CAF MiiRA, a company specialized in the manufacturing of components for the railway sector—such as wheels, axles, wheelsets, gearboxes and resilient wheels—has taken a further step in its sustainability strategy with the development of a new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). In this case, the analysis focuses on the AHHD-430-4.822-2 GEARBOX manufactured at its Beasain plant.
This study continues the path initiated by the company in 2024 in assessing the environmental impact of its products throughout their entire life cycle. After having carried out similar studies for its wheels and axles for railway vehicles, CAF MiiRA thus expands the scope of its environmental commitment with the inclusion of new key components.
The gearbox is a key element in a train’s traction system, as it regulates the rotational speed of the motor, enabling vehicle start-up and adaptation to different track conditions such as gradients or curves. In addition to its essential role in performance and safety, this component is subject to increasingly stringent controls, particularly regarding sustainability and carbon footprint reduction.
The analysis has been developed in accordance with the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, in line with ISO 14025 and the product category rules “PCR: Rolling Stock and Parts Thereof, PCR 2009:05” of the Environmental Product Declaration programme “International EPD System – Environdec”.
At IK Ingeniería, we supported CAF MiiRA throughout the entire process, from the collection of life cycle inventory data, including materials, equipment used and manufacturing processes, as well as information related to component preventive maintenance. Based on this data, we carried out the environmental assessment of the results and prepared the Environmental Product Declaration. We also participated during the verification audit, supporting CAF MiiRA through to the final certification.
The Environmental Product Declaration has already been published and is available for consultation on the official International EPD System website.