Alstom celebrates the 100th anniversary of its Florence site and announces more than €2 million of investment in the signalling business in Italy

Furthermore, due to the growing activity of the Digital, Infrastructure and Signalling businesses, more than 100 new employees joined the business during 2024, and around 60 positions are currently open in areas such as Engineering, Supply Chain, Industrialisation, Production, and Project Management.

“This anniversary marks a significant milestone and reflects a deep connection with the local community, which continues to be strengthened thanks to the daily dedication of the over 210 employees working here and our ongoing pursuit of cutting-edge solutions,” said Michele Viale, Managing Director of Alstom in Italy. “Our Florence site has always been a benchmark for innovation and the quality of railway signalling products. For over a century, we have contributed to developing smarter and safer mobility, not only in Italy but also internationally.”

The Florence site, founded in 1924, is part of the Alstom group since 2015. The site specialises in the production of electronic and electromechanical products for railway signalling. This includes level crossing protection systems, point machines, and train detection systems, such as track circuits and axle counters. Additionally, the site is responsible for the assembly of electrical and electronic racks and shelters for railway lines. The Florence site is also a hub for innovation, driving advancements such as the Satellite-based European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which enhances the efficiency and safety of railway operations.

Besides being a research and development centre for products, the site is the only industrial and manufacturing hub for Alstom's signalling in Italy and is one of six such centres withing the group worldwide. Furthermore, the site provides maintenance and customer support services.

The Florence site makes a significant contribution to Alstom's global presence in digital and integrated systems, with more than 20,000-point machines produced - including 1,200 CTS2, 750 axle counters and 4,500 track circuits. Alstom’s products are widely used in Denmark, Sweden, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, India, Argentina, Switzerland and Ireland, confirming the trust and appreciation of customers worldwide.

At the event, the exhibition, "THE FUTURE IN OUR HISTORY: Artificial Intelligence Meets Human Ingenuity" was also inaugurated. The exhibition retraces the industrial journey of the Florence site from 1924, the year of the founding of "Angiolo Siliani Costruzioni Elettromeccaniche," to the present day, highlighting a vision that is constantly looking forward and dedicated to serving the community and the local area.

The exhibition consists of works of visual art created with the aid of Artificial Intelligence that reinterpret iconic places and historical milestones of the last century, paying homage to the city of Florence. A journey between art and dreams, where mobility and technological innovation are the main protagonists in a narrative consistently focused on the future. Completing the experience is a collection of photographs, historical objects, and descriptions documenting the successes that have marked the decades of the company's activity. “The Future in Our History - Artificial Intelligence Meets Human Ingenuity” is dedicated to all the people who, over the course of a century, have made this journey of growth and progress extraordinary.

Alstom has been a key player in the Florence tram system for almost 20 years as a construction partner of the concessionaire Tram di Firenze SpA.Alstom has built, constructed and operates tram Lines 1, 2 and 3. In particular, Alstom is currently involved in the construction of the “Variant to the Historic Centre” - in the testing phase - and in the implementation of the PNRR-funded project Line 3.2, both of which it is involved in the construction of the track, substations and lighting systems.

Finally, Alstom is part of the Temporary Grouping of Companies that will build Line 4 (Le Piagge - Campo Bisenzio), for the track, catenary, substations and lighting systems along more than 11 kilometres. Alstom’s Signalling Business (D&IS - Digital & Integrated Systems), which includes the Florence plant, is involved in various local projects, including the upgrade of the Florence railway junction in collaboration with Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (ACCM and HD ERTMS) and the Arezzo-Sinalunga line managed by La Ferroviaria Italia. In addition, Tuscany has a fleet of 68 regional trains produced by Alstom (Minuetto, Jazz and Pop), which are maintained and guaranteed at three depots.