Explore the latest technology trends, career opportunities, and the people behind Schunk’s pioneering solutions

Buses from Solaris and Irizar. Charging systems from Medcom, ZPUE Włoszczowa and Ekoenergetyka. For MPK Kraków, all of them have to work together in daily operation. This is a common challenge as electric bus fleets grow. Vehicles and charging infrastructure are added over time, often from different suppliers, while the charging process still needs to remain consistent. In Krakow, Schunk Smart Charging provides the conductive interface between the buses and the charging infrastructure. The system has been in operation since 2017.

Bulkhead seals, stern tube seals, and submarine seals must perform reliably over long periods of operation. Wear, temperature, and exposure to different media place high demands on both the material and the component.  Schunk supports manufacturers of marine sealing systems with materials expertise and precision-manufactured seal rings made of carbon graphite and silicon carbide. Different material grades and designs are available depending on the application. 

Anyone seeing a freight train in India for the first time may have to look twice. Many trains carry containers stacked two high – known as double-stack container trains. This allows more freight to move on each train, making rail freight more efficient.  To provide enough clearance for the stacked containers, the overhead contact lines are installed significantly higher than on most European rail networks. The locomotive itself, however, is not taller. That means the current collector on the vehicle has to bridge a much greater distance to reach the overhead line. And that is where the engineering challenge begins. 

Since November 2025, the SLS 104 roof-mounted pantograph has been operating in regular service with Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB). The real-world test highlights how pantograph charging systems are evolving—and what that means for day-to-day e-bus operations.

Electric buses are becoming standard in public transit systems across North America. As fleets continue to grow, transit agencies face increasing pressure to scale charging infrastructure that can keep vehicles running reliably throughout the day.  That is exactly what King County Metro is addressing in Seattle. The agency is currently expanding the charging infrastructure at its Tukwila Base depot with 123 inverted pantographs from Schunk Transit Systems. 

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, two 14.5 MWh Battery Electric Locomotives (BELs) from Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company, are now in regular operation. Charging is handled by four Schunk SLS 201 systems installed in parallel, providing up to 2.8 MW of total charging power. The installation brings megawatt-level charging into day-to-day heavy-haul rail service. 

Public transit electrification is accelerating across major metropolitan areas in North America. Transit agencies are investing in reliable, scalable electric bus charging infrastructure to support zero-emission operations while maintaining high service availability. A current reference project in Florida demonstrates how Schunk Smart Charging supports efficient pantograph charging for electric bus depots: the Miami-Dade Transit electric bus charging project. 

Improved range with the same battery, enhanced system robustness, and no reliance on critical raw materials – Schunk Mobility Carbon’s wet-running current transmission system for Externally Excited Synchronous Motors (EESMs) addresses key challenges in modern electric powertrain design.  The system, developed by a team at Schunk’s Bad Goisern site, is built to operate reliably in direct contact with cooling oil – a critical advantage for next-generation EVs. 

In industrial heat treatment—such as hardening, sintering, or brazing—energy consumption and process stability are critical performance factors. Workpiece carriers and charging systems significantly influence both. While traditional steel designs often hinder efficiency due to their weight and limited thermal resistance, carbon fiber-reinforced carbon (CFC) charging fixtures offer a proven way to reduce energy input and improve overall process performance.

The electrification of public transport is a decisive step toward greater sustainability. More and more cities are turning to electric buses to reduce emissions and improve air quality. But success depends on charging infrastructure that is fast, reliable, and future-ready—both in depots and at bus stops. This is where the new SLS 104 roof-mounted pantograph from Schunk Transit Systems comes into play. 

At Pier 400 in the Port of Los Angeles, one of the world’s busiest container terminals, a new high-performance charging system is now in daily use. In collaboration with Kalmar and APM Terminals, Schunk Transit Systems has implemented two Inverted Pantographs SLS201.401 to support the first fully electric straddle carriers in North America. The system enables automated, high-current charging (up to 1,200A)—ideal for demanding port environments with tight schedules and continuous operation. 

Parasitic shaft currents are among the most common causes of bearing damage in electric drive systems. Inadequate grounding can lead to costly failures – in rail transport, industrial production facilities, and electric mobility alike. The Schunk Group addresses this challenge with a comprehensive portfolio of grounding systems, ranging from traditional grounding contacts to innovative carbon-based solutions.

Electric vehicles are rapidly gaining momentum, increasing the demand for reliable and efficient technologies. Power modules play a pivotal role in this context, particularly in motor drives and battery charging systems. Dr. Jürgen Reinke, Head of Process Technology at Schunk Sonosystems, and Dr. Urs Bürgi, an expert in automation and precision at Infotech, explain the importance of these technologies and highlight innovations developed in collaboration with Infotech.

The Schunk Group is your innovative partner when it comes to metal injection molding (MIM) at the highest technological level. With over 100 years of material expertise and state-of-the-art MIM technology, we manufacture complex, precise, and series-ready metal components – tailored exactly to the requirements of your industry.

Electric buses are no longer a future scenario - they are increasingly defining the image of modern cities. For the transition to more sustainable and quieter local transport to succeed, not only are powerful vehicles needed, but also intelligent and efficient charging infrastructures. This is precisely where Schunk Smart Charging comes in: with innovative, fully automatic charging systems that maximise the availability of electric buses - without any manual operation or plugs.

For transport companies, winter not only brings frosty temperatures, but also a problem that causes costs and effort: icy overhead lines. A challenge that Dessauer Verkehrs GmbH also had to contend with. Holger Steuer, Head of Maintenance, explains how the company got to grips with the problem in a straightforward manner. The result: reliable tramway operation despite ice and snow.