Axion International Holdings, Inc. said Tuesday, March 11, 2014 it has "a second purchase order for ECOTRAX® rail ties to be shipped to Russia and installed in track with a major transit line."
The order, for 600 rail ties, was sold through Axion's in-country distributor and business partner, TVEMA, an international group of companies based in Moscow whose subdivisions are involved in design, manufacture, and project development of rail diagnostic equipment.
"We are excited with the progress we have made in developing our business in Russia," said Axion President and CEO Steve Silverman. "Breaking into a new market with a new technology is a process that takes time. After several years of lab testing and in track trials, we are starting to see the business develop.
"Russia is the second largest rail network in the world and we have focused resources against this large opportunity," Silverman noted. "We are extremely pleased with our partnership with TVEMA and look forward to a very fruitful relationship as we continue to progress in the global adoption process for a high quality composite rail tie and continue to build our footprint in Russia."
New Providence, N.J.-based Axion says its composite rail ties have potential for widespread adoption throughout Russia's rail network, many of which traverse a variety of climates where wooden alternatives are short-lived. ECOTRAX® rail ties are not porous and do not absorb moisture, and therefore are impervious to water and rot, the company says.