Progress Rail Acquires Italian Firm

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, has acquired ECM S.p.A., an Italian provider of signal solutions and technologies devoted to the safety, control and enhancement of railway infrastructure.

ECM, headquartered in Pistoia, Italy, has served the infrastructure industry as a provider of signal technologies for more than 50 years. ECM will join Progress Rail’s existing signal division. The group will continue both signal production and engineering in Pistoia.

The privately-held rail signaling company designs, manufactures, sells and services advanced signal systems and products. ECM’s modern solutions are important to the future of rail operations, and include state-of-the-art technologies, such as computer based interlocking and automatic train protection systems. In a move to remain on the rail industry leading edge for signal innovations, ECM has invested in research and development in recent years, making it an attractive complement to Progress Rail’s existing signal portfolio. In addition to systems, the company also manufactures a broad portfolio of signal products, including power supplies, LED signal lights, axle counters, remote control and diagnostics, work site protection and other rail products.

“Broadening our signal portfolio will enable Progress Rail to better serve our customers,” said Billy Ainsworth, senior vice president of Caterpillar Inc., and president and CEO of Progress Rail. “ECM’s products and services provide the best platform to leverage Progress Rail’s existing global network to bring advanced signal technologies to rail customers and further expand into international markets.”

“We have decided to put ECM in the hands of an international leader in rail and transit products and services to ensure the company, which we have created and developed over more than 50 years, has the opportunity to develop further in international markets and prosper long term. For our part, we will provide Progress Rail and Caterpillar with all the support necessary to maximize existing know-how,” said Mario and Roberto Cappellini, former owners of ECM.

The transaction officially closed Jan. 2.