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In 2007, PowerRail Distribution acquired Cooper Bearings Inc., which remanufactures bearings and journal boxes. Cooper Bearings has been remanufacturing transit-car journal boxes since 1996.

"As the boxes wear, this can contribute to premature bearing failure, so Cooper Bearings has a special process to straighten the boxes out and machine them back into original specifications," says PowerRail Distribution President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Foster.

The process originally was designed for a transit authority; now, PowerRail markets it to other transit- and freight-rail customers, Foster says.

The company recently completed construction of a 35,000-square-foot facility in a new technology park that's part of the Sussex County Airport in Georgetown, Del. The plant was designed to utilize more efficient manufacturing techniques, as well as PowerRail's new TrueBlue™ manufacturing system to ensure product quality.

Cooper Bearings also offers a Hyatt journal box with new or re-conditioned bearings. The company performs work on both Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. and GE Transportation locomotives — "from GP-7s to the most modern AC locomotives," Foster says.

Meanwhile, the company also remanufactures locomotive bearings for both EMD and GE models. The unit is dissembled to the core, inspected for wear and either rebuilt or replaced. The bearing assembly is rebuilt, lubricant is added and the bearing is sealed. Then the unit is ready for service.

The company recently entered into an agreement to serve as the authorized bearing remanufacturer for NTN Bearing Corp. and Kawasaki Rail Car Inc., Foster says.