BRAZIL: Progress Rail has acquired software and consulting company Nitryx, which develops decision support tools for network optimisation, yard planning, crew management and rail movement planning.
Nitryx has expertise in optimisation algorithms, artificial intelligence, computer vision, Radio Frequency Identification, advanced sensor application, internet of things and logistics processes. Its products are currently offered primarily in Brazil, but Progress Rail said they would be capable of supporting North American Class I railways and global mining railways with customer-specific customisation.
‘Railroads are looking for technology investments to improve their efficiencies beyond what is captured in Precision Scheduled Railroading initiatives’, explained Paul Denton, Senior Vice-President of Global Sales & Marketing for Progress Rail, when the acquisition was announced on May 17. ‘With the addition of Nitryx, we can offer comprehensive automation solutions that improve our customers’ fuel efficiency, optimise network capacity and meet sustainability and emissions goals.’
