Rail supplier news from Siemens, Americold, Aspen Equipment, Cubic and HNTB (Aug. 31)

Siemens and the International Society of Automation have partnered to raise awareness about industrial security needs and global standards. Both parties will share expertise in protecting the automation environment based on IEC 62443 cybersecurity standard. They'll also provide educational material and host events and webinars to boost cybersecurity awareness among owner-operators of industrial equipment, Siemens officials said in a press release. Recent global ransomware attacks have demonstrated the possible impacts of cybersecurity vulnerability, they added.

Americold broke ground on a 15.5-million-cubic-foot automated facility at its Rochelle, Illinois, campus. Expected to open in December 2018, the addition will increase automation capabilities, boost available capacity for the company's Chicago-area customers and provide an additional 57,600 pallet positions. Americold's Rochelle campus now is home to two conventional warehouse facilities. The company provides temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics services.

Aspen Equipment has added field and bay services for construction equipment in Davenport, Iowa. The company also has hired technicians to work on construction equipment, including cranes, air compressors, hi-rail trucks, and snow and ice control equipment. Aspen Equipment hired Jerry Rex to serve as Davenport branch manager. He previously served as service manager of Rexco Equipment.

Cubic Transportation Systems' Compass Card for TransLink has processed more than 1 billion "taps" by local transit users since its launch in 2015. Each month, the contactless smart card system processes more than 43 million card taps for passengers in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Compass Card system links TransLink services and fares into a single system. It can be used to buy fares on the West Coast Express commuter-rail network, as well as on the SkyTrain and SeaBus. The Compass system replaces more than 150 different tickets and passes with one reloadable fare card.

HNTB Corp. has named Thomas Spearing III leader of the firm's national transit program management and construction management practice. He joined the company in 2016 as New York City office leader and senior vice president. In the newly created role, Spearing will work in the firm's Philadelphia office. His background includes the best practice development in project management and oversight standard for the Federal Transit Administration. Spearing also provided construction management for the MTA New York City Transit's Sea Beach Line rehabilitation project. In addition, he provided program management for New Jersey Transit's positive train control implementation.