Rail supplier updates from NRC, Railhead, Plasser & Theurer, Tiger Cool, SKF and Kelso (April 16)

U.S. Rep Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) last week toured Atlantic Track's Memphis facility with representatives from the company and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC). The facility manufactures turnouts, special trackwork and transit rail products, and a new addition will house a $3.7 million machining center, NRC officials said. While there, Cohen met with Atlantic Track's President Peter Hughes, VP of Engineering and Operations Jeff Grissom, Railroad Products Manager Pat Reilly and Office Manager Laura Chitwood.

Railhead Corp.'s Level 5 Cut Resistant safety gloves for rail workers have been chosen by a Class I railroad. The company did not say which railroad made the purchase. The gloves feature rubber bumpers, which provide impact protection for the back of the hand and fingers, as well as a nitrile coating for gripping.

Polish State Railways Inc. added two of Plasser & Theurer's USP 2010 SWS-U universal ballast distributing and profiling machines to its fleet. The machine expands the storage capacity of the hopper by coupling material converter and hopper units at its front, Plasser & Theurer officials said.

Wood Creek Capital Management LLC has purchased an ownership interest in Tiger Cool Express LLC to support the rapid expansion of its refrigerated container fleet. Following capital growth and an earlier expansion to its fleet, Tiger Cool expects year-end run rate revenues of around $100 million, according to a company press release.

Swedish bearing manufacturer SKF recently launched a pilot of its SKF Insight intelligent bearing technology in cooperation with SJ, the Swedish national rail operator. Aimed at reducing railroad maintenance costs, the technology integrates a self-powered sensor and wireless device within a conventional bearing envelope. Data from each wheel set is then transmitted in real time for remote analysis, which allows railroad engineers to change bearings based on a defined level of wear, instead of swapping them at regular intervals regardless of condition, SKF officials said.

Kelso Technologies will provide email updates regarding changes to its manuals for its Klincher Manway System Maintenance, as well as its large and small mount pressure relief valves, the company announced this week. Kelso is doing this to comply with the American Association of Railroad's recommended practices and specifications for tank cars and quality assurance, which went into effect April 15.