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5/21/2024
The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. has named Michael Donfris chief financial officer. He joins Greenbrier from R. J. Corman Railroad Group, where he has been CFO since 2020. Donfris initially will be senior vice president of finance, and will become CFO and principal financial officer in July after Greenbrier files its form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending May 31, according to a Greenbrier press release. Donfris has nearly 40 years of experience in corporate accounting and finance, including almost 30 years in positions of increasing responsibility at Kimberly-Clark, followed by eight years in the rail and rail supply industry.
North American Rail Solutions, through its subsidiary American Track, has acquired Strategic Rail LLC in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The merged companies will continue as American Track. North American Rail Solutions is a provider of industrial rail inspection, construction, maintenance, terminal and support services. Established in 2005 by Dianna and Travis Gustafson, Strategic Rail provides rail support services to Class I, short-line and industrial customers, including grapple truck operations, material handling, rail-car movements and vegetation control, according to a joint press release. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Amsted Digital Solutions has partnered with RailPulse to accelerate the adoption of telematics in North America. Through a multiyear nonexclusive reseller agreement, Amsted will offer its telematics platform to RailPulse customers, the companies said in a press release. "[W]e are excited about their approach to sensor-free technology through their Bogie IQ® solution," said RailPulse General Manager David Shannon in a press release. Customers will be able to leverage RailPulse's standard-service level agreement with vendors such as Amsted and access device performance data and installation recommendations for various car types. Amsted also is working with RailPulse to expand its software application.
Progress Rail has entered into a contract with PT Kereta Indonesia for a maintenance-services agreement on 35 EMD® GT38AC locomotives, which were delivered in 2022 for transportation in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The six-year contract includes a major overhaul of the 35 units and covers all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance parts, plus 24/7 technical support in multiple locations.
Rail Vision Ltd. has received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its AI-based railway obstacle-detection system. The patent outlines an advanced method for enhancing rail safety through the use of electro-optical imaging technologies combined with artificial intelligence. The system is designed to reduce collisions on railroads by employing an artificial-ntelligence model that includes comprehensive scene analysis and image=processing techniques, according to a Rail Vision press release.
The League of Railway Women (LRW) is accepting applications for its annual scholarships, including a new scholarship, the Sue Black Memorial Scholarship. Sponsored by The Greenbrier Cos., the Sue Black Memorial Scholarship will award $5,000 to a person pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree in the rail industry and is in financial need. LRW's other scholarships are the Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship, valued at $5,000, which will be awarded to a woman pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree and seeking to further her career in the rail industry. This scholarship honors the memory of former LRW President Connie Sumara, an LRW founder and its longest-serving president. And the Future of Railroading Scholarship, valued at $3,000, will be awarded to a student pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree with an interest in supporting the rail industry. Application deadline for all three scholarships is June 28. Winners will be announced in August.