What Evac Train does

Evac GmbH (branded Evac Train, and since 2023 positioned as Knorr-Bremse Evac) is a Wedel, Germany-headquartered tier 1 supplier of fully integrated sanitary systems for rail vehicles. The company designs, manufactures and services vacuum toilet systems (EVAC 2000 central vacuum, EVAC Compact all-in-one, EVAC 2000B pneumatic retrofit, EVAC Bus), cabin modules, door gear systems, urinals, the SLOMO toilet seat, and the Modular Logic Controller 2.0 for cabin automation, with field deployment in 46 countries across temperatures from -40°C to +70°C and on Maglev vehicles operating above 370 mph. Over 100,000 vacuum systems have been installed since founding (~1980), underlining a 40+ year track record with major train manufacturers and operators.

The company sells predominantly via direct enterprise sales and OEM integration into new train builds and modernization projects, with tier 1 status at major rail OEMs/operators. Revenue streams span hardware sales (toilet systems, cabin modules, door gears, treatment systems, flush water additives) and professional services (installation, commissioning, maintenance, refurbishment, training and spare-parts logistics) delivered through a global service network in the UK, France, Spain, Poland, Japan, India, Italy and the US, all under the Knorr-Bremse umbrella.

The business is structured as Evac GmbH, a private subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse AG (Frankfurt-listed rail conglomerate), with Andreas Engelmann as Managing Director and Zwika Nachmani as Head of Department / Director Operations. Customers include Deutsche Bahn (co-development of the DB IdeasTrain cabin concept) and Indian Railways (Vande Bharat program, supported by the Palwal manufacturing facility). The company is the only supplier positioning the full toilet cabin — including all subsystems — as a single-source integrated module, with an extensive certification stack (ISO 9001/14001/45001, EN 45545, EN 15085, TSI PRM, UIC 563, AEO C, EN 50128/50129) qualifying it for global rail tenders.

Name

Evac Train

Legal name

Evac GmbH

Website

https://evac-train.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Evac Train (Evac GmbH) is a German tier 1 supplier of fully integrated vacuum toilet and cabin module sanitary systems for rail vehicles and buses, serving train manufacturers and railway operators in 46 countries under the Knorr-Bremse AG umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway sanitary systems

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial Vacuum Systems (Wet/Dry, Dust Extraction) (IMAHALAC)

Keywords

• Railway sanitary systems
• Vacuum toilet systems
• Train cabin modules
• Rail vehicle water systems
• Rail door gear systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Wedel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vacuum Toilet Systems: Sale of vacuum toilet systems including Evac 2000, Evac Compact, Evac 2000B, and bus vacuum toilets. Systems are sold as complete units with various configurations (sit-down, squatting pan, urinal styles).
2. Cabin Modules: Fully integrated toilet cabin modules including all subsystems offered as complete solutions. Covers entire supply chain from project planning through implementation.
3. Service and Maintenance: Comprehensive service offerings including in-field service, maintenance, refurbishment concepts, training, and technical support during installation and commissioning. Includes spare parts logistics and certified repair processes.
4. Treatment Systems and Additives: Flush water additives (Enviroclean, Enviroclean Fresh, EVAC Clean ECO) and treatment systems for maintaining system longevity and hygiene.
5. Door Gears and Cabin Interiors: Electric and manual door gear systems, toilet seats, urinals, lighting concepts, baby accessories, mirrors, and other cabin interior components.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Evac Train (Evac GmbH) designs, manufactures, and supplies fully integrated sanitary systems for rail vehicles, with a core focus on vacuum toilet systems, cabin modules, water and waste management, and door gear systems. The company offers complete, one-stop cabin modules combining all subsystems, serving train manufacturers and railway operators globally with more than 100,000 vacuum systems installed across 46 countries. Complementary offerings include service, maintenance, refurbishment, and flush water treatment additives.

Product overview

Evac Train is a leading tier-1 supplier of fully integrated sanitary systems for rail vehicles, offering complete vacuum toilet solutions from a single source. The product portfolio centers on the Cabin Module as the foundational enclosure, with the Vacuum Toilet System family comprising EVAC 2000 (central vacuum system serving multiple units), EVAC Compact (standalone all-in-one unit), EVAC 2000B (pneumatic system for retrofit), and EVAC Bus Vacuum Toilet. Complementary products include Control & Communication Systems with the Modular Logic Controller 2.0, Treatment Systems (flush water additives like Enviroclean and UVC disinfection), Water & Waste Systems (fresh water tanks, waste water systems, grey water tanks), and Cabin Interiors (door gears, urinals, toilet seats including the SLOMO model). The company provides global service and support through its network of locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EVAC Compact: Microprocessor-controlled, all-in-one vacuum toilet unit with local vacuum system, removing the need for a vacuum-proof waste water tank. Available with sliding gate valve and pinch valve options.
• EVAC 2000
• EVAC 2000B
• EVAC Bus Vacuum Toilet
• EVAC Urinal
• Door Gears
• Evac SLOMO
• Enviroclean
• EVAC Clean ECO
• S.A.M.T.
• Modular Logic Controller (MLC)

Products and services

• Cabin Module Fully integrated toilet cabin modules offering complete sanitary solutions from a single source, combining all subsystems with high standardization and modular flexibility for individually tailored railway solutions. Targeted at train manufacturers and railway operators.
• EVAC 2000 Central Vacuum System Centralized vacuum toilet system servicing multiple toilet units from one waste water tank, available as permanent vacuum or vacuum on demand. Includes electronic control panel with alarm, control and monitoring functions and built-in fault detection for train manufacturers and operators.
• EVAC Compact Microprocessor-controlled all-in-one vacuum toilet unit with local vacuum system eliminating the need for a vacuum-proof waste water tank. Available with sliding gate or pinch valve, integrated fault detection, and approximately 0.4–0.5L per flush water consumption.
• EVAC 2000B Vacuum Toilet System Simple, robust pneumatic vacuum toilet system with no electronic components, designed for retrofitting and modernization projects. Extremely low water consumption of 0.5–0.7L per flush with high reliability and easy installation/maintenance.
• EVAC Bus Vacuum Toilet Compact vacuum toilet system designed specifically for bus environments with microprocessor control, local vacuum system, and sealed waste-water system that eliminates odors and removes the need for chemicals. Well-established in over 80,000 applications worldwide.
• EVAC Urinal Compact vacuum urinal system reducing water consumption by up to 50%, featuring adaptable bowl geometry and multiple transfer system options for integration with EVAC Compact or E2000 systems. Targeted at rail and bus operators.
• Door Gears Electric and manual door gear systems available in straight and curved versions. Wear-resistant materials ensure smooth operation without servicing, with built-in locking block and latch detection, compliant with TSI PRM 2014.
• Toilet Seat SLOMO World's first toilet seat designed specifically for on-board train use. Features combined soft close and retain function, dirt-trap-free design, subconvex surfaces directing spillages into the bowl, and assistance gaps for wheelchair users.
• Modular Logic Controller 2.0 (MLC) Centralized automation and control system integrating door gear control and managing smooth interplay of all cabin components. Includes built-in webserver for efficient diagnosis, maintenance, and updates.
• Water & Waste Systems Complete water management solutions for rail vehicles including Fresh Water Tanks, Waste Water Systems (atmospheric and vacuum variants), Grey Water Tanks, and Bioreactors for optimized treatment of fresh, grey, and waste water.
• Flush Water Additives (Enviroclean, Enviroclean Fresh, EVAC Clean ECO) Chemical additives (Enviroclean, Enviroclean Fresh, EVAC Clean ECO) injected into flush water to prevent mineral deposits, chemical buildup, and urea salts, ensuring clean pipes and toilet parts while reducing maintenance costs and odors.
• UVC Light Disinfection Ultraviolet light-based disinfection system for water treatment, enhancing hygiene and system longevity in rail sanitary systems.
• Global Service Network Comprehensive service and support including installation, commissioning, maintenance, training, refurbishment, and spare parts logistics delivered through offices in Germany, Italy, India, the US, UK, France, Spain, Poland, and Japan.
• DB IdeasTrain Innovation Concept Innovative toilet cabin concept developed in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn (DB IdeasTrain) featuring touchless door operation, automatic flush, contactless soap and disinfectant dispensers, smart mirrors with travel information, and innovative floor lighting indicators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water consumption reduced to 0.5-0.7L per flush for Evac 2000B system
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Knorr-Bremse AGcoreOthersEvac GmbH is a subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse AG, headquartered in Munich, Germany. Knorr-Bremse is the world's leading manufacturer of braking systems and a major supplier of other rail vehicle systems. Evac operates under Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems division as a brand for fully integrated sanitary systems.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Microphor: Direct competitor manufacturing vacuum toilet and wastewater systems for rail and marine applications. Closest functional peer to Evac Train in the railway sanitary systems niche, competing for the same OEM slots.
• Semvac A/S: Danish manufacturer of vacuum toilet and wastewater systems for trains, buses, and marine vessels. Direct peer to Evac in vacuum-based sanitary systems for rail vehicles, with overlapping customer base of European train OEMs.

Broad incumbents

• Alstom SA: Global tier 1 train manufacturer that is both a major customer and a potential in-house competitor for sanitary systems. Alstom sources from Evac for multiple platforms but has the engineering depth to verticalize subsystems.
• Siemens Mobility: Tier 1 train OEM and major customer for Evac's integrated cabin modules. Like Alstom, represents both a key revenue source and a vertical integration risk for sanitary subsystems on platforms like Mireo and Desiro.
• Wabtec Corporation: Large US-listed rail equipment supplier with a broad portfolio of braking, signaling, and on-board systems. Comparable to Evac's role as a tier 1 subsystem supplier to train builders, though Wabtec's portfolio is much wider than sanitary.
• Hitachi Rail: Global tier 1 train manufacturer and Evac customer across multiple European and Asian platforms. Represents similar supply-chain dynamics to Alstom and Siemens, with capability to bring subsystems in-house.
• Voith Group: German engineering group with significant rail vehicle systems exposure (couplers, drives, brakes). Operates in the same rail subsystem supplier ecosystem as Evac and Knorr-Bremse, serving overlapping European OEM customers.
• CRRC Corporation: China's state-owned rail equipment giant and the world's largest train manufacturer. A key indirect peer given Evac's local production in Palwal, India to serve Vande Bharat, and a major global competitive force in rail subsystems.

Emerging players

• Geberit AG: Swiss leader in sanitary technology with strong vacuum and concealed cistern expertise in building and marine markets. Relevant adjacent peer in vacuum sanitary technology, though not currently a major rail player.
• EVAC Group (Finland): Finnish-headquartered vacuum toilet and wastewater systems provider primarily serving the marine and offshore markets. Shares the 'Evac' brand and vacuum technology heritage with Evac Train, but operates in a different end market (marine vs. rail).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Evac Train