The 19 October 2009 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Georg Knorr. Knorr was one of the world’s pioneers in the field of railway brakes. Without his inventions – which enabled the safe deceleration of trains that became faster and heavier as time went by – the new era that the railways triggered in the second half of the 19th century would not have been possible.

His innovations in the air brake sector, his determination and the far-sighted approach to technology with which he led his company through turbulent times laid the foundations for the ongoing development of the Knorr-Bremse company.

In honour of Georg Knorr’s work, the German Museum of Technology in Berlin is to feature a new exhibit illustrating the historical development of rail vehicle brakes, based on Knorr-Bremse products. In addition, in the museum’s collection of prominent inventors, entrepreneurs and scientists, a bust of Georg Knorr has been created to commemorate the founder of Knorr-Bremse.

The bust and the exhibit were unveiled in the presence of Berlin Senator for Economics, Harald Wolf; museum director, Professor Dirk Böndel; and the chairman of the executive board of Knorr-Bremse, Dr Raimund Klinkner.