Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. (EMD), world's leading manufacturer of Diesel Locomotives with a turnover of $1.8 billion is celebrating 50 years of bringing the latest Diesel Locomotive Technology to Indian Railways (IR). The association started in 1959 when EMD and Indian Railways initiated a contract to deliver 127 diesel locomotives.

Commenting on this momentous occasion, Mr. John S Hamilton, Worldwide President & CEO, EMD states that “We’ve invested significant resources and over a billion of dollars in recent years developing the advanced technology for our locomotives. Today we at EMD feel proud that our relationship with Indian Railways has reached the 50 year mark, beginning with a delivery of 127 new locomotives. Since then we have been focused on a closer technology-sharing relationship. In the mid 1990’s Indian Railways was looking for a Transfer of Technology arrangement to produce its own locomotives at the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) Varanasi and at a time when no other Locomotive manufacturer was willing, EMD came forward and offered state of the art technology for the 4000 HP AC AC locomotives.”

Over the decades the relationship between EMD and Indian Railways has created job opportunities, both in India and the US. EMD and DLW have been actively working together to constantly upgrade and improve on the technology, with the introduction of new and higher horse power (HP) diesel locomotive.

Mr. Praveen Kumar, Member Mechanical, Indian Railways, said “The partnership between Indian Railways and EMD has brought the latest diesel locomotive technology to India. As a result of a TOT agreement signed between EMD and IR in 1995, DLW for the last 10 years has been manufacturing both the passenger and freight version of the microprocessor controlled 4000 HP diesel locomotives utilizing EMD technology. The association with EMD has really been fruitful and I am confident that it will help us usher in further technology upgrades on IR in the future as well".

Encouraged with the high performance, greater availability and reliability and low maintenance, IR has decided to manufacture only the high 4500 HP locomotives at DLW.

As desired by IR, EMD continues to work closely with DLW and its business associates to ramp up production at DLW to 200 locomotives per year.

The future looks bright for EMD in India as it actively looks to work with local associates to develop world quality components.

To increase its freight throughput, and generating more revenue, IR’s initiative of adding a new 5,000+ HP locomotive to the present fleet is a welcome development. Such locomotives are expected to be manufactured in a very short time with technical assistance from EMD.

EMD has made great strides since its new owners Greenbriar Equity Group LLC and Berkshire Partners as well as a new management team has taken control of Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. in 2005. The company hasinvested hundreds of millions of dollars updating its technology in both information systems as well as engineering and manufacturing. EMD has also invested by adding talented people around the world to move EMD forward, and be a truly global organization. Delivering products and services that our customers have asked for is key for EMD.

In 2006, EMD in the tradition of providing quality technology support, introduced the new GT46ACe a 4,500 HP IGBT AC traction system locomotive as the next generation in the GT46 family of locomotives at DLW.

Presently EMD will fully support the future ramp up of production at DLW to manufacture up to 200 locomotives per year. Today IR deems locomotives powered by EMD technology and equipment to be highly reliable with an impressive availability rate of 91% to 95%.

EMD has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to provide enhancements to the 710-engine family to make it the most environmentally friendly diesel engine in its class. EMD has always been at the forefront of meeting or exceeding emission standards around the world for its diesel engines.

EMD’s Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) will use the upcoming events in India to meet with both current and potential future suppliers in India. With its global footprint and large volume requirements, EMD will continue to look for Indian sources that can help it contain costs as well as meet its supplier metrics for quality, delivery and exclusivity. ISC currently has a plethora of Indian suppliers on board that provide EMD with engineering, drafting and strategic component manufacturing products and services, but feels it has only scratched the surface of the capability that India’s vast resources have to offer.

Currently up to 20% of Engineering and Drafting work, and up to 60% of the information technology services which is provided by EMD’s Strategic Information Solutions (SIS), is currently being performed by Indian companies with resources in both India and the United States.

About EMD
Founded in 1922, Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. is a leading U.S. original equipment manufacturer of diesel electric locomotives. Headquartered in LaGrange, Illinois, with additional facilities and associates around the world, EMD designs, manufactures and sells diesel-electric locomotives for all commercial railroad applications and has sold its products in more than 70 countries worldwide. The Company is the only dieselelectric locomotive manufacturer to have produced more than 70,000 engines and has the largest installed base of diesel-electric locomotives in both North America and internationally. In addition to its locomotive manufacturing activities, EMD has an extensive aftermarket business offering customer’s replacement parts and a range of value-added services for its locomotives. The Company is also a global provider of diesel engines for marine propulsion, offshore and land-based oil well drilling rigs, and stationary power generation.

Additional information may be found at www.emdindia.com.