Our Values

Acting responsibly and fairly is the foundation of cooperation in the railway industry – among the companies themselves, towards customers and business partners, and along the entire supply chain. The VDB does not regard economic success and social responsibility as opposites, but as two sides of a future-proof industry.

Working together as partners

Values show themselves in everyday interaction. Fairness, mutual respect, respect for intellectual property and an open, trusting relationship shape cooperation in the railway industry – from joint product development through to long-term business relationships. This is the basis for the innovative and competitive solutions that rail technology from Germany stands for.

A shared position, set down in binding form

The VDB has set out this commitment in its Code of Conduct. It brings together legally compliant and ethically responsible corporate conduct in binding guidelines. It covers integrity and fair competition, the protection of human rights and working conditions as well as environmental protection and responsible foreign trade, and thereby creates a common basic understanding for the entire industry.

The Code of Conduct is designed as a voluntary commitment that member companies can sign. Where appropriate, the companies also pass these principles on to their suppliers, carrying them into the entire value chain. A detailed commentary explains the individual guidelines and supports companies in putting them into practice

VDB Code of Conduct 2023 | Revised version with additions

The following VDB member companies have signed the Code of Conduct 2023:

ABB Traction Converter GmbH
AKG Thermotechnik International GmbH & Co. KG
Arcadis Mobility Germany GmbH
ASC GmbH
AXTONE GmbH
Baker Hughes Digital Solutions GmbH
Baumer Electric AG
Bertrandt Services GmbH
Bio-Circle Surface Technology GmbH
BizLink elocab GmbH
Bode – Die Tür GmbH
Buffer Technologies GmbH
CAF Deutschland GmbH
Cattron GmbH
CE cideon engineering GmbH & Co. KG
Cembre GmbH
CERSS Kompetenzzentrum Bahnsicherungstechnik GmbH
cms electronics gmbh
Comat Releco GmbH
COMTEC GmbH
Critical Software GmbH
Dellner GmbH
DEUTA-WERKE GmbH
Dr. Graband & Partner GmbH
ELEKTRO-THERMIT GMBH & CO. KG - A Goldschmidt Company
Elpro GmbH
EMR Dynamics GmbH
ENRAIL GmbH
EPHYMESS GmbH
EUCO Rail Services GmbH
European Trans Energy GmbH
Expleo Germany GmbH
Faiveley Transport Leipzig GmbH & Co. KG
FBB Elektroanlagen & Bahnstrom GmbH
Federnwerke J.P. Grueber GmbH & Co. KG
FEV Europe GmbH
FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH
Friedrich Hippe Maschinenfabrik und Gerätebau GmbH
Frequentis Deutschland GmbH
Funkwerk AG
Funkwerk Systems GmbH
GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH
Gedack Rohrsysteme GmbH
Georg Schlegel GmbH & Co. KG
Georgsmarienhütte Holding GmbH
GETA mbH
Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH
GEZ (Gesellschaft für elektrische Zugausrüstung) Rail Solutions GmbH
GGT Gmeinder Getriebetechnik GmbH
GMT Gummi-Metall-Technik GmbH
Goldschmidt Holding GmbH
Goldschmidt Inspection Germany GmbH
Goldschmidt Thermit Railservice GmbH
griwecolor GmbH
Gutehoffungshütte Radsatz GmbH
HANNING & KAHL GmbH & Co. KG
Hans Storck Betriebsgesellschaft mbH
Harsco Rail Europe GmbH
HellermannTyton GmbH & Co. KG
HFG Transport-Technik GmbH
Hitachi Rail GTS Deutschland GmbH
HÖRMANN Vehicle Engineering GmbH
HOPPECKE Batterie Systeme GmbH
HÜBNER GmbH & Co. KG
IABG Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH
IAV GmbH
Industrie-Partner GmbH
Informatik Consulting Systems GmbH (ICS GmbH)
IFB Institut für Bahntechnik GmbH
Institut für Lackprüfung Andreas Keiner GmbH
Interautomation Deutschland GmbH
IO Innovative Oberflächenreinigungssysteme GmbH
IVU Traffic Technologies AG
JUMO GmbH & Co. KG
k + v Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH
Kalthoff Luftfilter und Filtermedien GmbH
Kiepe Electric GmbH
Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
Lange GmbH
LEONHARD WEISS GmbH & Co.KG
Lenord, Bauer & Co. GmbH
LOV Limbacher Oberflächenveredelung GmbH
LT BahnTechnik GmbH
Lütze Transportation GmbH
MAE. Maschinen- und Apparatebau Götzen GmbH
MV Engineering GmbH & Co. KG
NEXTRAIL GmbH
NOWE GmbH
Oleo International GmbH
oneLOG GmbH
Orban Consulting GmbH
PAS Cable GmbH
PFLITSCH GmbH & Co. KG
Pintsch GmbH
Photon Laser Manufacturing GmbH
Photon Meissener Technologies GmbH
PROSE GmbH
RailBX GmbH
Rail Power Systems GmbH
Ramboll Deutschland GmbH
ROBEL Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
RöschConsult Group GmbH
SBF Spezialleuchten GmbH
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Schaltbau GmbH
Schaltbau Holding AG
Scheidt & Bachmann Signalling Systems GmbH
Scheidt & Bachmann System Technik GmbH
Schlummer Management Consulting GmbH
Schnorr GmbH
SCHÖMA Lokomotiven GmbH
Schunk Transit Systems GmbH
Schweizer Electronic Deutschland GmbH
Schwihag GmbH
SCONRAIL GmbH
Sécheron Hasler GmbH
Sigtronic GmbH
Siemens Mobility GmbH
SKF GmbH
SMART Railway Technology GmbH
SmartTECS Engineers GmbH
SMW Spezialmaschinen und Werkzeugbau GmbH
Spherea GmbH
SPL Powerlines Germany GmbH
Stadler Deutschland GmbH
Stemmann-Technik GmbH
svt Products GmbH
SYKO GmbH
Talbot Services GmbH
Televic Rail GmbH
Toshiba Railway Europe GmbH
tracking-rail GmbH
Train-Ing GmbH
trechnology GmbH
TRICON AG
TRIGO ADR Germany GmbH
TÜV NORD Mobilität GmbH & Co. KG
TÜV Rheinland InterTraffic GmbH
TÜV SÜD Rail GmbH
VDB Service GmbH
Verband der Bahnindustrie in Deutschland (VDB) e.V.
Viertel Motoren GmbH
voestalpine Turnout Technology Germany GmbH
Voith GmbH & Co. KG
Vossloh Fastening Systems GmbH
Vossloh Laeis GmbH
Vossloh Rail Services GmbH
Vossloh Rail Services Deutschland GmbH
Weidmüller GmbH & Co. KG
WILSON RAIL Engineering
WINDHOFF Bahn- und Anlagentechnik GmbH
Winkler AG
WISKA Hoppmann GmbH
WITT Solutions GmbH
Wölfel Engineering GmbH & Co. KG Wölfel Engineering GmbH & Co. KG
ZÖLLNER Signal GmbH

The following companies have recognised the VDB Code of Conduct 2023 as equivalent:

ALSTOM Transport Deutschland GmbH (Alstom Code of Ethics)
ALSTOM Transportation Germany GmbH (Alstom Code of Ethics)
SPITZKE SE (SPITZKE-Verhaltenskodex)

Please note: a declaration of equivalence means that a company meets an equivalent standard through its own terms and conditions, to which it has committed itself.

Last updated: 23 March 2026