Rail supplier news from Smart Software, TranSystems, Vossloh, Cognizant, J.L. Patterson and Salco (June 14)

New Jersey Transit has purchased Smart Software Inc.'s SmartForecasts® for rail and bus operations as part of a service improvement and inventory reduction program. NJ Transit will use the software to forecast parts consumption and inventory stocking requirements for its active service/spare parts. Smart Software will implement the project in two stages: first, using SmartForecasts to identify immediate short-term benefits for key groups of parts and measure likely long-term benefits; and second, integrating the product into the agency's day-to-day planning.

Robert Ryan has joined TranSystems as market sector leader for its national passenger rail and transit practice area. Ryan will lead business development for the sector. He has more than 30 years of transportation experience and "provides a unique perspective to multi-modal projects," said Rich Morsches, TranSystems' chief strategy and marketing officer, in a prepared statement. Ryan has been involved in projects for the Chicago Transit  Authority, St. Louis MetroLink and an Ann Arbor-to-Detroit commuter-rail line.

The first propulsion unit produced by Vossloh Kiepe Inc. recently shipped for installation on a new light-rail vehicle being built by CAF USA for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas. Vossloh Kiepe in 2010 established a plant in Alpharetta, Ga., to provide electrical systems and components for the U.S. transit market.

Vossloh AG's supervisory board appointed Heinz Hermann Thiele chairman to succeed Wilfried Kaiser. A former chief executive officer of Knorr-Bremse AG, Thiele retains a stake of more than 25 percent of Vossloh's shares, making him the firm's second-biggest stockholder, according to a company press release.

Cognizant has been selected as a key information technology solutions and systems integration framework partner to provide a range of services to Network Rail, the United Kingdom's leading rail infrastructure provider.

J.L. Patterson & Associates Inc. has appointed Harry Steelman senior construction manager. In his 37-year career, he has overseen management, project planning, construction and quality control of various light-rail transit, commuter rail, passenger rail, heavy rail and heavy-haul projects. Steelman's rail experience includes major projects involving bridges, trackwork, signals, electrification systems, roadways, maintenance facility buildings, water treatment plants and fueling facilities.

Salco Products Inc. has promoted Jason Mohs to director of customer support. He will continue to manage the special products group and internal customer service activity. Salco also appointed Todd Waggoner director of field operations and Western sales. He will manage product issues from the field and Salco's installation/training services.