Nordco, Inc. is an American manufacturer of railroad maintenance of way and inspection equipment, based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Founded in 1926, it has been a subsidiary of Wabtec since 2021. The company is one of the top manufacturers of railroad maintenance equipment in North America.
 A Nordco railcar mover, part of the company's Shuttlewagon line | |
| Industry | Railroad maintenance equipment |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1926 |
| Founder | Nordberg Manufacturing Company |
| Headquarters | Oak Creek, Wisconsin |
Area served | North America |
| Revenue | $175 million (2021) |
| $40 million (2021) | |
| Parent | Wabtec |
| Website | nordco |
History
editNordco was founded in 1926 as a division of Nordberg Manufacturing Company.[1] Nordco was purchased by OMERS Private Equity in 2009.[2] In 2021, Nordco was acquired by Wabtec in a $400 million deal.[3][4]
Acquisitions
editNordco purchased Illinois railroad maintenance machinery rebuilder J.E.R. Overhaul in 2006, followed by Connecticut based non-destructive testing company Dapco Industries in 2007.[5] Both of the headquarters of these companies now serve as additional manufacturing facilities for Nordco. These were followed in 2008 by the purchase of Central Power Products, manufacturer of the Shuttlewagon series of railcar movers.[6]
In 2016, Nordco acquired Kansas heavy lift truck manufacturer Royal Tractor.[7]
Products
editNordco manufactures and rebuilds a wide variety of maintenance of way vehicles, including tie exchangers, ballast regulators, spike drivers, spike pullers, and tie cranes.[8][9] The company also manufactures equipment for non-destructive rail testing, used to inspect railroad tracks for defects. Products range from portable inspection systems to larger systems based on hirail vehicles.[10] Through the company's Shuttlewagon division, Nordco also produces railcar movers and forklifts.
In 2012, Nordco constructed a $438,000 ballast regulator/snowplow for the Long Island Rail Road. Due to an error in construction, the plow was built too wide and touched the third rail, requiring Nordco correct the error at no additional cost.[11]
Subsidiaries
edit- Dapco Industries
- J.E.R. Overhaul
- Nordco Rail Services
- Shuttlewagon - Railcar mover manufacturer Shuttlewagon is based in Grandview, Missouri. Nordco purchased the company in 2008.[5] In 2016, Shuttlewagon produced the world's first electric railcar mover, the NVX-E.[12] Also in 2016, Shuttlewagon expanded its operations with a new nearly 500,000 square foot facility in Kansas City.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Our History". www.nordco.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ BizTimes Staff (2009-06-01). "Nordco acquired by Canadian private equity firm". BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News. Archived from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ "Wabtec Acquiring Nordco". Railway Age. 2021-03-23. Archived from the original on 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ Doughty, Nate (29 July 2021). "Wabtec touts success of recent partnerships as it sees recovery across different rail segments in Q2". American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ a b "Shuttlewagon Joins Nordco Family of Companies". powderbulksolids.com. 2008-04-15. Archived from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ Heaster, Randolph (2008-04-15). "Nordco gets Grandview company". The Kansas City Star. p. 33. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ^ "Nordco Acquires Royal Tractor". powderbulksolids.com. 2016-06-16. Archived from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ Cotey, Angela. "Rail Insider-Railroad snow plows, air blowers and switch heaters help combat winter weather". Progressive Railroading. Archived from the original on 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ Solomon, Brian (2001). Railway maintenance equipment. Osceola, Wis.: MBI Pub. Co. pp. 60, 68, 74, 78. ISBN 0-7603-0975-2. OCLC 46976669. Archived from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ "Nordco | Inspection Technologies". www.nordco.com. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ Castillo, Alfonso A. (March 12, 2012). "Only Thing Missing Is Snow". Newsday. pp. A8–A9. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ^ "About Us | Shuttlewagon Mobile Railcar Movers". Shuttlewagon. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ Roberts, Rob (29 November 2016). "Shuttlewagon will expand at Three Trails Industrial Park". Kansas City Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2021.