crosstie check in 2012
time in the industry.” Gauntt says that opportunities are abundant the industry right now and attributes the best measure of this in the growth of the RTA’s annual conference. Last year, there was 15 percent more participation than the year before. This year, the room block was sold out months in advance and there is a waiting list for the Tampa conference. “The wood tie industry appears to be the place to be and we are very proud our members are meeting the challenges railroads are presenting to them,” he stated.
RTA research Four years ago, RTA, in conjunction with Mississippi State University and some Class 1 railroads began a long-term research project on more alternative wood preservatives. This year, phase two begins, including some of the newer preservative technologies. To read more about current and past studies, visit www.rta.org. RTA is updating the TieLife model this year to account for the increase in life expectancy of wood ties when employing dualtreatment processes.
Wood “The past year has seen our company go through an evolution,” noted Shane Boatright, CEO of Boatright Companies. “We are currently building new facilities, which will double our treating capacity and at the same time, striving to meet increased customer demands from our existing one. Growth and opportunity would aptly describe the past year.” He notes that higher fuel costs have seen increases in raw materials. Boatright is a privately-owned company that carries its own inventory, so it strives to maintain steady pricing while balancing these increases. Crosstie suppliers have somewhat dwindled in recent years, according to Boatright. Ten years ago there were as many as 15 major players in the marketplace; consolidations have trimmed that to less than half that number.
www.rtands.com
“While capacity to treat is maintained, those committed to this industry are fewer,” he said. “There is also the continued acceptance of borates. Virtually, all Class 1 ‘roads have adopted some program utilizing Borates in high-decay areas. Also, alternative treatments like copper napthenate as an encapsulate for borates are gaining market share.” With the growing use of borates to fight decay and termite damage, Boatright says customers are taking major steps to enhance the tie of choice, the pressure-treated wooden crosstie. “Our company was the first to develop the industrial commercialization process for borates and the first to supply a Class 1, Norfolk Southern, with copper Napthenate over borates as a large part of its 2012 maintenance program. This is how we partner with our customer for a stronger infrastructure.” According to Thomas Niederberger, vice president marketing and sales at Koppers, Inc., the wood crosstie market has remained quite vibrant throughout 2012 and notes that while Class 1 tie programs have remained relatively consistent, the shortline and contractor market has continued to grow their track structure investments to meet Class 1 interchange requirements, as well as to address specific opportunities, such as the growth of shale and natural gas production. “Class 1 Capex spending has remained strong in 2012, pretty much across the board, at or near previous levels,” he said. “Expenditures for ties and, for that matter, overall track and infrastructure spending, continues to be a high priority.” A number of Class 1s are moving toward unit trains to supply ties to their gangs, notes Niederberger. He says that after significant field testing, this method is favorable in terms of downstream productivity and he expects to see more activity in this area in the future. “As with the Class 1s, the regionals and shortlines have also begun to focus more on the life-cycle-cost of ties installed in the higher-decay zones,” he noted. “We have seen an increase in borate tie RFQs, as well as an increase in general questions on the subject.”
Railway Track & Structures
October 2012 19