Rail supplier news from Wabtec, MHX, RailPros and NRC (Sept. 13)

Wabtec Corp. has been named Penn State's 2023 Corporate Partner of the Year. The annual award recognizes corporate partners that have demonstrated exceptional commitment in the promotion and support of Penn State; have excellent track records of philanthropy and research; and actively engage Penn State students and alumni in the workplace and the classroom. "Wabtec continues to be a remarkable supporter of engineering education and research at Penn State," said university President Neeli Bendapudi in a press release.

MHX LLC has begun operations at Portland, Oregon, and Tacoma, Washington, under a partnership with Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary Loup Logistics. The two sites mark the expansion of MHX operations beyond California. The Portland transload site is a 17-acre yard with outdoor and indoor/covered storage, currently supporting lumber reloads. The Tacoma location is near the Port of Tacoma and features indoor/outdoor storage and cross-dock opportunities, also servicing the lumber market. Both facilities are directly served by UP, according to an MHX press release.

RailPros has hired Jennifer Drake to serve as vice president of engineering central, based in Chicago. Drake has more than 20 years of experience in transportation, rail and infrastructure engineering. She will report to Chief Operating Officer Marco Loureiro and oversee a team of engineers across the Midwest and central United States. She will also serve as a client-liaison on business development and on the development of cross-selling strategies across all business lines. 

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association announced L.B. Foster Vice President of Rail Sales Doug Combs has been named to NRC's board. He takes the board seat recently vacated by a previous board member. Combs has worked in the rail industry for nearly 30 years. Prior to joining L. B. Foster, he held positions with Harsco Corp. companies. His term on the NRC board extends through 2023.