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Sustainability Never Sleeps with Composite Railroad Tie PartnershipSustainability Never Sleeps with Composite Railroad Tie Partnership

Sumitomo makes strategic investment in Evertrak, a North American composite railroad tie manufacturer, to support building a sustainable railroad infrastructure.

Stephen Moore

February 4, 2025

2 Min Read
composite railroad ties
Approximately 20 million railroad ties are replaced annually in North America.Image courtesy of Evertrak

Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp. has made a strategic investment in Evertrak, a St. Louis, MI–based manufacturer of composite railroad ties — also known as sleepers — for the North American railroad industry, through its local affiliate, Sumitomo Corp. of Americas. This partnership aims to reduce environmental impacts and build a more sustainable railroad infrastructure in North America.

In high-decay zones, primarily located in the southeastern United States, heat and high humidity accelerate the early detorioration of wooden railroad ties, posing challenges from both a cost and environmental perspective. To address these issues, the North American railroad industry is increasingly adopting composite railroad ties as a sustainable alternative. Made from recycled plastics and fiberglass, composite ties offer numerous advantages, including superior environmental performance, durability, and long-term cost savings. In addition, composite ties are 100% recyclable after use.

A six-million tie market

Approximately 20 million railroad ties are replaced annually in North America, with six million of these located in high-decay zones. Evertrak’s flagship product, the Evertrak 7000, reportedly offers an unparalleled lifespan of more than 50 years in high-decay zones, compared to the average eight to 12 years of wooden railroad ties.

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The North American railroad industry has been considering the adoption of composite railroad ties since the early 2000s, but achieving the required cost competitiveness and quality for mass production has been a significant challenge. Evertrak says it has overcome these barriers with the Evertrak 7000, which is now being adopted by Class 1 railroads, offering significant long-term cost and environmental advantages.

In the North American railroad industry, Class 1 refers to the seven major freight railroad companies operating in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This classification is established by the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (STB) based on the annual revenue of railroad companies.

Shared vision of building a sustainable railroad infrastructure

Sumitomo has been instrumental in supporting North American freight railroad infrastructure by exporting rails from Japan and manufacturing and selling tie plates, wheels, and axles in North America. The decision to invest in Evertrak stems from a shared vision to build sustainable railroad infrastructure and the opportunity to create synergies with Sumitomo Corp.’s existing businesses. This strategic partnership will enhance Evertrak’s production capacity and accelerate the development of competitive and sustainable products.

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About the Author

Stephen Moore

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia, and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking his bike on overseas business trips, and a proud dachshund owner.

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