FAUR

FAUR is a Romanian industrial engineering and manufacturing company based in Bucharest. Its origins date to 1921, when industrialist Nicolae Malaxa established the enterprise under the name MALAXA. The early business focused on repairing railway rolling stock and then expanded into the manufacture of steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, passenger coaches, diesel engines, brake equipment, automotive engines, and special alloy steels. By the end of the 1930s, the Malaxa factories had become one of the largest industrial groups in Southeastern Europe and an important supplier to the Romanian state railway system. The company’s development was closely tied to Romania’s industrialization and transport infrastructure. Its railway activities included the production of steam locomotives and later diesel-powered railway equipment. Malaxa also operated across adjacent engineering fields, including engines, railway components, and metalworking. The factories contributed to Romania’s ability to manufacture railway equipment domestically; Romanian locomotive production eventually reduced the country’s reliance on imported engines. Between 1926 and 1960, Romanian factories produced more than 1,200 steam locomotives in total, with Malaxa’s Bucharest facilities accounting for 410 of them. Steam-locomotive production ended in 1960 as the Romanian industrial system shifted toward diesel railway engines. Following the establishment of the communist regime, the company was nationalized in 1948. A substantial part of the former Malaxa complex was renamed 23 August Works, a reference to the 1944 Romanian coup that brought Romania out of its alliance with the Axis powers. During the communist period, the enterprise broadened its industrial portfolio and participated in pilot and production projects serving numerous Romanian industries. It also carried out work for customers and partners in Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most notable international projects was the production of DR Class 119 diesel locomotives for Deutsche Reichsbahn in East Germany. Between 1976 and 1985, Romanian factories built 200 of these locomotives under Comecon industrial agreements. The project involved technology and components from several countries. The locomotives were designed to meet East German requirements for substantial power while remaining within a relatively low axle-load limit. The resulting construction used a modular approach and included engines licensed from the West German manufacturer MTU, while East German suppliers contributed items including hydrodynamic transmissions and axle motors. The class experienced serious reliability problems in service, and its early operational record was marked by frequent workshop visits. In 1990, the company adopted the name FAUR as Romania moved from the communist economic system toward privatization. The renamed business retained its industrial and railway heritage while operating in a substantially changed commercial environment. Since 2004, FAUR has been part of the Bega Group. Its historical identity remains associated with Romanian heavy engineering, railway manufacturing, locomotive production, and the former Malaxa industrial complex in Bucharest.

FAUR’s history begins in 1921, when Nicolae Malaxa founded the enterprise in Bucharest under the MALAXA name. The original business was centered on railway repair and engineering, particularly the maintenance and manufacture of rolling stock. It soon developed capabilities in locomotive construction, passenger coaches, diesel engines, railway braking equipment, automotive engines, and special alloy steels. This broad industrial base reflected the strategic importance of transport and machinery production during Romania’s interwar industrialization. By the late 1930s, the Malaxa factories had become one of Southeastern Europe’s major industrial groups. The enterprise was a principal supplier of equipment to the Romanian Railways and helped build national manufacturing capacity in railway technology. Romanian locomotive production expanded through cooperation and parallel development at facilities in Reșița and Bucharest. From 1926 through 1960, Romanian factories produced 1,207 steam locomotives, including 410 manufactured at the Malaxa factories. The end of steam-locomotive production in 1960 marked a technological transition toward diesel railway propulsion. The postwar political transformation had a decisive effect on the business. In 1948, the Romanian state nationalized the company. Much of the former Malaxa complex became known as 23 August Works, using the name of the politically significant August 23, 1944 events. Under communist state ownership, the enterprise expanded beyond its earlier railway focus. It participated in industrial pilot projects and manufactured equipment for a variety of Romanian sectors. Its work also reached international markets and industrial partners in Europe, Asia, and Africa. During the Comecon period, the Bucharest works took part in a major railway program for East Germany. From 1976 to 1985, it built 200 DR Class 119 diesel locomotives for Deutsche Reichsbahn. The locomotives were developed through a multi-country industrial arrangement. East German planning restrictions required a powerful locomotive that could operate with an axle load below 16 tonnes, while Soviet suppliers did not offer a suitable engine for the intended service. The project therefore used a modular design assembled in Romania, MTU engines produced under license, and components such as hydrodynamic transmissions and axle motors supplied from East Germany. The class suffered from substantial technical and operational shortcomings, and many locomotives spent significant periods in workshops. Production stopped at 200 units rather than reaching the larger number initially contemplated. The transition away from communism brought another institutional change. In 1990, the company was renamed FAUR and privatized. The new name separated the enterprise from its communist-era designation while preserving its connection to the Bucharest industrial works. The company continued to be associated with railway equipment, locomotive engineering, industrial manufacturing, and related mechanical production. Since 2004, FAUR has belonged to the Bega Group. In its modern form, the brand represents the continuation of a historic Romanian engineering complex rather than the single product category associated with its earliest years. Its legacy encompasses steam and diesel locomotives, railway servicing, engines, coaches, braking systems, metallurgical products, and industrial projects. The company’s documented history is strongest in railway and heavy engineering, while detailed public information about its current product mix, management, financial performance, and market footprint is limited.

• 2004

  FAUR joins Bega Group

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  FAUR becomes part of the Bega Group.

• 1990

  The company becomes FAUR and is privatized

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  Following Romania’s political and economic transition, the enterprise adopts the FAUR name and enters privatization.

• 1985

  DR Class 119 program concludes

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  Production of the East German DR Class 119 locomotives concludes after 200 units are built.

• 1976

  DR Class 119 production begins

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  The Bucharest works begin assembling DR Class 119 diesel locomotives for Deutsche Reichsbahn under Comecon industrial agreements.

• 1960

  Steam-locomotive production ends

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  Romanian industry ends steam-locomotive production as manufacturing priorities shift toward diesel railway engines.

• 1948

  Nationalization and renaming as 23 August Works

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  The Romanian state nationalizes the enterprise, and a major part of the former Malaxa complex becomes known as 23 August Works.

• 1939

  Malaxa becomes a major Southeastern European industrial group

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  By the end of the 1930s, the Malaxa factories are among the largest industrial groups in Southeastern Europe and a major Romanian Railways supplier.

• 1930

  Romania moves toward domestic locomotive production

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  Romanian locomotive manufacturing develops at the Reșița and Malaxa factories, helping the country stop importing railway locomotives.

• 1921

  MALAXA is founded

  [1]FAURen.wikipedia.org

  Nicolae Malaxa establishes the Bucharest industrial enterprise that later becomes FAUR.

A Romanian heavy-industry and engineering brand rooted in railway manufacturing, locomotive construction, engine production, and industrial fabrication. FAUR’s identity combines domestic railway-industrial heritage with experience in international engineering programs and contract manufacturing.

• Railway equipment · 1926

  Steam locomotives

  Steam locomotives were among the defining products of the original Malaxa factories. The Bucharest works contributed 410 locomotives to Romania’s total production between 1926 and 1960, covering standard-gauge and historically related railway manufacturing programs. Production ended in 1960 as Romanian industry transitioned to diesel propulsion.

• Railway equipment

  Diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic locomotives

  Diesel locomotive engineering became increasingly important after steam production ended. FAUR and its predecessor works produced and assembled diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic railway locomotives for Romanian and international applications, including the DR Class 119 program for East Germany.

• Diesel locomotive · 1976

  DR Class 119

  The DR Class 119 was a multi-country Comecon locomotive program built in Romania for Deutsche Reichsbahn between 1976 and 1985. The design sought to combine more than 2,000 horsepower with a low axle load. It used licensed MTU engines and East German-supplied drivetrain components, but the class experienced significant reliability problems in service. Two hundred locomotives were completed.

• Industrial engines

  Diesel engines

  Diesel engines formed part of the company’s historical manufacturing portfolio as it expanded beyond steam railway equipment. The engines supported railway and broader industrial applications, although the available reference material does not specify a complete modern product range.

• Railway engineering · 1921

  Railway components and equipment

  FAUR’s historical railway activities included rolling-stock repair, passenger-coach manufacture, brake equipment, and related railway engineering. These capabilities made the Bucharest works an important supplier and maintainer within Romania’s railway-industrial system.

• Metallurgy

  Special alloy steels

  Special alloy steel production was part of the broad industrial portfolio developed by the Malaxa factories. It complemented locomotive, engine, and heavy-machinery manufacturing by providing specialized metal inputs for industrial applications.

• 2004

  Integration into Bega GroupM&A

  Background

  After privatization, FAUR entered a new ownership structure within Romania’s private industrial sector.

  Action taken

  FAUR became part of the Bega Group.

  Aftermath

  The company continued under Bega Group ownership as a successor to the historic Malaxa and 23 August industrial operations.

  Source

• 1990

  Renaming and privatizationStrategy

  Background

  Romania’s post-1989 political transition required state-owned industrial enterprises to be reorganized for a market economy.

  Action taken

  The company was renamed FAUR and privatized.

  Aftermath

  The FAUR name became the modern identity of the Bucharest industrial enterprise, replacing the 23 August Works designation.

  Source

• 1976

  Launch of the DR Class 119 production programProduct launch

  Background

  East Germany required a powerful diesel locomotive with an axle load below 16 tonnes, while Comecon industrial coordination divided design and component responsibilities among several countries.

  Action taken

  Romanian factories assembled DR Class 119 locomotives using a modular design, MTU engines produced under license, and drivetrain components supplied in part by East German industry.

  Aftermath

  The program produced 200 locomotives by 1985, but the class was affected by serious reliability and maintenance problems.

  Source

• 1948

  State nationalizationStrategy

  Background

  The postwar Romanian government reorganized major private industrial assets as part of the country’s move to a state-controlled economy.

  Action taken

  The Malaxa enterprise was nationalized, and a major portion of its facilities was operated under the name 23 August Works.

  Aftermath

  The company became part of Romania’s centrally planned industrial system and broadened its work across multiple domestic and international engineering programs.

  Source

1. 1FAURen.wikipedia.org