Industry-Railway Suppliers acquires ESCO, signs Pandrol distribution pact

Industry-Railway Suppliers Inc. (IRS), a tool and products distributor for railroad construction, has acquired the assets of ESCO Equipment Co.

Since 1962, ESCO has provided sales and business representation for global railroad product and equipment manufacturers with a mix of maintenance-of-way products. The company brings with it "rail industry professionals with an established reputation for delivering outstanding service and expertise," IRS officials said in a press release.

The acquisition also helps Chicago-based IRS create a "one-stop-shop" for welding and track maintenance, said IRS President Scott Commo.

"Through this acquisition, we highlight our strategic focus and add decades of knowledge and experience to further support the products we distribute and represent," he said.

Meanwhile, Pandrol announced this week it has signed multiyear distributor partnership agreements with IRS and Canadian railroad distributor Davanac Inc. Under the agreement, IRS and Davanac will distribute Railtech Matweld hydraulic tools and Rosenqvist rail equipment throughout the United States and Canada.

"We selected IRS and Davanac as our partners due to our shared values in terms of quality of service, combined with the fact they are long established and highly reputable in the industry," said Breen Reardon, Pandrol's president for North America, in a press release.