Alstom has acquired the British train maintenance and refurbishment business Railcare Ltd, which was formerly owned by Siemens and Babcock International. The 680 staff at three sites will be integrated into Alstom Transport Service.
MAN B&W Diesel Ltd is to reorganise its engine and after-market businesses in Britain. A Medium Speed Business Unit will cover Mirrlees Blackstone and some Ruston products. A High Speed unit will cover Paxman, and Ruston rail and marine engines.
General Motors has become a member of Unife.
Alstom Chief Executive Pierre Bilger has said the company hopes to gain full control of the former Fiat Ferroviaria, which will strengthen Alstom’s position in Italy.
Continental has drawn up a shortlist of possible buyers for rubber technology group ContiTech. Continental Chairman Stephen Kessel said he wants to sell ContiTech to one buyer, and hopes to finalise a deal early next year.
Speaking at the Balfour Beatty AGM, Chairman Lord Weir said he anticipates ’a number of sizeable new contracts in the rail sector in the near future.’
Steel producers Aceralia (Spain), Arbed (Luxembourg) and Usinor (France) were due to present their merger plans to the European Union’s Competition Commission last month. A decision is not expected before October.
Following the merger in October 2000 of Alcan of Canada with Algroup/Alusuisse, the companies have merged their activities in the rail market. Alusuisse Road & Rail is now known as Alcan Mass Transport Systems.
Vehicle window manufacturer Westberga UK has gone into receivership. KPMG Corporate Recovery is looking to sell the business as a going concern.
Eurailscout and GTRM have created a joint venture company to offer track recording services in Great Britain. Eurailscout GB has ordered a high speed recording car from Plasser & Theurer, to be delivered early next year.
Slovakian rolling stock producers ZOS Zvolen, ZOS Trnava, Vagónka Trebisov and ZTS Dubnica nad V
