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• Axion International recently closed on a $7.6 million financing deal to support growth of its recycled structural composite technology. The funds were raised as part of a private placement of its 10 percent convertible preferred stock that closed on April 21.

• Stadler Rail AG has opened Stadler U.S. Inc., which will serve U.S. customers and support Stadler product sales in North America. Stadler’s previous sales of 37 rail vehicles to New Jersey Transit, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Denton County Transportation Authority led the company to expand its North American presence, Stadler officials said in a prepared statement.

• Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute has appraised Invensys Rail Corp. at a Capability Maturity Model integration (CMMI) Level 2 for work the company is performing for the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) transit system. CMMI Level 2 is an assessment process developed by SEI to provide a framework of best practices toward improving quality, system engineering and project management, Invensys officials said in a prepared statement.

• Kinkisharyo International L.L.C. recently demonstrated ameriTram, its prototype of the low-floor, electro-hybrid streetcar designed for the North American market, in Dallas, Texas. The car is powered by eBrid™, a propulsion technology that enables operation powered by overhead catenary or onboard lithium-ion batteries, according to Kinkisharyo.

• Russian Railways (RZD) President Vladimir Yakunin and Siemens CEO Peter Loscher recently attended the official production launch of the first 38 of 54 Desiro RUS type regional trains ordered in 2009 for the Russian city of Sochi. The trains will be built at Siemens’ plant in Krefeld, Germany. Regional train production in Russia is scheduled to start in 2012 with the manufacture of the order’s remaining 16 trains, Siemens Industry Sector officials said in a prepared statement.  

• CIT Rail, a unit of CIT Group Inc., has appointed John Gorst to vice president, railcar leasing. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Gorst will be responsible for account development and management across Canada. Prior to joining CIT, he spent more than 12 years at Canadian Pacific, working in sales, marketing and car management positions.

• Orgo-Thermit Inc. recently introduced a patented alloyed Thermit weld in North America. The micro alloyed technology is designed for welding high-hardness rails by producing high hardness in the rail head, while maintaining ductility in the rail web and base, according to the company