GERMAN wagon manufacturer WBN Waggonbau Niesky GmbH declared insolvency on October 17, citing liquidity problems from the increased costs of wheelsets rather than a lack of work.

Employing 250 people at a 170-year old rolling stock and engineering plant at Niesky in Sachsen, the business was bought from Bombardier on April 30 2005 by its employees (25·2%) and private investor SEAG GmbH (74·8%).