Wabtec acquires part of Trimble

Wabtec Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Trimble’s Beena Vision business, a manufacturer of machine vision-based wayside inspection systems for the railroad industry. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and financial terms were not disclosed.

“Beena Vision’s systems, coupled with Wabtec’s TrackIQ portfolio, will create a comprehensive wayside inspection offering,” said Nalin Jain, president of Wabtec’s Digital Electronics business. “TrackIQ’s sensor-based systems and Beena Vision’s technologies combine to produce an industry-leading suite of wayside inspection solutions. These solutions enable our customers to monitor the health of their rolling stock assets, which allows them to realize reductions in maintenance costs, safety incidents and to increase fleet availability for revenue generation.”

Beena Vision provides vision-based wayside detectors for the rolling stock maintenance market. Its non-contact measurement technology provides a highly detailed condition assessment of train components — ranging from wheel surface condition to full train inspection — while operating in service and at high speeds. Beena Vision’s wayside systems enable Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to manage fleet maintenance through cutting-edge sensor and image-based inspection systems. Real-time alarms, alerts, and reports enable significant reductions in maintenance costs, improve safety and increase fleet availability. Beena Vision systems are installed at many major North American Class 1 railroads, as well as other worldwide TOCs.

A Trimble Beena Vision brake pad inspection system. Wabtec announced that it was acquiring Trimble’s Beena Vision company. (Image: Beena Vision website)

This deal will extend Wabtec’s unparalleled digital and electronics portfolio, enhancing its ability to progress wayside train condition monitoring, as well as supply chain and logistics technology for railroad customers around the world.

“We set out to identify the ideal company to carry forward our rolling stock wayside monitoring solutions and we have found that company in Wabtec,” said Ron Bisio, Trimble’s senior vice president with responsibility for rail. “Trimble will continue to develop cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) rail solutions for rolling stock lifecycle management and will increase its focus on solutions for railway infrastructure surveying, construction, and maintenance, which are closely aligned to its core industry segments.”

Beena Vision’s business has been reported as part of the Trimble Transportation Segment. The sale will not have a material impact on the segment or overall financial results.