ONBOARD systems supplier Faiveley SA reported a 8·8% increase in sales to €618·9m for the year to March 31, or 7·7% comparing equivalent group structures and exchange rates.

At the end of the financial year the order book stood at €862m from more than 900 contracts, up from €737m the previous year. Operating income was up 15% from €68·4m to €78·7m, benefiting from on-going synergies related to the acquisition of brake maker SAB Wabco in 2004 (RG 10.04 p710).

Faiveley said it will pursue growth in Asia during the current year, particularly in China, and is continuing with a three-year project to harmonise organisations and methods across its sites.

• Faiveley has completed the validation of its pneumatic anti-slide system for the Class 475000 freight locos being built for SNCF by Alstom and Siemens (RG 3.07 p145).