Event will connect potential suppliers with passenger rail carbuilders and locomotive manufacturers
Connecting interested and capable prospective suppliers with the builders of Next Generation rail equipment is the focus of a complimentary event on February 14th at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare. The “Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Connectivity Forum” will bring together executives from several leading rail equipment manufacturers with the leaders of small and mid-sized firms interested in expanding into the growing rail equipment supply sector.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently awarded $268.2M to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the purchase of 88 passenger cars and 22 locomotives for Illinois, Michigan and Missouri. The new rolling stock will incorporate numerous design improvements and innovations to make rail service more efficient and cost-effective for passengers. Bid proposals from large rail car and locomotive manufacturers will be subject to DOT Buy America provisions which target FRA’s 100% domestic content goal for all parts and subassemblies.
The Forum will include time blocks for suppliers to meet one-on-one with rail original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), participate in panel discussions, and learn first-hand what products and components are needed by the rail car and locomotive builders. Companies in traditional Midwest supply chains with the capabilities to produce components such as electronics, transmissions, castings/forgings, car body shells, should attend. This effort is just the beginning of a long term effort to expand, replace and modernize the aging passenger rail car fleet while re-establishing the domestic supply chain to support passenger rail car industry.
“This is an unprecedented opportunity for Midwest manufacturers to participate in the modernization of the intermodal transportation system in the United States,” said David Boulay, President of the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC), which is co-hosting the event along with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Rail Administration; the U.S. Department of Commerce, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP); and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). “The message is clear: OEMs who are competing to build these rail cars can improve their bid prospects by sourcing domestically. This event will put those car builders together with the suppliers they need.”
Rail Manufacturers and OEMs scheduled to attend include Alstom, Bombardier, CAF USA, Electro-Motive Diesels, GE Transportation, Kawasaki Rail Car, Nippon-Sharyo, Siemens, Stadler Rail, Talgo, US Railcar.
Space is limited to 200. Register at http://bit.ly/twlfdl.
