorr-Bremse presented a pneumatic disc-brake prototype in 1987 and introduced an electronic braking system in 1989, integrating braking control, ABS and traction control. Its electro-pneumatic brake units were later used on Germany's ICE 1 high-speed trainsets. In the early 1990s, the company separated its rail and commercial-vehicle activities into independent businesses and adopted a more systematic international growth strategy. The group expanded through strategic transactions. A joint venture with Bosch was created in 1999, and the company acquired Westinghouse Brakes from Invensys in 2000, strengthening its rail systems operations in Britain. Bendix Corporation was acquired in 2002, expanding the commercial-vehicle business in North America. Knorr-Bremse also worked on variable-gauge technology from 2002 onward. In the 2010s it acquired Vossloh Electrical Systems and attempted to purchase Haldex. The Haldex transaction encountered competition concerns from European regulators; Knorr-Bremse eventually withdrew its offer and sold its stake. Knorr-Bremse was listed publicly in 2018 while remaining associated with the Thiele family. The company continued to broaden its rail portfolio, including signaling and embedded electronics. In 2024 it acquired Alstom's North American rail-signaling business, forming KB Signaling. The group announced the acquisition of Duagon, a Swiss supplier of railway embedded electronics, in 2025 and reported completion in 2026. Today, Knorr-Bremse operates across more than 30 countries and approximately 100 locations, supplying safety-critical systems to rail and commercial-vehicle customers worldwide.
- 2026
Duagon acquisition completed
[4]The group completed its purchase of Swiss railway embedded-electronics supplier Duagon after regulatory approval.
- 2024
North American signaling business acquired
[4]Knorr-Bremse acquired Alstom's American rail-signaling business and created KB Signaling.
- 2023
Marc Llistosella becomes CEO
[3]Marc Llistosella took over as chief executive on 1 January 2023.
- 2018
Public listing
[2]Knorr-Bremse became publicly listed while retaining its association with the Thiele family.
- 2002
Bendix acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded the group's commercial-vehicle braking business in North America.
- 2000
Westinghouse Brakes acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthened Knorr-Bremse's rail systems operations in the United Kingdom.
- 1989
Electronic braking system introduced
[1]The company launched an electronic system combining brake control, ABS and traction control.
- 1985
Knorr-Bremse AG formed
[1]Knorr-Bremse GmbH merged with Süddeutsche Bremsen AG.
- 1973
North American expansion begins
[1]Knorr Brake Corporation was established to develop the company's North American market presence.
- 1953
Munich headquarters completed
[1]The company completed new headquarters and introduced the load-dependent commercial-vehicle brake and KE railway brake.
Products and positioning
A safety-critical systems specialist serving global rail and commercial-vehicle manufacturers, with a positioning centered on braking expertise, systems integration, reliability and digital control.
Rail equipment · 1905
Rail-vehicle braking systems
Knorr-Bremse supplies complete braking architectures for passenger trains, freight trains, metros, locomotives and high-speed trainsets. The portfolio combines pneumatic, electro-pneumatic and electronic control technologies with functions such as graduated release, wheel-slip prevention and condition monitoring. Historical products include the Kunze-Knorr, Hildebrand-Knorr and KE brakes, while current systems are integrated with broader train-control and digital platforms.
Commercial-vehicle equipment · 1922
Commercial-vehicle braking systems
The commercial-vehicle business develops braking equipment for heavy trucks, tractor-trailers, buses, trailers and specialist vehicles. Products include pneumatic service brakes, disc brakes, electronic braking systems, ABS, traction-control functions and associated air-management components. These systems are supplied primarily to vehicle manufacturers and supported through aftermarket channels.
Rail equipment
Rail-vehicle doors and access systems
Knorr-Bremse produces intelligent door systems for rail vehicles, including actuation, control and safety functions. The systems are designed for passenger access across different train types and operating environments and form part of the group's broader rail-vehicle subsystem portfolio.
Rail equipment
Rail HVAC and air-conditioning systems
The rail portfolio includes heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment for passenger trains and other rail vehicles. These systems are intended to manage passenger comfort, air circulation and temperature while being integrated with vehicle energy and control architectures.
Rail signaling · 2024
Rail signaling and control systems
Following the acquisition of Alstom's American rail-signaling business, Knorr-Bremse expanded into signaling through KB Signaling. The business complements existing train-control, vehicle-control and digital rail capabilities and gives the group a broader role in railway safety and traffic-management infrastructure.
Industrial components · 1960
Air supply and control systems
Knorr-Bremse develops compressors, air-treatment equipment and control components used in rail and commercial-vehicle applications. Its compressed-air expertise also supports functions such as braking, suspension, door actuation, level regulation and pneumatic transmission control.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2025
Agreement to acquire DuagonM&ABackground
Duagon supplies embedded electronics, hardware and software for railway applications, complementing Knorr-Bremse's digital and control-system capabilities.
Action taken
Knorr-Bremse agreed to acquire Duagon from Deutsche Beteiligungs, subject to regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The acquisition was reported as completed in January 2026.
Reported purchase price. Approximately EUR 500 million, excluding a potential performance-related earn-out (2025-2026)
2024
Acquisition of Alstom's North American signaling businessM&ABackground
Knorr-Bremse sought to broaden its rail offering beyond braking and vehicle subsystems into signaling.
Action taken
The company acquired Alstom's American rail-signaling business and established KB Signaling.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Knorr-Bremse's presence in North American rail signaling.
Purchase price. USD 690 million (2024)
2016
Bid for HaldexM&ABackground
Knorr-Bremse sought to acquire Haldex, a European competitor in vehicle systems. By December 2016 it had acquired 86.1 percent of Haldex shares.
Action taken
The company pursued a full takeover, but the European Commission opened an antitrust investigation in 2017.
Aftermath
Knorr-Bremse abandoned the bid and ultimately sold its Haldex shares by June 2022.
Recent events
Knorr-Bremse announces acquisition of Evac Group business[5]
Reported:
Knorr-Bremse announced that it is acquiring the Evac Group business, a manufacturer of integrated sanitary systems for passenger trains. The article describes the acquisition as a way to expand Knorr-Bremse's position in on-board systems.
Knorr-Bremse and Mobileye launch ProFleet Assist+[6]
Knorr-Bremse announced the launch of ProFleet Assist+, a driver-assistance system developed by Knorr-Bremse Truck Services in cooperation with Mobileye. The article says the system is intended to improve road safety in Europe.
Sources6 sources
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