L.B. Foster Begins Delivery of $3.4 Million Rail Products to Youngstown Plant
Trackwork, Stick Rail and CWR for V&M Star Steel Pipe Mill
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pittsburgh, PA-based L.B. Foster Company (NASDAQ: FSTR) has begun delivery of $3.4 million of rail and trackwork products to rail contractor Wintrow Construction of Barberton, Ohio for the construction of 8.5 miles of track and other track materials at the new Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes (V&M) Star Steel pipe mill in Youngstown, Ohio.
L.B. Foster has teamed with key strategic partners to meet the product requirements for track construction at this important industrial facility. The new 115# continuous welded rail (CWR) is produced by Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI) in their Columbia City, Indiana facility. SDI welded 240 foot rail sections into 1,600 foot strings and loaded them onto a special L.B. Foster work train for delivery to the Ohio project site. L.B. Foster's team of rail professionals is managing the logistics required to provide efficient Just-in-Time delivery of the rail and trackwork materials to the jobsite.
The new rail, trackwork and rail accessories supplied by L.B. Foster will provide mainline access and in-plant transportation for seamless steel pipe at the new Youngstown mill. Vallourec & Mannesmann is building the facility to meet the growing demand for small diameter oil country tubular goods (OCTG) resulting from the increase in drilling for natural gas in the nearby Marcellus Shale region.
L.B. Foster Rail Products Facility Selected for IndustryWeek 2011 Best Plants Award
Magazine Picks Pueblo, CO Plant as World-Class Manufacturing Facility
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pittsburgh, PA-based L.B. Foster Company (NASDAQ: FSTR) announced that its Pueblo, Colorado rail products plant has been chosen by IndustryWeek magazine as one of ten North American manufacturing facilities to receive the publication's prestigious 2011 Best Plants Award. IndustryWeek's website reported L.B. Foster's rail joints and bars facility has been recognized for excellence in manufacturing. The magazine notes that the plant demonstrates extraordinary continuous improvement in the workplace and sustained efforts to provide customer satisfaction.
"The IndustryWeek award recognizes our Pueblo facility as a world-class team dedicated to safety, operational excellence and employee wellness," said Steve Burgess, L.B. Foster Director of Continuous Improvement. "Our employees' commitment to the implementation of Continuous Improvement Initiatives has created a work environment where quality and competitiveness thrive."
"My congratulations and admiration go out to our Pueblo team for being recognized with this well deserved 2011 Best Plants Award. Their efforts to increase L.B. Foster's competitiveness have led to world-class operational efficiencies and leading-edge safety initiatives. Our Pueblo Rail Products plant has set the gold standard to which our entire company strives," said Stan Hasselbusch, L.B. Foster President and CEO.
"L.B. Foster was determined from day one that the Pueblo facility would foster the professional initiative of our company's greatest asset - our employees. Today, five years later, the members of our Pueblo team demonstrate their commitment to manufacturing excellence each and every day and I congratulate them for this prestigious recognition," noted John Kasel, L.B. Foster Senior Vice President, Operations & Manufacturing.
The L.B. Foster Rail Products facility in Pueblo, Colorado manufactures insulated rail joints and epoxy bonded rail joint bars. The ISO 9001:2008 certified plant maintains an exceptional level of quality assurance and an ongoing dedication to customer satisfaction. A special report that includes a profile of this L.B. Foster facility appears in the January issue of IndustryWeek magazine.
The IndustryWeek Best Plants award program was established in 1990 to annually recognize North American plants for leading edge efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction and create stimulating and rewarding work environments. Requests for inclusion in the 2011 Best Plants Awards were solicited from companies throughout North America. The annual IndustryWeek Best Plants competition assessed operational functions in a wide range of performance categories across all manufacturing areas. The top ten manufacturing plants were selected from an impressive list of finalists. The trophy will be presented to all 2011 winners at the 2012 IndustryWeek Best Plants Conference on April 24th at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The complete list of award winners can be found here: http://www.industryweek.com/articles/2011_iw_best_plants_winners_the_best_never_rest_26325.aspx
L.B. Foster Receives IndustryWeek 2011 Best Plant Recognition
Pueblo Rail Products Facility Chosen for Manufacturing Excellence
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 14, 2011 -- L.B. Foster Company (NASDAQ: FSTR), headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, announced today that its Pueblo, CO rail products facility has been selected by IndustryWeek magazine as a finalist in their search for North America's top manufacturing plants. The publication's Website reported that the finalists for the 2011 Best Plants recognition for excellence in manufacturing included L.B. Foster's rail joints and bars facility. The Pueblo plant was chosen by IndustryWeek for demonstrating extraordinary continuous improvement in the workplace and sustained efforts to provide customer satisfaction.
"IndustryWeek recognized our Pueblo employees' commitment to L.B. Foster's Continuous Improvement Initiatives. Our team's dedicated focus on safety, operational excellence and employee wellness has been noted by the plant's inclusion in this prestigious IndustryWeek list of leading companies," said Steve Burgess, L.B. Foster Director of Continuous Improvement.
"I congratulate Plant Manager Bart Peterson and our Pueblo team for this important recognition. Their successful efforts to establish operational efficiencies have created a world-class plant environment that increases our company's competitiveness," said Stan Hasselbusch, L.B. Foster President and CEO.
The L.B. Foster Rail Products facility manufactures insulated rail joints and epoxy bonded rail joint bars. The ISO 9001:2008 certified plant maintains an exceptional level of quality assurance and an ongoing dedication to customer satisfaction.
Participation requests for inclusion in the 2011 Best Plants Awards were solicited from companies throughout North America. The annual IndustryWeek Best Plants competition assesses operational functions in a wide range of performance categories across all manufacturing areas and recognizes their excellence. The top manufacturing plants will be chosen from the impressive list of finalists to receive a 2011 IndustryWeek Best Plants Award this Fall. L.B. Foster's Pueblo, CO facility is currently being evaluated for this honor.
The complete list of finalist can be found here: http://www.industryweek.com/articles/industryweek_selects_2011_best_plants_finalists_25546.aspx?ShowAll=1
L.B. Foster Supplies 1,553 Tons of Rail for Iowa Interstate RR
Continuous Welded Rail for New Track Installation and Spur Improvements
PITTSBURGH, March 3, 2011 -- L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA is supplying 1,553 tons of new rail to Iowa Interstate Railroad, LTD (IAIS) for new track installation and spur improvements. A specially-equipped L.B. Foster work train will deliver approximately 80,000 linear feet of 115# standard continuous welded rail (CWR) in May 2011 to an Iowa Interstate interchange.
The rail is manufactured and welded in lengths up to 1,600 feet by Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI) at their Rail Products facility in Columbia City, Indiana and shipped on L.B. Foster's company-owned weld train. SDI is a strategic partner of L.B. Foster and a supplier of quality welded CWR strings to the Pittsburgh-based rail products company. "Maintaining our own weld trains helps to expedite CWR shipments from our supplier plants and provides better coordination of delivery to staging areas nationwide," said Jay Roach, L.B. Foster Sales Manager.
Iowa Interstate Railroad, a subsidiary of Railroad Development Corporation, is a Class II railroad that connects Council Bluffs, Iowa to Chicago and Peoria, Illinois..
L.B. Foster Awarded Rail Contract for CRANDIC Track Upgrade
1,000 Tons of Continuous Welded Rail Delivered by L.B. Foster Work Train
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 27, 2011 -- Pittsburgh, PA-based L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) was awarded a contract by Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) to provide approximately 1,000 tons of 115# standard rail for the upgrade of aging track, and for the construction of a new 10,000-ft siding for a unit train interchange. An L.B. Foster weld train will deliver 54,450 linear feet of continuous welded rail (CWR) in February 2011 for track rehabilitation as required for the upkeep of 60 miles of mainline rail and 40 miles of yard track. L.B. Foster Company has also provided 82,000-ft of CWR to the CRANDIC in 2009.
The new rail was manufactured in lengths of 240 feet by L.B. Foster's strategic partner, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI) of Columbia City, Indiana, and then welded into 1,650 foot sections at their rail welding facility. The welding of rail strings began on January 24th and proceeded quickly to accommodate an expedited shipping schedule in early February. L.B. Foster personnel will coordinate the transport and unloading of the train to meet the ambitious delivery date. "Managing a CWR shipment with our own company weld train allows L.B. Foster to expedite delivery and meet critical project deadlines," said Joe Mahoney, L.B. Foster Regional Sales Manager.
The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway Company is a 108 year old Class III railroad operating in four East Central Iowa counties.
L.B. Foster Awarded $5.3 Million Maine Rail Contract by NNEPRA
CWR Trains Delivering 5,561 Tons of Rail for Downeaster-Portland North Stimulus Project
PITTSBURGH, Aug 05, 2010 -- L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA was awarded a $5.3 million contract by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) to supply 5,561 tons of rail for the Downeaster-Portland North Project. NNEPRA is using a $35 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help fund the project's 26.4 mile track rehabilitation and expansion between Portland and Brunswick, Maine. The new Downeaster line will offer improved Amtrak service within the area and south to Boston, MA.
Four shipments of 115 RE standard continuous welded rail (CWR) are being delivered by L.B. Foster's company-owned weld train to the Maine project in lengths up to 1,600 feet between July and October 2010. "The convenience of our own weld train helps to expedite deliveries and keep the Downeaster project on schedule," said Chris Leeth, L.B. Foster Columbia City Plant Manager.
The rail is manufactured in 240' lengths and then welded into the 1,600' continuous strings by Steel Dynamics, Incorporated at their Continuous Welded Rail Products facility in Columbia City, Indiana. "SDI is working closely with L.B. Foster to provide superior quality rail to the jobsite within an ambitious timeframe of only three months," notes Paul Kotsenas, Manager - Rail and Special Products, Steel Dynamics. L.B. Foster is coordinating the shipment of 285,600 total feet of continuous welded rail from the Steel Dynamics mill and managing the off-loading at the Maine jobsite.
Construction of the Downeaster-Portland North Project began in July 2010 and is expected to be complete by year's end 2012.
L.B. Foster Supplying 28,500 Tons of CWR Rail for NECR Vermont Upgrade
Company-Owned CWR Trains Delivering to New England Central Railroad Jobsites
PITTSBURGH, PA - December 22, 2010 - L.B. Foster Company (NASDAQ: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA has begun delivering 28,500 tons of 115# standard continuous welded rail (CWR) to New England Central Railroad (NECR), an operating subsidiary of RailAmerica, Inc. for upgrading approximately 140 miles of track. L.B. Foster's specially-equipped CWR trains will complete 18 shipments of welded rail by mid-2011 for installation at various locations throughout Vermont. The track improvements are included in the Federal Railroad Administration's High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program award to the State of Vermont and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The 115# rail is being manufactured in 240ft lengths by L.B. Foster's strategic partner, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI), and then welded into 1600ft strings at SDI's state-of-the-art Columbia City, Indiana facility. "We provide the highest quality standard rail possible, in the longest lengths possible, and welded with the best equipment and control procedures in the western hemisphere," comments Paul Kotsenas, Manager - Rail and Special Products, Steel Dynamics.
The new rail will improve the speed of the State of Vermont sponsored Amtrak Vermonter intercity passenger service and add capacity for freight carloads. L.B. Foster's personnel are managing trackside off-loading in Vermont. "The convenience of our own weld train and jobsite management helps to expedite deliveries and minimize off-loading along this busy track," said Greg Lippard, Vice President, L.B. Foster Rail Sales.
RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE: RA) owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,300 miles of track in 27 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.
To view a video of the NECR project ribbon cutting click here
L.B. Foster Receives $2.7 Million Rail Products Contract for Pittsburgh North Shore Connector
Port Authority of Allegheny County Looks to Local Rail and Construction Products Firm for Transit Materials
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 6, 2009 - L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA has received a $2.7 million contract to supply a wide ranging package of rail products to the Allegheny County Port Authority Light Rail System. L.B. Foster is providing rail fasteners, trackwork and new rail for construction of the 1.2 mile North Shore Connector. This light rail transportation corridor will travel in two bored tunnels beneath the Allegheny River to connect Pittsburgh's city center (Gateway Subway Station under Stanwix Street) with North Shore neighborhoods and attractions.
"Our transit products team is providing field-proven L.B. Foster direct fixation fasteners and special trackwork to the contractor, Delta Railroad Construction, for this important project," said Ben Leidy, Pittsburgh Rail Sales Representative with locally headquartered L.B. Foster Company. "We count on suppliers like L.B. Foster when we require a full range of quality rail products for major transit projects, such as the North Shore Connector," said Larry Laurello, President, Delta Railroad Construction of Ashtabula, OH. L.B. Foster is also supplying 470 tons of new 115lb rail and trackwork items.
Final delivery of L.B. Foster materials is scheduled for late 2010 and train service should begin in 2011.
L.B. Foster Awarded $2.1 Million Dallas Area Rapid Transit Rail Products Contract
Direct Fixation Fasteners Provided for Phase One of DART Orange Line to Irving, Texas
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 29, 2009 - L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA has been awarded a contract to supply direct fixation fasteners and bonded insulated joints for the first phase of the new Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Orange Line from the city center of Dallas to Irving, TX. L.B. Foster is coordinating product shipments to the Northwest Corridor Expansion project to meet the scheduling requirements of the general contractor joint venture, Kiewit/Stacy and Witbeck/Reyes/Parsons Corporation. "The contractor recognized our hard earned reputation for quality rail products and project management," said Dennis Bachtel, L.B. Foster's Western Regional Manager within the Rail Products Group.
L.B. Foster direct fixation fasteners provide noise and vibration dampening, electrical isolation and ease of installation. The DF fasteners are manufactured by the Transit Products unit of L.B. Foster to meet the exacting standards established for DART's systems. This DF fastener design has been rigorously tested at L.B. Foster's rail specific development and testing laboratory in Atlanta, GA. The bonded insulated joints are produced by L.B. Foster's Allegheny Rail Products at facilities in Niles, OH and Pueblo, CO. "The reliability and long life cycle of this insulated joint is respected by freight and passenger railroads worldwide," noted Sam Fisher, Senior Vice President of L.B. Foster's Rail Products Group.
Three construction phases of the Northwest Corridor Expansion Project will expand the DART Orange Line from Dallas to the terminals of DFW Airport. Phase One construction began in May 2009 and is scheduled to be completed by April 2010.
L.B. Foster Completing $9 Million Hampton Roads Transit Contract
Wide Range of Rail Products Provided for The Tide Light Rail System
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 15, 2009 - L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA is delivering the final shipment of rail products in September under a $9 million contract with Skanska USA Civil Southeast for use in the construction of The Tide Light Rail System in Norfolk, VA. Hampton Roads Transit, the regional transportation agency, is building the new 7.4 mile light-rail line linking the Eastern Virginia Medical Center, downtown Norfolk and Interstate 264.
L.B. Foster has provided new rail, relay rail, insulated rail joints, direct fixation fasteners and trackwork for the new rail link. "L.B. Foster was chosen by contractor Skanska USA because we were able to deliver the complete scope of product requirements and project management for a large transit project such as The Tide," noted Greg Lippard, Vice President within the Rail Products Group of L.B. Foster Company. "L.B. Foster's long history of successful customer and vendor relationships helped to secure this important project contract," said Rick Kilpatrick, L.B. Foster's Northeast District Manager.
The Tide Light Rail System is scheduled to begin service along Norfolk's east/west transportation corridor in 2010.
L.B. Foster Awarded $7.6 Million Denton County Transportation Authority Rail Contract
5172 Tons of L.B. Foster Rail for 21 Mile A-Train Link to the Denton Suburbs
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 14 -- L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA has been awarded a $7.6 million contract for 115# rail for installation on the 21 mile A-Train transit project linking Denton and Carrollton, TX. Shipments of 4599 tons of 1600ft welded rail and 573 tons of 80ft stick rail were delivered to the North Texas Rail Group, a contractor joint venture between Herzog Contracting Corporation and Archer Western Contractors. "Our L.B. Foster Rail Products estimating and project management teams fast-tracked the contract, manufacturing and delivery to meet a critical construction schedule," said Greg Lippard, L.B. Foster Rail Products Vice President.
The first shipment totaling 3066 tons of welded 115# rail was delivered by L.B. Foster's company-owned weld trains and unloaded July 1, 2009. "Coordinating this shipment on our weld trains helped to expedite the delivery and meet the contractors' tight project schedule," said Dennis Bachtel, L.B. Foster Rail Products Western Sales Manager. The final shipment of 1533 tons of welded rail was delivered and unloaded August 1, 2009.
L.B. Foster owns a fleet of company-owned weld trains to best manage the shipment and unloading of continuously welded rail. The 107 year old firm is a market leader in the manufacture and distribution of quality rail products for freight, passenger and industrial rail systems. L.B. Foster can ship product from convenient locations throughout North America.
L.B. Foster Awarded $3.9 Million Rail Products Stimulus Contract for Philadelphia Transit Project
Contractor Orders Wide Range of L.B. Foster Transit Products for SEPTA Fern Rock Yard Track Renewal
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 2, 2009 - L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA has been awarded a $3.9 million transit rail products stimulus-funded contract for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Fern Rock Yard Track Renewal Project. New York City-based contractor Railworks Track Systems, Inc. is replacing track and contact rail installations dating from 1928 in Philadelphia's Fern Rock Yard with a wide range of transit products sourced from L.B. Foster.
"L.B. Foster relied on the industry-leading technical support and quality products of our Transit and Allegheny Rail Products team to meet the product requirements of this important project," said Rick Kilpatrick, L.B. Foster's Northeast District Manager within the Rail Products Group. "Our transit product line has the depth to fulfill this wide ranging contract with a single source package," noted Hakan Eksi, General Manager at L.B. Foster's Suwanee, GA transit manufacturing and research facilities.
L.B. Foster Awarded $7.6 Million Denton County Transportation Authority Rail Contract
5172 Tons of L.B. Foster Rail for 21 Mile A-Train Link to the Denton Suburbs
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 14 -- L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR) of Pittsburgh, PA has been awarded a $7.6 million contract for 115# rail for installation on the 21 mile A-Train transit project linking Denton and Carrollton, TX. Shipments of 4599 tons of 1600ft welded rail and 573 tons of 80ft stick rail were delivered to the North Texas Rail Group, a contractor joint venture between Herzog Contracting Corporation and Archer Western Contractors. "Our L.B. Foster Rail Products estimating and project management teams fast-tracked the contract, manufacturing and delivery to meet a critical construction schedule," said Greg Lippard, L.B. Foster Rail Products Vice President.
The first shipment totaling 3066 tons of welded 115# rail was delivered by L.B. Foster's company-owned weld trains and unloaded July 1, 2009. "Coordinating this shipment on our weld trains helped to expedite the delivery and meet the contractors' tight project schedule," said Dennis Bachtel, L.B. Foster Rail Products Western Sales Manager. The final shipment of 1533 tons of welded rail was delivered and unloaded August 1, 2009.
L.B. Foster owns a fleet of company-owned weld trains to best manage the shipment and unloading of continuously welded rail. The 107 year old firm is a market leader in the manufacture and distribution of quality rail products for freight, passenger and industrial rail systems. L.B. Foster can ship product from convenient locations throughout North America.