DAKO-CZ

What DAKO-CZ does

DAKO-CZ, a.s. is a Czech manufacturer of pneumatic, electromechanical, electromagnetic, and hydraulic brake systems and components for railway vehicles, headquartered in Třemošnice with R&D offices in Prague, Pardubice, and Ostrava. The company sells complete brake systems to global rail OEMs (Siemens Mobility, Stadler Rail, Škoda Transportation, Alstom, Tatravagonka) and rail operators, covering metros, trams, suburban units, passenger coaches, locomotives, maintenance cars, and freight wagons. Its product portfolio includes the DAKO CV1nD distributor, KBZ disc brake units, KKBB calipers, ITBL integrated tread brakes, iRB control units, magnetic track brakes, and the WE BRAKE GREEN electromechanical brake-by-wire system; recent launches include the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC), Hybrid Digital Automatic Coupler (HDAC) for hydrogen locomotives, and digital remote monitoring solutions for freight wagons.

The company has 210+ years of operational heritage dating to 1816, holds UIC approvals since 1956, and is 100% owned by Czechoslovak Group (CSG) since April 2021 within the CSG Mobility division. Approximately 600 employees work at the Třemošnice facility, with 54 dedicated to R&D; the company has international JVs in India (MEDHA DAKO-CZ, JWL DAKO-CZ India) and exports brake systems to 35+ countries, with 55% foreign orders. Revenue reached CZK 2 billion for the first time in December 2022 and the company has maintained IRIS Bronze Medal certification through multiple audit cycles. New products are showcased at major trade fairs (InnoTrans, TRAKO, EXPO Ferroviaria, Rail Business Days) and the company has held three consecutive Business Superbrands awards (2022-2024).

The business model is B2B enterprise field sales with quote-based custom pricing primarily through direct OEM contracts (long-term supply agreements) and direct relationships with railway operators for spare parts, repairs, and retrofits. Multiple revenue streams include hardware sales (brake systems and components), spare parts supply, and service/repair contracts; service centers operate in Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Serbia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, UK, and Slovakia. Recent shifts include a transition to SAP S/4HANA ERP (January 2025), 26% assembly capacity expansion via a new assembly hall, and a strategic pivot toward digital/electromechanical and hydrogen-locomotive solutions.

Name

DAKO-CZ

Legal name

DAKO-CZ, a.s.

Website

https://dako-cz.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1816

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DAKO-CZ, a.s. is a Czech manufacturer of pneumatic, electromechanical, and hydraulic brake systems for rail vehicles, supplying global OEMs (Siemens, Stadler, Škoda, Alstom) and operators across 35+ countries under Czechoslovak Group ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Brake Systems and Components

NAICS

Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing (33651)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743)

akta.pro primary industry

Braking Systems Maintenance & Overhaul (Pneumatic/Electro-Pneumatic) (TLAKAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brake Friction & Rotors (Pads/Shoes/Discs/Drums) (IMACAIAE)

Keywords

• Railway brake systems
• Brake components manufacturing
• Electromechanical braking
• Freight wagon braking
• Rail vehicle parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Tremosnice

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brake Systems and Components Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling pneumatic, electromechanical, electromagnetic and hydraulic brake systems and components for rail vehicles including metro cars, trams, suburban units, passenger coaches, locomotives, maintenance cars, and freight wagons.
2. Spare Parts Sales: Aftermarket spare parts supply for brake systems manufactured by DAKO-CZ or legacy products from predecessor companies.
3. Service and Repairs: Repairs and servicing for all devices manufactured by the company, including overhauls, medium and large repairs, and individual repairs for pneumatic and hydraulic equipment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

DAKO-CZ manufactures pneumatic, electromechanical, electromagnetic, and hydraulic brake systems and components for railway vehicles including metro cars, trams, suburban units, passenger coaches, locomotives, maintenance cars, and freight wagons. The company provides complete brake system solutions covering the full lifecycle from development and production to service, repairs, and spare parts supply.

Product overview

DAKO-CZ is a manufacturer of pneumatic, electromechanical, electromagnetic, and hydraulic brake systems and components for railway vehicles with over 210 years of tradition. The product portfolio includes complete brake systems categorized by vehicle type: passenger transport (metro cars, trams, suburban/regional units, passenger coaches), locomotives, maintenance cars, and freight transport (freight wagons, tank cars, container/pocket wagons). The core product line includes brake distributors (CV1nD), disc brake units (KBZ 8, KBZ 10, KKBB), electromechanical brake units with 'Brake by Wire' technology, digital automatic couplers (DAC, HDAC), control units (iRB series), magnetic track brakes, tread brake units (ITBL), wheel slide protection systems, and remote monitoring solutions. The company also provides service, repair, and spare parts supply. Key product differentiators include the 'WE BRAKE GREEN' electromechanical/oil-free solutions and 'WE ARE DIGITAL READY' digitalization focus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brake System for Metro Cars Modular brake system for metro cars with electro-pneumatic brake, direct effect brake, emergency brake, spring parking brake, air suspension system, and wheel slide protection.
• Brake System for Trams Hydraulic and electromechanical brake systems for tram motor and trailer bogies, including proportional additional braking, parking brake, and EDB failure substitute functions.
• Brake System for Train Units (Suburban/Regional) Electro-pneumatic brake, automatic brake, parking brake, and emergency brake system with wheel slide protection and air suspension for suburban and regional rail units.
• Brake System for Passenger Coaches Automatic DAKO CV1nD system with electro-pneumatic brake, electromagnetic track brake control, and wheel slide protection for UIC-compliant intercity and regional passenger coaches.
• Brake System for Locomotives Automatic pneumatic brake controlled by train brake pipe pressure, electro-pneumatic train brake, direct-acting electro-pneumatic brake, parking brake, and additional brakes for locomotive-hauled consists.
• Brake System for Maintenance Cars Specific brake systems for maintenance railway vehicles with automatic pressure brake, direct brake, parking brake, and auxiliary pneumatic circuits.
• Brake System for Freight Cars Automatic brake system with weight-based pressure governing for freight wagons, compliant with UIC and TSI regulations.
• Brake System for Tank Cars Automatic brake system for tank cars with integrated block brake unit on bogies, compliant with UIC and TSI regulations.
• Brake System for Container and Pocket Wagons Brake components including DAKO CV1nD distributor, DS/DSS variable load valve, and DLVHL3 limit valve on joint holders with disc brake units on bogies for container and pocket wagons.
• Service Centre and Repair Services Repairs and servicing for all DAKO devices including pneumatic equipment (railway trucks, passenger wagons, locomotives, railway superstructures) and hydraulic equipment (DAKO brake units, power units, M1 brake, EVO brake, tram brake units).
• Spare Parts Supply After-sale service with spare parts supply and related contracts for DAKO-manufactured brake systems and legacy products, with service support across Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Serbia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, UK, and Slovakia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 world premieres at InnoTrans 2024 trade fair
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, notable, core and strategic.

• Sitav (Italy)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership with Sitav for hybrid hydrogen locomotive project HB1-001 FENHYCE. DAKO supplies Hybrid Digital Automatic Coupler (HDAC) and complete brake system for the innovative locomotive presented at Expo Ferroviaria 2025.
• Gökrail (Turkey)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Turkish wagon manufacturer Gökrail for brake testing on their wagons. Turkish market partnership for freight wagon brake systems.
• MEDHA DAKO-CZ Pvt. Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Joint venture established in Hyderabad, India with Medha Servo Drives Pvt. Ltd., a key player in Indian railway market. Cooperation focused on supply of complete modern brake systems for EMU, METRA cars and locomotives for Indian Railways.
• JWL DAKO-CZ India Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Joint venture established in Kolkata, India with Jupiter Wagons Ltd., the number two in Indian wagon manufacturing market. Focus on wagon brake systems.
• UNIFE (The European Rail Industry)strategicOthers · 1 May 2022DAKO-CZ became new member of UNIFE in May 2022, joining the European rail industry association to stay current with market trends and participate in industry development.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Knorr-Bremse: Global market leader in braking and other systems for rail and commercial vehicles. Direct competitor to DAKO-CZ in rail brake systems, serving the same OEMs (Siemens, Alstom, Stadler) with a substantially larger product portfolio and R&D budget.
• Wabtec Corporation: US-based rail equipment leader with strong brake systems business including former Faiveley Transport. Direct competitor in rail brake systems; notably, DAKO-CZ board member Christopher Antes previously served as President of Group Brakes & Safety at Wabtec.
• Nabtesco: Japanese manufacturer of precision equipment including rail brake systems and hydraulic equipment. Direct competitor in rail brake systems, particularly strong in Asian markets and high-speed rail applications.

Broad incumbents

• Continental AG: Global automotive and industrial supplier with brake systems and electronic control units. Comparable in brake-by-wire, electronic control units, and ABS/wheel slide protection, though Continental is far more diversified than DAKO-CZ.
• Bosch Rexroth: German manufacturer of hydraulic and drive/control technologies including brake systems for rail applications. Comparable in hydraulic brake technology and rail industry presence, though Bosch Rexroth operates across many industrial segments.
• ZF Friedrichshafen: German technology group with rail driveline and braking systems via WABCO/Haldex heritage. Comparable as a major supplier of brake and drivetrain components to rail and commercial vehicle OEMs, with broader portfolio than DAKO.
• Akebono Brake Industry: Japanese brake specialist primarily in automotive but with rail brake heritage. Comparable as a brake system manufacturer with similar pneumatic and friction technologies, though DAKO is more rail-focused.
• Haldex: Swedish manufacturer of brake and air suspension systems for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Comparable in pneumatic and hydraulic brake technologies and Tier-1 supplier role, though primarily focused on commercial vehicles rather than rail.

Emerging players

• Medha Servo Drives: Indian railway equipment manufacturer partnered with DAKO-CZ in MEDHA DAKO-CZ JV. Comparable as a brake system supplier to Indian Railways, and a close strategic partner/peer in the Indian rail market.
• Escorts Kubota: Indian railway equipment manufacturer and DAKO-CZ customer for Indian Railways LHB coach brake equipment (4,625 units delivered 2015-2023). Comparable as a railway brake supplier and joint market participant in Indian Railways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-EOZvPIy6oiQ8BByT9xpDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/dako.cz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dako-cz-a-s-

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries3 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 DAKO-CZ