With an acquisition in North America, voestalpine strengthens its leading position in high-quality components for the rail track in the U.S.

27 March 2009 |

U.S. subsidiary of VAE GmbH acquires the assets of a top-supplier of specialty components for the steel track. VAE Nortrak North America Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of VAE GmbH, Austria—a company of the listed voestalpine Group—and North America's leading supplier of trackwork components and turnout systems, has acquired the assets of Leading Edge Enterprises Inc. of Decatur, Illinois. Effective immediately, Leading Edge's Decatur facility will operate under the VAE Nortrak banner.

Leading Edge has successfully leveraged engineering, design, and manufacturing expertise to become a respected provider of specialty components for the steel track. Leading Edge’s success has been built upon an unparalleled reputation for the quick and effective development of tangible solutions to client problems. Its diverse product portfolio includes: injection molded plastic, cast ductile iron and Manganese steel.

For voestalpine, this transaction is an important strategic step in strengthening its ability to serve North America’s freight and transit rail sectors. Leading Edge’s complementary product offering will enhance voestalpine’s position as North America’s leading supplier of high-quality components for the rail track. The transaction also gives the voestalpine subsidiary the ability to supply domestically produced railway and transit components from the heart of the U.S. Midwest.

The VAE Group

The VAE Group is a company of the voestalpine Group. This company is the global market leader in the manufacture of switches and turnout systems. The Group now operates 40 plants in 19 countries on all five continents. Annual sales amount to approximately EUR 650 million, comprising the manufacture of switches and HYTRONICS, i.e. operating, monitoring and safety equipment for railway systems. Globally, more than 4,800 people are employed by the VAE Group.

voestalpine Group

voestalpine is a globally active group with a number of specialized and flexible companies that produce, process and further develop high-quality steel products. The Group is represented by 360 production and sales companies in more than 60 countries. With its highest quality flat steel products, voestalpine is one of Europe's leading partners to the automotive, white goods and energy industries. Furthermore, voestalpine is the world market leader in turnout technology, tool steel and special sections, as well as number one in Europe in the production of rails. The voestalpine Group generated revenues of EUR 8.55 billion in the business year 2009/10 and employs around 41,000 staff throughout the world.