CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2006--One of the world's leading marketers of fertilizer and other crop inputs has signed up for a new GE service that promises to simplify and better manage the increasingly complex and potentially costly task of managing and maintaining its fleet of specialty railcars.
Agrium, a global retailer, marketer and producer of fertilizer and other crop inputs based in Calgary, Canada, has become the first company to sign up for Maintenance MAX(TM), the new fleet maintenance and management service provided by GE Equipment Services. Agrium is placing 100 fertilizer hopper cars in this new service program, combining the management of railcar fleet administration and maintenance functions.
"Agrium, like so many other shippers in the rail industry, want a firm handle on upkeep costs within their railcar fleet," said Ted Torbeck, president and CEO of GE Equipment Services, Rail Services. "We are pleased Agrium has turned to us for a maintenance management solution that will allow them to get the most out of their railcar fleet."
With Maintenance MAX, GE is bringing its own considerable experience to bear on railcar fleet maintenance. As the owner of a fleet of more than 170,000 railcars that comprise one of the world's most diverse fleets, maintenance is one of Railcar Services' core competencies. GE has drawn on years of data on every aspect of fleet maintenance, analyzing different materials, suppliers and types of equipment, to determine the best repairs to maintain reliability. With this information-based approach, Maintenance MAX helps extend maintenance intervals, keep cars on track, and reduce overall maintenance costs.
The Maintenance MAX program uses GE's historical data and analyzes key components of customer railcars to help identify cost trends of the fleet. Using the rigorous quality control standards of Six Sigma, GE's Maintenance MAX service provides a cost effective, overall fleet management system.
About GE Equipment Services, Rail Services
A unit of the General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) and GE Equipment Services, Rail Services, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, leases approximately 170,000 railroad cars--including grain hoppers, coal hoppers, tank cars, boxcars, plastics and other specialty hoppers, mill gondola, intermodal flat cars that carry highway semi trailers and intermodal containers. Additionally, the company leases 150,000 intermodal trailers, containers and chassis to shippers and railroads. For further information, visit www.ge.com/railservices.
About GE
GE (NYSE:GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.
Contacts
GE Equipment Services, Rail Services
Frank Mantero, 312-853-5557
[email protected]
Britta Kons
GE Healthcare Global Services
[email protected]
1-203-400-1892