Updates from Timken, NICE, Vossloh, Rescar and STV/Ralph Whitehead

• The Timken Co. reported record second-quarter sales of $1.54 billion, a 14 percent increase compared with second-quarter 2007's total. The Bearings and Power Transmission Group generated record sales of $1.06 billion, up 9 percent. The group's earnings before interest and taxes jumped 31 percent to $87.7 million primarily because of strong global industrial demand and pricing.

• NICE Systems won a seven-digit follow-on contract from Norfolk Southern Corp. to manage and analyze rail communications at five additional sites. The railroad now will install NICE security systems at 16 sites to augment those recently installed at 16 other sites, including yards and dispatch centers. NS also will upgrade an existing NICE system at a police communication center.

• Vossloh AG's first-half sales rose 21 percent and order intake jumped 67 percent compared with first-half 2007 totals. The rail infrastructure division increased sales by about 32 percent primarily because switch system sales jumped 37 percent and Vossloh Fastening Systems' sales rose 12 percent. The motive power and components division reported a sales gain of nearly 10 percent, as locomotive sales went up 7 percent and electrical system sales increased 19 percent.

• Rescar Inc./Rescar Industries Inc. will hold a dedication ceremony Aug. 12 in DuBois, Pa., for the reopening of a rail-car coatings facility that was destroyed by a fire in July 2007 at the company's car repair shop. Rescar rebuilt the coatings facility, which applies coatings to hopper and tank cars' interiors and exteriors. The company also rebuilt a car cleaning facility.

• STV/Ralph Whitehead Associates Rail Group Project Manager and Senior Engineer Willis White has been elected to serve as vice chairman of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association's Steel Structures Committee 15.