HARRISBURG, Pa., April 2, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Worldwide industrial services and products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) announced today that its Harsco Track Technologies (HTT) division has received a $23 million order for its "Stoneblower" railway track maintenance machines from the U.K.'s national railway system, Network Rail. The order includes an option for additional units; follow-on orders for service and support are also anticipated. The first of the units is scheduled to enter service in early 2004.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/?pkgid=503
A video accompanying this release is available at: http://media.harsco.com/harsco/Sblower5.wmv
The order continues Harsco's growing support to the U.K. market and to international customers overall. In September, HTT received from Network Rail its largest single order ever, a $25 million contract for switch and crossing rail grinders that are now under construction for delivery this year. Network Rail's fleet also includes 13 previous Stoneblower units as well as an HTT Track Renewal Train, a self-contained multi-unit railway maintenance train used to restore and upgrade track.
The Stoneblower is a revolutionary machine developed in conjunction with the U.K. railway administration as an alternative to traditional ballast tamping methods for restoring railway track's vertical and lateral alignment. The Stoneblower pneumatically injects ballast stone under the railway ties or "sleepers" to achieve track positioning to an accuracy of one millimeter without disturbing the pre-existing ballast foundation. The result is a smooth track surface immediately available for full-speed railway operations. Stoneblowing has been proven to provide a track surface three to six times more durable than tamping. To date, over 6,500 miles of track have been maintained by stoneblowing in the U.K., with outstanding results across all categories of track.
Harsco Track Technologies is one of the largest and most comprehensive railroad track maintenance equipment and service organizations in the world. The division provides track maintenance services to major railroads, short lines, and transit systems, and is a single source for over 140 types and models of work equipment used in the maintenance, renewal, and new construction of railway track.
Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) is a $2 billion diversified industrial services and products company employing approximately 17,500 people in more than 40 countries of operation. Harsco's market-leading businesses provide mill services, access services, gas and fluid control products, and other infrastructure products and services to customers worldwide. Additional information about Harsco, including its Harsco Track Technologies division, can be found at www.harsco.com.
The Harsco Corporation logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=361