Rail supplier updates from Nordco, Kelso, PTSI, Brookfield Infrastructure and Whitmore (Aug. 18)

Nordco Inc. last week launched the RoadReady™ Surfacing Team at an open house at their headquarters in Oak Creek, Wis. The product is made up of the RoadReady RST-1000 Switch Tamper and the RBR-1000 Ballast Regulator which individually attach to over-the-road tractor-trailers for easier transport between job locations, company officials said in a press release. All components lift and fit within the frame to meet height and width requirements for permit-free travel.

The Association of American Railroads approved Kelso Technologies Inc.'s new bottom outlet valve (BOV) design for commercial field trial testing. The company's new BOV design prevents valve operating stem leaks and features the use of non-corrosive ceramic materials along with a seal protecting wiper, Kelso officials said in a press release. The valve meets the new DOT-117 tank car specifications to be implemented Oct. 1, they added.

PTSI Transportation began work on the application of its Route Learning System™ along New Jersey Transit's Newark light-rail line. The operations training program is a digital learning system used to teach the physical characteristics of railways to operating employees as well as railroad or transit police, security officers and external first responders. The Route Learning System consists of a series of digital maps/charts, as well as a video of the railroad taken from the operator's perspective. These are then shown in synchronization on a dual or split screen, PTSI officials said.

Brookfield Infrastructure yesterday announced a binding agreement, together with its institutional partners, to acquire Asciano Ltd., an Austrailian rail and and port logistics company. Asciano has an enterprise value of approximately $8.8 billion.

Whitmore named Douglas Reid vice president of product development. He has more than 20 years of experience in new business development, marketing and product management. In the new role, he'll focus on refining the company's strategy and streamlining product development to expand the company's presence in the global marketplace. Before joining Whitmore, Reid served as vice president of marketing and product management for MeadWestvaco's paperboard materials business.