As reported by International Railway Journal, the U.S. Caterpillar Inc., through its subsidiary Progress Rail, has acquired Italian signalling company ECM SpA based in Pistoia.
ECM, founded in 1958 by Mr Giulio Cappellini, started working with Italian State Railways (FS) in 1966 and has since been involved in equipping both the infrastructure and trains with Italian Rail Network’s (RFI) SCMT traffic management and SSC ATP systems. ECM has also developed its HMR9 computer-based interlocking which is able to remotely control and supervise large stations and long sections of line from one control centre as well as other systems such as SCMT, SSC, ERTMS, and block sections using axle counters. ECM also manufactures a range of signalling products including power supply, LED signals, axle counters, remote control and diagnostic systems, and work site protection.
Progress Rail says ECM will continue with both signal production and engineering at its facility in Pistoia.
“ECM’s products and services provide the best platform to leverage Progress Rail’s existing global network to bring advanced signal technologies to rail customers and further expand into international markets,” says Mr Billy Ainsworth, senior vice-president of Caterpillar and president and CEO of Progress Rail.
Caterpillar Inc. is an American corporation which designs, develops, engineers, manufactures, markets and sells machinery, engines, financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. It is the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturer. Its revenue in 2016 has been US$ 38,5 billion and it employees 95.000 people worldwide.