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The latest news from the rail supply community includes the following:

&bull FreightCar America Inc. announced a number of appointments. The company promoted Ted Baun from vice president of sales-western region to VP of sales and named Jay Hatfield, most recently manager of coal, emissions and rail-car purchasing for Luminant Energy, Baun's successor; promoted Sean Hankinson from product line manager to VP of sales-eastern region to succeed Bill Hutzel, who plans to retire in May 2008; named Nicole Lev business development manager; named Ron Marhefka manager of contract administration-coal and open-top cars; named Tim Mann manager of contract administration-international, parts and rebuilds; and named Mike Crisafulli manager of billing, estimating and transportation. In addition, Director of Marketing Mike MacMahon will assume responsibilities for product planning and marketing for all rail-car product lines.

• URS Corp. named Ray Schriks senior manager-rail transit for the firm's Chicago office. He has 27 years' experience in the design and maintenance of transit-rail infrastructure.

&bull Last week, Vossloh AG officially opened a rail fastening system plant in Kunshan, China. Operated by joint venture partners Vossloh and Nanjing Iron Steel Co. Ltd., the facility will produce fasteners for China's high-speed rail lines. Since launching production in July, the plant has produced 1.5 million tension clamps. Two Chinese-European joint ventures also are using the facility to produce rail fastener components.

• PS Technology Inc. obtained a contract from Union Pacific Railroad to implement an Enterprise Messaging Service (EMS) across the Class I's organization, beginning with the operating department. EMS, which can be customized by department, is designed to ensure targeted employees receive the same information within the same timeframe.

• Miner Enterprises Inc.'s Powerbrace Rail Products Division received an award for safety excellence from the Mexican government. Powerbrace's Saltillo, Mexico, plant won the "Planta Segura" award for promoting a safety culture and preventing accidents and industrial illnesses. Powerbrace manufactures outlet gates, brake beams, and heavy-duty door securement devices for trailers and containers.