w o r ld - setra.de · email: [email protected] the setraworld magazine is published two to three...

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W o r l dT h e m a g a z i n e f o r p e o p l e w i t h a p a s s i o n f o r c o a c h e s a n d b u s e s

City, country, busS 415 LE business mission report 8

Premium? Surely!Safety equipment at a glancePage 22

More than just wine With the S 511 HD through Rioja Page 34

Luxury on top Variety of equipment in the S 531 DT Page 10

02 | Setra Impressions

Setra Editorial | 03

Dear customers and friends of the Setra brand,

Can you or can’t you? Be an all-rounder and a specialist at the same time? Setra can. On the one hand we cover the fields of coach, cross-country and urban travel with our product range. On the other hand Setra stands like no other brand for customised equipment solutions when it comes to buses and coaches.

A current example of this is the new S 531 DT double-decker with a wide array of equipment options, which can be precisely tuned to the respective purpose. Pedestal yes or no? Front stairs on the left or right? 2+1 VIP seating on the top deck? In this issue we show you examples of how the double-decker can be individually equipped.

The individual interior lighting concepts for the passenger compartment often bring a bright smile to our customers. The Setra brand is a pioneer here and offers its customers a varied, atmospheric lighting concept, which also provides many functional benefits in an elegant manner.

Customisation is also an important aspect when it comes to making spare and special parts. It is possible to produce them using 3D printing in an amazingly short time and at attractive terms. The versatile application range is also remarkable: besides plastic parts, metal ones can now also be printed.

Not only versatile, but also comprehensive: that applies to a high degree to the safety concept for all Setra coaches. The innovative assistance systems fitted as standard in the ComfortClass and TopClass provide the highest safety standards for drivers, passengers and other road users. Yet here too, customers are able to get what they want and equip their Setra with additional safety assistance systems. SetraWorld gives an overview.

In this spirit I wish you a very pleasant read.

Best regards,

Ulrich BastertHead of Marketing, Sales and Customer ServicesDaimler Buses

Not only versatile, but also

comprehensive: that applies to a

high degree to the safety concept for all Setra coaches.

The face in the crowd: the front of the S 531 DT double-decker impresses with aesthetics and power.

The art of customisation

A Setra is as individual as the company for which it is in operation. Not only is the comfort level free to choose here, but also the extent of the safety equipment. A Setra coach can adapt to the purpose, the business model of the operator and the individual needs of the company and driver. Take a look at the wide array of options with SetraWorld.

Fascination & technology10 | Comfort zone S 531 DT

The new Setra double-decker offers driver and passengers not only a maximum amount of space and safety, but also a host of individual equipment options.

22 | “Safety cocoon” Every Setra coach is individually equipped by its owner, from the exclusive design and the powerful engine through to the innovative safety equipment. SetraWorld gives an overview of the comprehensive “safety cocoon” that every Setra represents.

Customised26 | Bright spots

The Setra brand is a pioneer when it comes to a homogeneous and atmospheric light concept in the passenger cabin. It combines elegance with functional benefits.

Fascination & technology

10 | Luxury on top The variety of equipment in the S 531 DT

18 | City, country, bus The S 415 LE business in operation around Strasbourg

22 | Premium? Surely! Safety equipment in Setra coaches

In focus

22 Exclusive and safe: the safety equipment

in a Setra leaves nothing to be desired.10 The new Setra double-decker offers driver and passengers a host of individual

equipment options.

Service & support

33 | Fit into old age The BestAge Repair programme from OMNIplus

40 | Interactive info for your Setra Downloadable operating instructions

40 | Double premiere New BusStore locations in Athens and Thessaloniki

04 | Setra Content

Imprint

Published by:EvoBus GmbH Mercedesstraße 127/670327 Stuttgart (Germany)Tel.: +49 731 181-2713www.setra-bus.com

Editorial board:Angela Frank, Harry Gottschalk,Reiner Hörter, Maria Mack

Responsibility on behalf of the publisher:Reiner Hörter, BUS/MPM-BHead of Brand Communications

Project management:Christine Denzel, BUS/MPM-BBrand Communications

Concept, layout, editing and production:Newport3 GmbH & Co. KGNeumann-Reichardt-Str. 27–3322041 Hamburg (Germany)Tel.: +49 40 6710 900Email: [email protected]

The SetraWorld magazine is published two to three times a year in eight languages. Reprints are permitted if the source is cited; changes require the publisher’s approval.

42 In the Bregenz Forest in Austria, passengers can enjoy

some art whilst waiting for a bus.

Get-togethers

06 | Luxury for Caribbean cruisers S 516 MD becomes flagship for Pajamandy SA in Guadeloupe

07 | Living the dream Germany’s youngest coach operator

08 | People behind the Setra brand Sabine Honold and her passion for her Setra Classic area

16 | Ciao & grüß Gott An S 531 DT for Italy and Austria

17 | New from the Setra Shop Soft shell waistcoat, perfect outdoor companion

28 | Setra vintage collection The ST 110 bus

41 | Award winning! Prizes for the SetraWorld brand magazine

Customised

26 | Bright spots Lighting concepts for the passenger cabin

30 | Change in the spare parts sector Spare parts from a 3D printer

Travel in style

34 | To the cradle of the Spanish language With the ComfortClass 500 through the Rioja region

Horizons

42 | Nicer waiting Bus stop art in Krumbach, Austria

34 The La Rioja region in the north of Spain is world famous for its wine

and many monasteries. We discover the region in a Setra ComfortClass S 511 HD.

Setra Content | 05

Luxury for Caribbean cruisers

Guadeloupe: S 516 MD for Pajamandy SA

François Iratçabal, salesperson at EvoBus France S.A.S.U. (left), hands over the S 516 MD to Thomas Pajamandy.

T he first Setra ComfortClass vehicle on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe is an S 516 MD. Equipped with 59 seats, the two-axle coach will be primarily used by the operator Pajamandy SA

to enable cruise passengers to discover the 1,628 square kilometre Antilles archipelago in comfort. “The new S 516 MD will be the flagship of our company. This coach is an absolute must these days,” says CEO Thomas Pajamandy.

The vehicle is equipped with Wi-Fi and TV screens as well as the EvoCool Comfort Plus air conditioning unit specially adapted to tropical climates. The Front Collision Guard (FCG), Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) and Lane Assistant (SPA) ensure high passive and active safety. Since founding his coach company in 1994, Thomas Pajamandy has predominantly opted for the Setra and Mercedes-Benz brands. They make up more than 80 per cent of the extensive fleet featuring some 70 units.

06 | Setra Get-togethers

C hristoph Ecke from Wolferode near Eisleben does indeed possess some photos of his grandfather

as a coach driver. Otherwise, apart from a few class trips that he helped organise during his school days, he initially had little to do with the travel industry. Yet back when he started studying to become an administrative specialist in August 2012, he began to set up a small travel agency especially for club tours at the same time. Nevertheless it took until April 2017 to acquire the necessary financial means for his dream in his chosen profession.

Yet getting his bus driver’s licence on his 21st birthday was a precursor for his path ahead. In early 2017 the young man from Saxony-Anhalt bought a used

Mercedes-Benz Travego from a friendly coach operator. He then got properly stuck into the travel business with his company, Christoph-Reisen, where the focus again is on clubs and schools as well as the rental sector. He has also brought out a small catalogue with tours within Germany and to other European countries, to the tulip fields in the Netherlands or to the North Cape as well as with Christmas and New Year’s Eve trips.

The only first new vehicle on Christoph Ecke’s wish list was an S 517 HD. “I mostly take large groups with 50 or more people. The three-axle coach also has the necessary luggage compartment size.” The vehicle with 53 Voyage Plus seats, besides an on-board kitchen, features two fridges, a panorama camera, light/rain sensor, LED headlights and a voltage transformer. In addition, numerous driver assistance systems, from the Active Brake Assist 3 (ABA 3) , Adaptive Cruise Control (ART) and Lane Assist (SPA) through to the Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC). “For me the S 517 HD is the most comfortable coach that has been developed in recent years,” enthuses the young businessman about his new acquisition.

Living the dream Germany’s youngest coach operator

At 24 years old, Christoph Ecke has acquired his first new vehicle, an S 517 HD.

The young businessman regularly sits at the wheel himself.

Setra Get-togethers | 07

The treasure guardian Sabine Honold, SetraClassic


Since 2016 Sabine Honold has been looking after the SetraClassic area with the Kässbohrer

Haus, the Kässbohrer building with the historic vehicle collection and the Setra brand archive.

Her organisational talents are called on here just as much as her passion for the Setra brand.

T he ceilings are low, the rooms full of nooks and the stairs steep in the Kässbohrer Haus. The half-timbered house built in 1480

in Ulm’s fishing district is the original house of company founder, Karl Kässbohrer – and now one of the sites where Sabine Honold works. For three years the 38-year-old industrial engineer has been looking after the SetraClassic area and organising tours with customers through the historic exhibition and internal conferences in the Kässbohrer Haus among other things. Her interest in history stands her in good stead here. “The history of the brand also influences how Setra is seen today,” stresses Honold. “It is therefore important to us to cultivate this history and make it visible.”

Cultivating the Setra brand history also includes documents from past times above all. These stretch out in folders and boxes on long shelves in the brand archive in Neu-Ulm. Not only old photos and brochures are stored there, but also original building specifications and numerous bus models in all possible sizes. This archive also belongs to Sabine Honold’s remit and is, she reveals with a laugh, more exciting than it appears at first sight. Because when looking for pieces of history, she repeatedly discovers something new, unexpected or surprising. She also gets to know interesting people. “Not just journalists, book authors and customers come to us with questions, but also individuals interested in buses.”

For Sabine Honold at SetraClassic, the brand archive currently holds another, none too easy challenge, however: the digitisation of umpteen thousand documents and the subsequent relocation to the Daimler company archive in Fellbach near Stuttgart. “The conditions there are ideal for preserving valuable, historic documents,” the archive officer knows. “Digitisation will help us to find documents faster and answer enquiries quicker in future,” says Honold.

Just a few hundred metres away, things are fully analogue in contrast. In the Kässbohrer Halle on the factory premises on Otto-Hahn-Strasse in Neu-Ulm, the historic collection of Setra vehicles is housed. Sabine Honold looks after the collection, coordinates visits and vintage vehicle events held by the communications department as well as any necessary repairs by the Setra service team. “The Setra classics are the ambassadors of the brand tradition. It is therefore a big deal for us to maintain these vehicles and show them to the public regularly.” The collection covers 25 vehicles, of which there are 17 coaches, two trailers, one car and five carriages – all of them, apart from the car, produced by Kässbohrer. Particularly close to Honold’s heart is the blue Setra S 8 with the chassis number 50 001. “This bus is the very first with a self-supporting body and therefore of major historic importance – and a genuine jewel in the collection.”

Honold appears to manage the balancing act between Kässbohrer Haus, historic vehicle collection and brand archive, digitisation, event management and sometimes unusual archive questions without effort. “Especially the variety and encounters with interesting people make up the charm of looking after SetraClassic,” says Sabine Honold, and anyone listening closely is able to hear her passion for the Setra brand.

Setra history in good hands: Sabine Honold looks after the Setra vintage collection, the brand archive and the Kässbohrer Haus.


10 | Setra Fascination & technology

Luxury on topThe new Setra double-decker

offers driver and passengers

not only a maximum amount

of space and safety, but also

a host of individual equipment

options.

Variety of equipment in the S 531 DT

Setra Fascination & technology | 11


Both staircases and the pedestal concept on the bottom deck

are new: there is thus room for up to two wheelchairs on request.

The cockpit has been thoroughly modernised.

The customer can choose between two versions.

Whether it is the “Topsky” glass roof on the top deck or a sturdy long-distance toilet: hardly any wish remains unfulfilled.

A t Setra the coach equipment is not off the peg as is usually the case, but instead can be put together very specifically by the customer with a Setra

sales partner. Yet what matters most to the passenger, driver and operator? SetraWorld took a closer look at the various options using the new S 531 DT by way of example.

Interior designThe design of the interior immediately catches the eye of any passenger coming through the wide entrances into the dynamically designed vehicle. Light colours such as the Setra typical “greige” – a mixture of grey and beige – and clear, unfussy lines convey an airy atmosphere and elegant cosiness. Depending on use and customer wishes, the front staircase can be fitted on the left or right, the latter being an increasingly popular version for long-distance travel. The stairs themselves are now better to walk up and down, as all the steps have been made rectangular with a uniform step depth over the whole width. Due to the transparent acrylic glass fitted in the driver’s enclosure and partition wall, a lot of light also falls into the interior – a benefit that can be taken to the maximum by means of the optional “TopSky” glass roof on the top deck. Practical: the rear area of the front staircase now accommodates enclosed shelves, whilst a step in the rear staircase acts as storage space.

A new, very spacious toilet with stepless access comes as standard and can also be ordered with enhanced long-distance equipment. Further flexibility is provided by the new bodywork design in the area between the axles. On request the right- hand pedestal can be completely omitted and the area gained used for wheelchair spaces, sunken seating or an expansive bistro kitchen.

Cockpits bottom and top deckFlexibility is also trumps in terms of the cockpit. For the first time in a double- decker the driver has a choice of two individual workplaces, which are clearly distinguished optically and functionally. The “Cockpit Comfort Plus” is borrowed from the TopClass 500 and principally designed for luxury coach travel. Together with the curved, segmented front sections towards the entrance, the workplace, with its Coach Multimedia System (CMS) fitted as standard, exudes the high-class charm of a luxury limousine. The more functional “Cockpit Comfort” from the ComfortClass 500, with its clear lines and the option of fitting a ticket dispenser, is particularly suitable for long-distance scheduled services in contrast. The user- friendly CMS takes care of entertainment and information here too. The driver will find more than enough freedom of movement in both workplaces. The driver’s companion, who will also find a pivoting, solid seat on the left in the stairwell, can enjoy plenty of space, storage, light and fresh air via ventilation nozzles.

The door to the luggage compartment can be opened electropneumatically from the driver’s seat as an option – a particular luxury for the driver and a valuable extra function for vehicles operating long-distance services. The S 531 DT recently delivered to ÖBB-Postbus GmbH in Austria is also fitted with this, for example. �


Flexible seat rangeThe alphabet of complete luxury in a double-decker naturally includes high-quality coach seats. Not for nothing does Setra produce all three seat models for the S 531 DT itself due to quality reasons. From the Setra Voyage Plus entry-level model, to the comfortable Voyage Ambassador through to the Ambassador top model, which is ideal for exclusive 2+1 VIP seating on the top deck or for first class on the bottom deck, as is the case, for example, with the new S 531 DT coaches for ÖBB-Postbus GmbH. A combination of different seats on the top and bottom deck is also feasible, as is staggered seating on the window or aisle side.

The selection of modern fabrics can be complemented or replaced with the durable “Composition”. “Composition” is a fascinating material made of natural leather, which is easy to clean and can make a significant contribution to reducing weight.

SafetyWhen it comes to safety too, the S 531 DT has its nose in front: be it the Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA 4) with pedestrian detection, the unique Sideguard Assist or the fire extinguisher fitted as standard in the engine compartment. Many things are standard on board, whilst other systems like the Attention Assist (AtAs) can be fitted as an option. As was also the case on the S 531 DT for the Italian coach operator, Di Fonzo, for whom it goes without saying to always have the latest safety systems on board.

Multimedia and connectivityIn the modern (long-distance) travel world, a coach is no longer imaginable without the Internet and its various appliances. Setra does everything here to keep its passengers connected and supplied with electricity at all times – be it with USB sockets on every seat or with 220-Volt power sockets. Consequently, despite the limited head room on the top deck, even 19-inch screens can be installed. In addition, the new media router provides a stable LTE Internet connection for up to 50 passengers simultaneously on the move. Two SIM cards can be used, whilst media content on the coach can also be received from USB media by streaming without a mains power supply.

The driver enjoys the latest telematics platform (cTP), which not only makes digital value-added services like OMNIplus Uptime possible, but also the Remote Bus app. Cost-conscious customers like Di Fonzo appreciate that. As a result, for example, the driver is able to perform his pre-departure check online and heat up or cool the coach long before setting off depending on the weather.

Be it for a refined coach or practical long-distance bus: the equipment adapts flexibly to any use.

Always up to date in terms of multimedia too. Communicative seating areas below, large screens throughout the coach, high-tech media centre in the cockpit or Wi-Fi and sockets for everyone – in the Setra S 531 DT, every passenger gets their money’s worth.


F or company boss Alfonso Di Fonzo, models in the Setra brand stand “simply for the best coaches”. His summary: “Top finish-

ing quality, long-term value stability and high prestige.” Alongside the ten S 431 DT double-deckers already in the fleet, the first S 531 DT in the company’s typical bright banana yellow is now being added. Di Fonzo rates the new entrance as having “a very elegant look”. A woven, stylised also yellow route map adorns the upholstery on the high quality Setra Voyage Plus seats.

“Above all for us it is about a high level of passenger comfort,” he says justifying the choice of the exclusive model with 78 seats. A wheelchair space on the low-floor bottom deck plus the toilet with stepless access also makes the double-decker largely barrier free for long-distance services.

The high economy over the entire lifespan of a coach was one of the main criteria for the acquisition: “All in all a somewhat higher purchase price can soon qualify itself. To express it metaphorically:

a Setra will continue to run when other coaches have long been in the bus graveyard,” says Di Fonzo impressed by his newcomer along the line.

Eleganza and comfort for every use Italy: new double-decker for Donata Di Fonzo & Fratelli

The small S 531 DT held by Alsonso Di Fonzo is banana yellow like the original.

A round 214 million passengers use Postbus every year. As with all long-distance operators, the popularity among customers

has triggered a steady boom for double-deckers in recent years here too. Besides the 20 S 431 DT models already operating, the first successor of the type S 531 DT is now going into service.

Like its predecessor, the vehicle equipped with 74 seats follows a two-zone concept, whereby the lower deck is designed as a fully fledged “first-class” area with luxurious Voyage Ambassador leather seats for business travellers. On the top deck, 56 2nd class seats with Voyage seats and modern fabric/composition upholstery offer the best travel comfort. Of course Wi-Fi, 220 V and USB sockets are also part of the package in both classes. The driver and his comfort have also been considered: for instance he can open the door to the spacious luggage compartment electropneumatically with a separate switch from his workplace, thus gaining critical time during the stressful one-man loading and unloading process. “On the Setra double-decker we particularly appreciate its flexibility and low-floor design on the bottom deck, the luggage compartment volume and high capacity,” explains Mario Tallian, who works in vehicle technology at ÖBB.

First class travel Austria: ÖBB Postbus GmbH expands double-decker fleet

The ÖBB double-decker offers first and second class.


What’s new at the

Setra Shop

The perfect outdoor companion: The ladies’ model is priced € 56.50 plus postage, (Art. no. 0859).The men’s model is available for € 62.00 plus postage, (Art. no. 0858).

A ttractive, functional and ideal for on the go: the soft-shell waistcoat from the Setra shop has an impressive material

selection and finishing quality. Its wind and waterproof properties make it the perfect outdoor companion – and not only on colder days. It is also very light with a low packing volume. In classic anthracite, the waistcoat can be ideally combined with other colours. The embroidered Setra logo in subtle grey stands for understatement and class. The soft shell waistcoat can be ordered from the Setra shop for ladies and men. For women it is tapered and available in sizes S, M, L and XL. Men can choose between sizes M, L, XL, XXL and 3XL.

Besides various garments, you will also find many other high-quality items in the Setra shop. Simply stop by https://shop.setra.de/mc/shop?lng=en

I n the far north on the island of Iceland, the ComfortClass is especially popular. The long-standing company, Snæland Travel,

from the capital Reykjavík, for example, has already ordered its second S 519 HD within just a year. Both vehicles were delivered during October. Which is rather unusual for the European continent, where coach customers mainly order for February or March, but there is a reason for this in Iceland: in October the northern lights season starts, for which the S 519 HD is ideally equipped with it large number of seats. The new “long one” for Snæland is once again naturally equipped with LED ambient lighting on the roof edge profile, which is very much appreciated by drivers and passengers especially on the long, dark autumn and winter days. In addition, Wi-Fi and USB charging sockets for every passenger add comfort and LED headlights increase the safety on board. The drive system is provided by a 315 kW (428 BHP) Mercedes-Benz OM 470 engine combined with the automatic PowerShift.

A “long one” for Iceland Iceland: an S 519 HD for Snæland Travel

The general representative of Askja hands over the S 519 HD. (From left) Jón Trausti Ólafsson (CEO of Askja), Hlynur Snæland Lárusson (owner of Snæland Travel), Sigurður Steinsson (bus and coach sales at Askja) and Hannes Strange (head of commercial vehicle sales at Askja).


City, country, busS 415 LE business in operation around Strasbourg


The French bus company, LK Kunegel, operates seven lines that connect the

surrounding communities with the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg. An ideal mission

for the S 415 LE business from the MultiClass.


Low entry, plenty of seats: for Jean-Philippe Collard (bottom right)

the Setra S 415 LE business is the ideal solution for connecting outlying districts with the city.


N arrow streets, old half-timbered houses and traffic islands adorned with flowers: the small French town of La Wantzenau

in the Bas-Rhin département looks almost dreamlike in the soft autumnal morning sunlight. Yet on the Rue des Héros, the town’s main road, not much of this idyllic setting can be felt. Judging by the dense traffic, many Alsatian people are in a hurry to get from their homes to work in Strasbourg just a few kilometres away.

There are also plenty of people at the bus stops already. Commuters and school children mainly get on the Line 72 bus here operated by Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS), which connects the north-eastern outlying districts with Strasbourg city centre from five in the morning to nine in the evening. It is one of seven routes in the area around Strasbourg that the family-run bus company, LK Kunegel, has been operating for about a year on behalf of CTS. The requirements stipulated by CTS for the buses used include a low-floor entry at both doors as well as two wheelchair and pushchair spaces. So that the majority of passengers can be transported in comfort on the 30-minute journey even in rush hours, at least 41 seats are also prescribed.

“We have to be able to cover long cross-country stretches, as well as short intervals between bus stops in the city, which require a fast flow of passengers,” stresses Jean-Philippe Collard, head of the LK subsidiary, Hoerdt. A requirements profile for which, in his view, there is no better bus than the Setra S 415 LE business. “The LE business provides the ride comfort and seating capacity of a high-floor bus and at the same time the easy access of a low-floor bus,” says Collard summarising the convincing vehicle concept. Since June 2018 the operator’s fleet has included a total of 20 low-entry buses of this type.

The low-entry concept with the two different zones – low floor at the front and elevated seating area at the rear – is popular among all passenger generations. Driver, Sebastian Thenet, observes: “Older people sit down at the front because the seats here are very easily accessible. Young people, on the other hand, usually always sit high up at the back, even if there are still seats free at the front.” The elevated seating area makes the ride on Line 72 feel almost like a tourist trip, including a clear view of the European Parliament on the far bank of the River Ill.

Thenet particularly values the good vision in the LE business. Because for him safety comes first. Thus the slightly elevated driver’s seat is a major benefit particularly in city traffic. The Setra is easy to operate in any case and is very popular with the LK Kunegel drivers due to its driving comfort and manoeuvrability. Thanks to the automatic gearbox, the driver can adapt perfectly to the urban traffic.

Yet the subsidiary manager, Jean-Philippe Collard, knows only too well that although satisfied passengers and drivers are important, they are only half the story for the economic operation of a bus. With a “moderate consumption of 28 to 29 litres per 100 kilometres” on the demanding, mixed city and cross-country routes, the S 415 LE business buses from the MultiClass are “a good business decision” according to Collard. In addition, the “excellent quality and reliability” as well as their “good resale value” also make a contribution.


Premium? Surely! Safety equipment in Setra coaches

Every Setra coach is individually equipped by its owner, from the exclusive design

and the powerful engine through to the innovative safety equipment. SetraWorld

gives an overview of the comprehensive “safety cocoon” that every Setra represents.


I t was 68 years ago that the Ulm-based bus builder Otto Kässbohrer and his chief engineer, Georg Wahl,

laid the foundations for an unparalleled success story in terms of safety of coachbuilding by producing a self- supporting, high-strength integral structure made of tubes in a grid pattern. Despite the huge increase in the bodywork’s rigidity, it was still so light that six men were able to carry it. In this way, safety was born to some extent in Setra buses.

Nowadays things naturally go much further in terms of passive safety in Neu-Ulm than almost seven decades ago: with the so-called ring frame design, the ribs have become much stiffer – the ComfortClass 500 was one of the first coaches to fulfil the more stringent ECE-R 66.02 Regulation regarding rollover resistance, which only took effect in late 2017, back in 2012. At the same time, with the Front Collision Guard (FCG) Setra introduced a system as standard that increases the survival space for driver and companion in the event of an accident. To this day, this passive safety system is unique in the market.

Concerning active safety too, Setra has been setting standards for years. In this respect the brand from Neu-Ulm is able to resort to the innovative technology developments of its sister brand, Mercedes-Benz. The ESP electronic stability programme, which can brake individual wheels, was fitted as standard in a Setra bus for the first time in 2003, at the same time as the Brake Assist (BAS), which quickly builds up full braking pressure during emergency braking. The basis for this was created

years before with the Electropneumatic Braking System (EBS). At the same time, high-performance disc brakes were introduced in buses all round.

Beyond these more functional optimising systems, a clear development towards driver assistance systems started with the ComfortClass 400, offering completely new ways to support the driver: the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which was able to be implemented using the new group electronics architecture, kept the desired distance to the vehicle in front for the first time automatically and supported by radar. Since 2014 it has been possible to extend this valuable system, which already gives a foretaste of autonomous driving, by adding an optional stop-and-go assistant, which works in traffic jams down to a standstill and starts up again indepen-dently. Driving could hardly be any more convenient!

If the driver shows signs of fatigue, the optional Attention Assistant (AtAs) warns him reliably without panicking the passengers. The Lane Assist (SPA) also gives a similarly discreet warning when leaving the road lane: a vibration alarm on the relevant side of the seat cushion, which is only noticeable to the driver, makes him aware of this. The camera-aided system, which was available at Setra long before the statutory deadline in 2015, together with the Active Brake Assist (ABA), which was first introduced in 2008, is one of the most important developments in the safety field on the way to “Vision Zero” proposed by the European Commission, which wants to reduce the number of accidents broadly to none by 2050. �


SPA 109

The Sideguard Assist monitors the area up to 3.75 metres next to the bus.

The two radar sensors in the Sideguard Assist are fitted in opposite directions.

The correct tyre pressure is very important and is therefore monitored electronically.

On request the bus drives stress-free with ART in a jam down to a standstill.

The pedestrian detection in the ABA 4 reacts in milliseconds.

Standard LED headlights shine tirelessly and practically for a bus’s whole life.

The Attention Assist (AtAs) takes the horror out of falling asleep for a second.

The S 531 DT also meets the tough pendulum impact test for collisions voluntarily.


The emergency braking system has been continually developed and increased in terms of its performance. ABA 4, which was first introduced with the S 531 DT double-decker in 2018, once again exceeds the legislative requirements. From 2019 the system will even be fitted as standard in all Setra coaches. For the first time it also detects pedestrians and other moving objects and, after a warning, triggers partial braking down to a standstill. If the driver has to disable it on occasion, the system automatically re-activates itself after ten minutes – an effective optimisation that allows the driver his complete autonomy.

The provisional highlight of the development is the Sideguard Assist also making its début in the S 531 DT, which combines a turning assistant with a lane change assistant. If there is a cyclist, pedestrian or even just a traffic light near the vehicle in a strip of 3.75 metres and the whole length of the vehicle to the right, which would be in the bus’s tractrix curve, the system warns the driver effectively and discreetly by means of an optical warning in the form of an illuminated triangle in the right wing mirror and an additional vibration in the driver’s seat. The same applies to changing lanes on the motorway, where the monitored area extends to 15 metres behind the vehicle. This optional system is also currently unique in the bus market.

S = Standard equipment, SE = Special equipment

An overview of the safety systems in a Setra bus would not be complete, however, without mentioning the many small but important helpers that seldom come under the limelight: seat occupancy sensor with seat belt reminder, light and rain sensor, long-life LED headlights, tyre pressure monitor and many more create an overall picture that makes a summary indispensable. Setra stands for safety as standard. All round.

Focus on fire protection Fire protection in buses is becoming more important. It starts with the materials used, which must be flame retardant. Although the latest statutory regulations (ECE-R 118.02) only become mandatory in 2020, they are already being applied at Setra. Since back to 2011, coaches have been equipped as standard with fire alarm systems in the engine, toilet and luggage compart-ment. Setra goes a step further, however: although only required by law from 2019, the new S 531 DT, for example, will be equipped as standard with an automatic fire extinguisher for the engine compartment from 2018, all other coaches from March 2019.

Overview of safety systems at Setra TopClass S 531 DT ComfortClass

Passive safety

on board

Fire extinguisher S S S

Front Collision Guard (FCG) S – S

Material flammability ECE-R 118.02 S S S

Pendulum impact test acc. to ECE-R 29 S S S

Superstructure strength acc. to ECE-R 66.02 S – S

Tyre pressure monitoring (TPM) SE SE SE

Active safety

on board

Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA 4) S S S

Active Cruise Control (ACC) SE SE SE

Stop-and-Go for Active Cruise Control SE SE SE

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)/Traction control system (ASR) S S S

Attention Assist (AtAs) SE SE SE

Continuous Braking Limiter (DBL) S S S

Electronic Stability Programme (ESP®) S S S

Lane Assist (SPA) S S S

LED ambient lighting when reversing SE SE SE

LED headlights SE S SE

Multi Function Key S S SE

Sideguard Assist S S S

26 | Setra Customised

BrightLighting concepts for the passenger cabin

spots

Ambient lighting and stair lights ensure an inimitable flair especially in the S 531 DT.

The fabric shown here is no longer available.

D id you know that there can be up to 4,000 LED lamps on board a Setra coach these days? The majority of them are not

used in headlights and exterior lamps, however, but instead give the passenger cabin a feel-good atmosphere.

The extended lighting concept for the HDH, HD and MD models provides a wide range of stylish and clever illumination options in the passenger area within the TopClass and ComfortClass series. Your own Setra can thus be designed just as you like – for instance in the form of an optional extra or special customer request (SCR) in addition to the already luxurious standard version. This concerns the aisle and stair lights, for example. They can now also be designed in orange, red, blue and green as an SCR, complementing white that was previously available.

In the TopClass, strips of light in warm white are part of the standard lighting on the luggage rack. These are designed with six LEDs per ten centimetres and provide helpful and pleasant illumination, whilst at the same time creating a nice ambience. In the ComfortClass the luggage rack can also be designed using strips of light in light guide technology alongside the lights fitted in the supports. This illumination is offered in the colours white, orange, red, blue and green and can be complemented with additional luggage rack lamps. In this case the LEDS are attached between the rack supports and emit their warm white light towards the fabric ceiling.

The underseat lighting on every second row of aisle seats represents a sophisticated highlight. The diodes are arranged in a zig-zag pattern

and can also emit white, orange, red, blue and green light. The service sets above the double seats, with their light halo each consisting of eight LEDs, provide lighting in addition to the reading lamp and are standard in the TopClass and an optional extra in the ComfortClass.

The highlight of the Setra interior lighting concept, however, is no doubt the ambient lighting. It contributes significantly to the fascinating spatial impression in the coaches from Neu-Ulm. Indirect light between the window and luggage rack creates a cosy, almost home-like flair on board. Like all LED lighting elements in the Setra buses, this feature is naturally certified too and has successfully undergone the fire protection test. Do you want even more ambience? Then even the loudspeakers on the window posts can be equipped with lamps in the TopClass by means of an SCR.

Such a lighting concept is finally rounded off for the passengers, of course, when it does not end after leaving the bus: optional ambient lighting with four LEDs each side in the LaLinea (TC) or the roof edge (CC) brightly illuminates the area to the side of the vehicle as long as the vehicle is at rest and at least one of the two doors is open. That offers added comfort and increased safety for the passengers getting on or off or when stowing luggage. The spotlights can be activated using a separate switch or via the light sensor.

Setra Customised | 27

The Setra brand is a pioneer when it comes to a homogeneous and atmospheric light concept

in the passenger cabin. It combines elegance with functional benefits.

Lighting concepts for the passenger cabin


With low entry, generous looking passenger cabin and high ride comfort, the Setra ST 110 was ahead of its time.

“... This model is indeed a milestone

in the history of coachbuilding.”

Light, airy, comfortable

The Setra ST 110 bus was not only the first

Setra with air suspension as standard, but also

one of only two bus models that could take

more payload than its tare weight. One of the

few preserved specimens can be found these

days in the Setra vintage collection.

I t nearly ended up on the scrap heap. The Setra ST 110 had finally served its time after years as a playmobile in Zweibrücken, where

it had been towed from playground to playground without an engine, gearbox or interior fittings. Yet fortunate circumstances and the mediation of the customer, Autokraft Kiel, led to the lightweight bus finding its way back to Ulm and into the Setra vintage collection.

That was exactly 30 years ago. Countless work hours, plenty of skill and a proper dose of improvisation by the Setra service team were necessary to get the weather-beaten body over the years back into a condition worthy of the historic significance of the rare vehicle.

Although Kässbohrer only made around 80 units of the Setra ST 110, this model is indeed a milestone in the history of coachbuilding. The design and economic benefits of this service bus model, which goes back to a joint development between Kässbohrer and the Oldenburg bus operator and builder, Theodor Pekol, are still as impressive today as when the ST 110 came to life in 1958. For instance, this bus weighs only around 6,000 kilograms yet has a payload of 7,500 kilograms – a ratio that has not been achieved since. Incidentally: a payload of 7,500 kilograms equates to a capacity of 110 passengers – thus its type designation.

Responsible for the work of art with the low tare weight among other things is the lightweight bodywork in an aluminium shell construction, where panelling made of sheet aluminium was riveted onto ring

frames made of lightweight metal. The ST 110 in the Setra vintage collection therefore still shows off the typical rivet points, which run like pimpled scars across the dark red painted sides in regular lines. Although the collector’s piece with the chassis number 59068 today bears a railway red coat together with signets of the former Deutsche Bundesbahn, this does not correspond to its delivery state but is a tribute to the largest customer for this type. Most of the 80 units delivered were put into operation as railway buses in Munich, Ravensburg and Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance.

Another design engineering milestone and additional factor for the sensationally low inherent weight was the elaborate chassis: single- wheel suspension on both the front and rear axle made it possible to fit single tyres on the drive axle. The independent suspension also provided an unrivalled ride comfort. More so because, for the first time in a bus, it featured air suspension on both axles. Bus drivers and passengers were thus full of praise for the lightweight Setra.

A low entry using only one step on both doors made access to the passenger cabin easier on the ST 110. The generous interior with its level floor all the way to the rear axle and the single seats along the side walls looks inviting and much more voluminous than it actually is at 10.58 metres long and 2.50 metres wide.

Today a horizontally installed Henschel type 522 DPU-K six-cylinder engine with 192 kW (125 BHP) labours in the rear of the restored ST 110 once again. After its existence in Zweibrücken, although the vehicle came to Ulm with no drive system, as luck would have it, a long-forgotten original motor new from the factory was found in the depths of the service parts warehouse, with which the Setra service team breathed new life into the ST 110 once again. What a shame if it had ended up on the scrap heap as planned.


Setra Classic – the vintage collection

Hot off the press The 3D printer could fundamentally change the spare parts sector. One of the pioneers in this field

is Daimler AG. A specialist EvoBus team is currently establishing a completely new business model.

The aim: to print spare parts for Setra and Mercedes-Benz buses on-site at the service centre.

Spare parts from a 3D printer

I t all started in October 2015 with an internal evaluation under the heading “After Sales fit for Future”. Investigations went on for six months into which technical solutions and disruptive methods there were

to turn the spare parts area at Daimler Buses upside down. A particularly promising way was soon seen in additive production, in other words 3D printing. Here, material is applied in powder form layer by layer and fused together into three-dimensional parts, all controlled by computer. The CSP 3D printing project thus started at EvoBus in July 2016, which is establishing a completely new business model for OMNIplus. The project team, which in the meantime has grown to 25 employees from various business divisions, is managed by Ralf Andershofstadt.

The Daimler Buses aftersales range includes 317,000 different active components. One of the team’s tasks was to identify those parts that were possible for 3D printing. After a thorough check, the total came to around 3,000 plastic parts. Around 60 of these have since been approved for printing by quality assurance. Among these are covers, spacers, panels, cable ducts and seat backrests. Ten metal parts can now also be printed in the meantime. These are exclusively non-safety-relevant add-on elements such as mountings. �

Setra Customised | 31

“The market is undergoing

major changes at the moment in

this regard ...”

Various parts such as covers, spacers, panels, cable ducts and seat backrests can be produced using 3D printing.

Spare parts can be made using 3D printers of this type.

The role model for the EvoBus team is the aerospace sector involving Boeing or Airbus, for example. “However, the 99 per cent cavity-free parts printed there are too costly for automotive use,” Andershofstadt explains. These are unwanted cavities that occur in cast, or in this case printed, parts. “For road vehicles, 95 per cent is fully sufficient and thus also within the bounds of applicable automotive quality specifications,” he adds. The quality is already remarkable: “We meet the same requirements as injection moulded or deep-draw parts.”

At the same time the task is to find suitable 3D printers for spare parts production. “The market is undergoing major changes at the moment in this regard,” says the EvoBus project manager. Parts are still being printed by highly specialised companies. The vision is to also have appliances at the BusWorld Home in Neu-Ulm in future. A powder bed-based one has already been bought for training purposes. It is currently being used as part of study and training courses. Because the best technology is naturally of no use if there is no qualified personnel to operate it.

The next step is internal production. Alongside this, a data-based business model also has to be developed, because in future the aim is to produce spare parts directly at the service centres when required. The head office supplies the necessary data, meaning software instead of hardware. The vehicle manufacturer will thus become a seller of print licences. “That is a major change for a physical manufacturer like Daimler to becoming a digital business,” emphasises Ralf Anderhofstadt. A pilot project for printing at the subsidiaries and partner companies could soon be started. “I assume that in three to five years, service centres from the BusWorld Home through to the service point will be printing original spare parts. That is the vision!”

The benefits are clear to see. Making injection moulds often takes several months. To produce a CAD/CAX design as the basis for a digital process chain used in 3D printing only needs four to five working days. It has also been able to speed up the printing process considerably. “Parts that still took 15 to 16 hours a year ago including setup and rework can already be made in eight to nine hours these days,” reports Anderhofstadt. A lot of people could print, yet safety is just as important, he says: “We mark every part covered with a branding. That is only visible to the trained eye or under special examination in a CT X-ray machine.”

Summary: 3D printing will save tooling costs in future, reduce stocks and make minimum order quantities for the service partners superfluous. In particular, spare parts for discontinued series can be produced faster and more cost-effectively. Their production has usually been uneconomical until now because equipment and tools have to be kept and maintained for a long time.

“I assume that in three to five years,

service centres from the BusWorld

Home through to the service point

will be printing original spare parts.

That is the vision!”Ralf Anderhofstadt,

head of the CSP 3D printing project


The 3D printing process is already very sophisticated.

Setra Service & support | 33

Fit into old age

BestAge repair from OMNIplus

Even if your Setra is getting long

in the tooth, it is still in good hands with

the professionals from OMNIplus.

The BestAge Repair programme

provides services for retaining

and even increasing the value

of buses and coaches.

“T here is no fixed age limit from which a bus comes into consideration for the BestAge Repair programme,” says

Jürgen Hippin, Head of Daimler Buses Customer Service & Parts (CSP). “We are very needs oriented when it comes to arranging our BestAge Repair products, so that the customer can find exactly what their bus needs as much as possible.” For this reason the programme, started around four years ago, is composed of a whole package of individual measures specifically matched to the condition of the vehicle and the customer’s requirements.

The BestAge Repair programme essentially focuses on three service areas. The first area covers the procurement and replacement of parts. Here the experts from OMNIplus offer attractively priced products especially for best agers. From highly reduced original spare parts through to affordable original replacement parts, which make ecological sense and are much cheaper than new parts. Besides classic replacement parts like engines, turbochargers and gearboxes, repair parts are also becoming increasingly more important. For example, repaired alternators with a guarantee have also recently become available.

In the second service area, “Maintenance & Repair”, the customer benefits from the comprehensive manufacturer’s service brand

competence. Because nobody knows Setra buses better than OMNIplus. In this respect it is possible to combine financially attractive package prices for wear-and-tear repairs like clutches or the full Economy Service with other packages such as the air conditioning or heating check.

When it comes to the third BestAge Repair service area, “Preparation and Care”, the focus is on the economic benefit for the customer. An example: by reconditioning the dashboard in a targeted manner, the costs compared to a complete exchange can be practically reduced by a factor of ten.

Little wonder therefore that the BestAge Repair programme features increasingly on the list of bus operators. Special offers also contribute to this, for example, converting Setra 500 series buses to modern LED technology for the headlights or equipping them with helpful docking lights on the rear axle. “This promotion carried out at a special price in 2017 was such a great success that it will shortly become a permanent part of the BestAge Repair programme,” says Hippin.

34 | Setra Travel in style

The La Rioja region in the north

of Spain is world famous for its

wine. It is also home to many

monasteries, however, where

the first records in the Spanish

language can be found.

We discover the region in a

Setra ComfortClass S 511 HD.

Setra Travel in style | 35

To the cradle of the Spanish language

With the ComfortClass 500 through the Rioja region

36 | Setra Travel in style

In Yuso Monastery, Prior Pedro Merino shows off one of the 20,000 historic books that are kept in the library.

R ioja – the fact that the name of this region is also synonymous for Spanish wine outside of Spain is

no coincidence. After all, the grape juice has been native here since 3,000 years BCE, and the La Rioja region is famous all over the world for its DOC wines. Yet although the wine is of tremendous importance to the region, Rioja has much more to offer. José Ignacio Jiménez Domínguez, owner and managing director of the long-standing coach operator, Autobuses Jiménez from Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, takes us on a trip through the vineyards and to the region’s historic roots. The vehicle selected for the journey, a Setra S 511 HD club coach, is perfect for the route across winding vineyard roads and through narrow historic villages.

In the Middle Ages, wine production in La Rioja fell to the monasteries, where the monks were otherwise dedicated to studying the Holy Scripture and translating historic documents from Greek or Arabic into Latin. Some monasteries now belong to the UNESCO World Heritage and are therefore among the most important cultural and tourist destinations in La Rioja. The excursion there is one of the most beautiful and interesting tours on the Autobuses Jiménez schedule. A particular delight for all those wanting to discover more than the famous Calle del Laurel in Logroño with its countless wine bars.

We feel comfortable straight away in the Comfort- Class S 511 HD, as its 30 seats divided over a length of 10.47 metres provide plenty of leg room. A club area encourages stimulating conversation with our fellow passengers. Pepe, our driver, steers the Setra majestic- ally over small country roads and is totally fascinated by how easy and safe the S 511 HD is to drive.

Wine: the lifeblood of La Rioja “In spring, when the first vine leaves show off their green tips, it is already beautiful here,” says José Ignacio Jiménez during the drive through the vineyards. “But this route is a special experience in October and November, when the grapes gleam in autumnal red and yellow creating a picture-book landscape.” In La Rioja you should dedicate yourself to two things above all, he says grinning. The “grape harvest” and “wine drinking”. He also recommends visiting the many festivals, such as the “wine battle” (batalla del vino) in Haro, where the visitors spray each other with wine.

Whilst the roads get more winding and the passages through the towns ever tighter, we approach the mountain village of San Millán de la Cogolla. This is where, just a stone’s throw apart, the two monasteries, Yuso and Suso, are located. Both were declared as World Heritage sites �

The vehicle selected for

the trip, a Setra S 511 HD

club coach, is perfect for the

route across winding

vineyard roads and through

narrow historic villages.


Briones, on the bank of the Ebro, is one of the centres of winemaking in Rioja.

Travel in style: in the well-equipped Setra S 511 HD club coach, the tourist sights of Rioja, like the Roman

cemetery gate in Navarrete (top) or the sacristy in Yuso Monastery (right) can be reached comfortably.

Wine culture site: in the Vivanco Museum in Briones, visitors can learn a lot about the winemaking tradition in the Rioja region.

by UNESCO, not only for religious or architectural, but also for literary and language reasons. Because the monasteries are seen as the “cradle of the Spanish language”. There is a book in Latin here edited by monks in the early Middle Ages, on whose pages a monk has left comments in the local language spoken back then but never before written down. Gonzalo de Berceo, the first poet who wrote his works in Spanish, also lived not far from here.

World Heritage: Yuso MonasteryBrother Pedro Merino, prior of Yuso Monastery, shows us the Gothic church, the impressive baroque sacristy, the inner choir (trascoro), the Renaissance cloister, the archive and the Venetian-style library with a priceless collection of 20,000 antique documents. Augustine monks have been looking after Yuso Monastery since 1878 and take care of the historic heritage to make it accessible to the thousands of visitors who come to see the monastery every year.

After visiting the monastery, our Setra takes to the winding roads of the Rioja region once again. The compact size of the club coach and the driver’s ability also make manoeuvring or turning round possible with little space. Despite being only ten metres long, the S 511 HD is a fully-fledged coach, equipped with all the amenities that make travel a pleasure – from the two-zone air conditioning through to the luxurious seats from the Voyage Plus range with a particularly wide seating area.

The Vivanco MuseumAfter just a short drive through the gentle, hilly landscape, we reach Briones, an idyllically situated wine village in Rioja Alta, where we visit the Vivanco Museum. The imposing museum lies in the middle of the vineyards and fits into its surrounding perfectly. Wine culture in all its diversity can be discovered here: origin, tradition, culture. And, of course, visitors can try various wines from the region and buy them to enhance their wine cellar at home – not without first having tasted one of the regional specialities, such as patatas à la Riojana (potatoes Rioja style) or lamb cutlets.

We return in the ComfortClass club coach through the gentle hills of the Rioja region to Logroño, the capital of La Rioja. While the setting son bathes the region’s sprawling vineyards in a golden light, we lean back in the comfortable Setra Voyage Plus reclining seats and enjoy the quiet cruising of the Setra S 511 HD, whilst we review the experiences of an eventful day.

About Autobuses JiménezAutobuses Jiménez was founded in 1883 by the great-grandparents of the current owner, José Ignacio Jiménez Domínguez. The fleet comprising 400 vehicles also includes more than 250 Setra coaches. José Ignacio Jiménez says that he acquired his first Setra in 1966 and that practically all models from the 200, 300, 400 and 500 series, as well as some of the vintage coaches from the first 10 and 100 series, belonged to his fleet. Besides valuing the safety and comfort of this brand, the company proprietor appreciates the fact that the coaches’ equipment can be exactly tailored to the needs of his company. The enthusiasm is also passed onto his son, who is already the fifth generation to work at his father’s company.

Despite being only

ten metres in length, the

S 511 HD is a fully fledged

coach ...


40 | Setra Service & support

New BusStore locations in Athens and Thessaloniki

S ince its start more than five years ago, the used bus brand, BusStore, is now represented at 19 European locations. Two

new locations in Athens and Thessaloniki are now being added in 2019. “Particularly in Greece, many customers turn to the used vehicle market,” Emmanouil Skalidakis, a salesperson in the southern European country, tells us. “For many customers, a used bus is economically the most attractive way of extending their fleet and growing further.” The Setra brand especially enjoys great popularity among Greek bus companies, says Skalidakis: “Setra attracts many customers in Greece looking for used buses with a high quality and prestige. Euro V models of the types S 415 GT HD, S 415 HD and S 411 HD are especially in demand.” Skalidakis is certain that this comprehensive range will be well received in the Greek market: “BusStore distinguishes itself from

other suppliers particularly by the fact that tested and reliable vehicles in high quality and with first-class customer service are on offer.”

Double premiere in Greece

A lthough online operating instructions in the form of PDF documents are nothing new, they are not

very practical to use on a PC or mobile device. Setra goes one step further and is offering interactive “bus guides” for the TopClass 500 and ComfortClass 500 models. Looking for a topic is thus made much simpler, when it comes to it. The information can be accessed in German and English both on a desktop and also conveniently using a smartphone under the Web address busguides.setra-buses.com. Other languages are also being planned and will be added soon. Intuitively structured, the user can access the particular chapters for their own type of bus or model and look at the necessary information. When doing so, only the selected subject is visible, nothing else. There is also the option of accessing additional instructions here, such as for the CMS multimedia system, the service history or the conventional PDF operating instructions – if the user would like to archive these after all.

Interactive info for your Setra Operating instructions online

Operating instructions online: with the Bus Guide, information about the vehicle can be found specifically and at any time.

The new BusStore locations in Athens and Thessaloniki (fig.) meet the needs of the continually growing used vehicle market.

F or more than two decades, the Communicator Awards have been seen as one of the biggest international competitions for

marketing and communications. Over 6,000 contributions from companies and agencies compete here for the sought-after trophies. At the 24th awards, the Hamburg agency, Newport3, which plans and designs the Setra magazine on behalf of Daimler Buses, was able to take not just one award home from New York in the “Magazine Industry” category for SetraWorld 59. It thus also ensured a coveted entry in the list of “Excellence Winners”.

This was not the only success in an American competition for the brand magazine from Germany. At the Astrid Awards, the 59th edition was given an “honors” mention in two categories – “Transportation” and “B-to-B”. It prevailed in this respect against a number of com- petitors. A total of 550 international contributions were submitted

for the prize, which honours outstanding creativity, innovation, originality and design.

The third notable achievement in the USA was secured by SetraWorld at the Mercury Awards, one of the most renowned international competitions for brand communication. They have been awarding prizes to outstanding performances in professional corporate communications every year since 1987. A jury comprising more than 100 advertising experts and creative minds from all over the world judge how effectively, creatively and with what success the some-times complex contents are conveyed to the target group. The 59th issue of the brand magazine took bronze in this highly contested competition in the category “Custom Publications – Business-to- Business: Buses & Coaches – Transportation”.

And SetraWorld was successful in Germany too. In the “Brand Creation – Print” category of the German Brand Awards, the brand magazine secured the particularly high “Winner” distinction. The prize is awarded by the German Brand Institute for outstanding brand management and sustained brand communication in the German- speaking region.


The 59th edition of SetraWorld took part in four

international competitions in the field of brand

communication. The magazine was awarded at

least one prize from all of them.

Prizes for the brand magazine

Bus stop art in Krumbach, Austria

H anover, Melbourne and Baltimore: extravagantly designed bus stops can be found in many cities

worldwide. But in the countryside? And then also away from the high tourism areas? Will anyone even see that? Will they ever! “The interest in our bus shelters designed by international architects is unchanged, even five years after being erected,” reports Egmont Schwärzler, mayor of the Austrian community of Krumbach. “To this day, hundreds of visitors come every day from all over the world.” These include individual travellers arriving by car just as much as coach groups from Europe, Asia and America.

What is more, the small community of Krumbach, in Vorarlberg not far from Bregenz in the far west of Austria, hardly benefited from tourism up until a few years ago. “We are too far away from the big ski and hiking areas and there are only a few guest rooms here,” Mayor Schwärzler observes. That was intended to change with an unusual art project in the public sector. “At first it was just an idea conceived in the pub late at night,” explains Egmont Schwärzler, “but then a few committed people in the Krumbach culture club pursued the idea.” Seven international architects from Russia, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Chile, Japan and China were invited to design bus shelters for Krumbach. The executing building firms, regional architects and structural engineers then implemented the designs free of charge.

The result is seven bus shelters, which interpret the subject “Waiting for a bus” in different ways, mostly using materials from the region and taking local factors into account – here as an acute-angled alpine roof, there

as a cosy “Vorarlberg lodge”, as a viewpoint focused on the mountains or as a multifunctional structure with adjoining spectators’ stand for the local football pitch.

“The bus shelters not only decorate the landscape, they also fulfil their purpose,” emphasises Gerhard Felder, a bus operator from neighbouring Mellau and co-founder of Bregenzerwald Bus GmbH, which carries out 40 per cent of all scheduled bus services in the region. “In Krumbach and in the entire Bregenz Forest, many people take the bus and do so to all the outlying districts. There is probably no country region in Europe that has such a well-developed public transport system as the Bregenz Forest. Our buses run to all 24 of our communities every hour, most of them even every half hour.”

The well-developed bus system was presumably also one of the reasons why those who came up with the idea selected bus shelters of all things for their project. Because until then there were not fixed shelters for the passengers at all bus stops.

The people of Krumbach are proud of their bus stop project, as Mayor Schwärzler knows. “Krumbach is now known everywhere as the village with the bus shelters.” A role model for other communities? “That is difficult to judge,” says Egmont Schwärzler. “Every community is different. But the project certainly paid off for us.”

In the small community of Krumbach in the Bregenz Forest in Austria, waiting for a bus has turned

into a cultural experience. Seven international architects have designed extraordinary bus shelters –

a joint project between village and region, architecture and business.

Nicer waiting

42 | Setra Horizons

“To this day hundreds of visitors come from all over the world.”

Photos: Nina Broell, Felix Friedmann, Albrecht Imanuel Schnabel.

Cosy lodge, eye-catcher, stick forest with staircase, alpine pointed roof, spectator stand: the bus shelters designed by architects from seven countries are a magnet for visitors.

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