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Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends

5/11/2009



Rail News: Rail Industry Trends

Updates from EMD, The Andersons, Global Rail Systems, PowerRail Distribution, Koppers and EMS Technologies


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• Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. (EMD) has rolled out the first JT42CWRM 3,300-total-horsepower locomotive at the Egyptian National Railways’ (ENR) Cairo, Egypt, facility. EMD expects to deliver 40 of the locomotives to the railway by the third quarter. The first 15 units have been delivered and are being commissioned. ENR plans to use the JT42CWRM units for passenger-rail service. EMD will provide maintenance and technical support for the locomotives, which will be equipped with the EM2000 microprocessor locomotive control system, air conditioning and ergonomic driver seats. EMD also named Michael O'Donnell executive vice president and chief financial officer. He most recently was EVP and CFO for Xerium Technologies Inc. O’Donnell previously held various executive positions with ABB Ltd., Siebe plc and Invensys plc.  

• The Andersons Inc. has announced Chairman Dick Anderson left his post and passed the chairmanship to President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Anderson. Dick Anderson has served with the company since 1947 when he, his siblings and parents founded the firm as a family partnership. He was named president and CEO in 1986, and became chairman in 1999. Dick Anderson now will provide counsel to the board as chairman emeritus.

• Global Rail Systems Inc. has named Vince Cervas director of sales for the western U.S. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the rail supply industry, including engineering, product field support and product management. Cervas previously was a sales specialist with major signal and communication suppliers, where he focused on Class I, regional and short-line accounts.

• PowerRail Distribution Inc. has named Mark Nolan, formerly with GE Transportation, vice president of sales; and Robert Harvilla, formerly with Triangle/Durox, regional assistant VP of sales. PowerRail Distribution provides various locomotive parts and components.

• Koppers Holdings Inc. reported first-quarter sales of $272.7 million, down 18 percent compared with first-quarter 2008’s total. The company attributes the decline to a 35 percent drop in Carbon Materials & Chemicals segment sales, which was partially offset by a 17 percent increase in Railroad & Utility Products segment sales due to higher volumes of crossties sold to Class Is. Net income fell from $13.2 million in first-quarter 2008 to $4.1 million.

• EMS Technologies Inc. has appointed Stephen Newell general manager of LXE Inc., which supplies a line of rugged vehicle-mounted, handheld and wearable mobile computers for various applications, including intermodal/ports. Newell most recently was vice president of Satcom sales for the EMS SATCOM business unit. He also led the military and government sales group.