Rail supplier updates from Kelso, Battelle, HNTB, Hub and SNC-Lavalin (Sept. 22)

Kelso Technologies Inc. established a strategic alliance with Carolina Seal Inc. (CSI) to offer customers a one-year seal warranty program for Kelso's pressure relief valves. A longtime supplier to Kelso, CSI will maintain an inventory of pedigree materials to support installation of the valves on new tank cars, re-qualifications, retrofits, improvement orders and repairs. The one-year warranty applies to all new orders, Kelso officials said in a press release.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City awarded Battelle a $3.1 million contract to perform an independent safety assessment and provide safety certification support for the design and implementation of a communications-based train control system on the Queens Boulevard subway line. The technology provides real-time data on vehicle position and speed conditions, allowing operators to increase the number of vehicles on the line. Battelle has performed safety assessments in support of MTA New York City Transit for more than 17 years.

HNTB Corp. hired Laura Mohr as vice president and group director of rail and transit in Southern California. She has more than 25 years of experience in the planning, design and construction of public transportation projects, including light-, heavy- and commuter-rail systems. Prior to joining HNTB, Mohr served at another consulting firm as deputy project director, where she prepared preliminary engineering and design for the first phase of a heavy-rail system in the United Arab Emirates.

Hub Group named Donald Maltby president and chief operating officer. He assumes the duties of Mark Yaeger, who resigned Aug. 8. Since January 2015, Maltby has been providing consulting services to Hub's board. Prior to that, he held a variety of roles with the company, including chief strategy officer, chief supply chain officer, executive vice president-logistics services and president of the e-commerce division. Maltby joined the company in 1990.

SNC-Lavalin appointed Neil Bruce president, chief executive officer, and board member, effective Oct. 5. He succeeds Robert Card. Bruce has more than 30 years of experience in the engineering and construction industries, with a comprehensive understanding of the four sectors that SNC-Lavalin handles, company officials said in a press release. Before joining the firm in January 2013, Bruce held a variety of leadership roles, including executive director and chief operating officer at AMEC.