Rail supplier news from WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, Eurovia, REMSA, Wi-Tronix and Orgo-Thermit (Feb. 8)

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has awarded a design-build contract to Archer Western Construction with WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff as the lead designer to overhaul and upgrade the agency's tunnel ventilation system. The project will involve restoring the existing system to a state of good repair through a combination of repair, rehabilitation or replacement of ventilation equipment. The scope of the work entails 16 tunnel segments. WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff will perform electrical system studies, egress analyses and tunnel fan scenarios to support updates to MARTA's supervisory and control system for remote monitoring of the ventilation system.

Eurovia has finalized its acquisition of contractor Rail Cantech Inc. Operating primarily in Quebec and Ontario, Rail Cantech provides engineering, construction and maintenance services for national rail networks, urban transport networks and industrial sidings. A subsidiary of VINCI, Eurovia is a transportation infrastructure construction and urban development company.

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) will host a USA Pavilion at Innotrans 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Held biannually, the event is the largest rail transport and technology trade show in the world, REMSA officials said in a press release. The event will run Sept. 20 through Sept. 23. So far, eight companies out of a maximum of 13 have signed up to exhibit at the association's pavilion. They are: IEM Corp., Loram Maintenance of Way Inc., Nordco Inc., Rocla Concrete Tie Inc., ROV Railway Industry Inc., TransCore, Transportation Technology Center Inc. and Williams Hayward Protective Coatings Inc.

Wi-Tronix LLC has formed a new customer strategy department to further engage and assist customers. In addition to a team of customer care managers, the department includes technical engineers to better support customer understanding and utilization of products, company officials said in a press release. The customer care managers will work to find new ways for customers to leverage business information to further advance railroads' annual strategies. Chad Jasmin, formerly director of sales at Wi-Tronix, will lead the team as vice president of customer strategy.

Orgo-Thermit Inc. has hired Geoff Bell as technical sales/service associate. He'll be working in the company's Midwest territory. Bell previously worked in the metal manufacturing industry.