Alstom unveils new "bebok" figure in Katowice

Alstom unveiled a new "bebok" figure at its Katowice facility on Monday, June 9, 2025.

The figurine, named "Zwusik," depicts a railway worker controlling train traffic. The name was chosen through an internal competition among Alstom employees. Designed and created by local artist Grzegorz Chudy, the statue joins nearly one hundred similar figures distributed throughout Katowice, which represent characters related to Silesian culture and are popular tourist attractions.

The choice reflects Alstom's Katowice plant's specialization in railway traffic control systems. This plant, with a nearly century-long history, is one of Europe's largest producers of modern railway signaling systems and equipment. The facility is responsible for the design, product development, testing, production, delivery, installation, and servicing of these systems.

Plant Director Adam Juretko stated that "Zwusik" is honored to join the family of figures just before the company's 100th anniversary. He emphasized that the new figure serves as a reminder of the employees' contributions to the development of Katowice's industry and invited everyone to visit "Zwusik" and explore the history of railways.

Alstom's Katowice unit, formerly known as "ZWUS" (Zakłady Wytwórcze Urządzeń Sygnalizacyjnych), was originally founded in 1926 for telephone equipment manufacturing. In the 1960s, its activities expanded to include railway signaling systems. Currently employing over 1,000 people, the plant has been part of the Alstom Group since 2021, playing a key role in developing safe and efficient traffic solutions for numerous countries.