09/17/2008 15h31
Amsted Maxion sells 1,100 wagons to MRS Logística
Gazeta Mercantil - 09/17/2008
Amsted Maxion sold 1,100 wagon loads to MRS Logística S.A., a deal evaluated in R$ 200 million (US$ 122.7 million). The deliveries will be made in two lots - 686 units in December and 414 in the period between January and March, 2009. According to Oscar Becker, financial officer and officer of relations with investors of Iochpe Maxion - controller of Amsted Maxion - with this order their volume of wagons increases to 4,615 units this year - corresponding to a gross income of R$ 772 million (US$ 473.6 million). The orders for 2009 already amount to 446 wagons, and that will represent a gross income of R$ 79 million (US$ 48.5 million) to Amsted Maxion. The volume of 2008, of 4,615 wagons (200 of which for exportation) is the second best since 2003. The greatest volume was registered in 2005, with 6.5 thousand units. According to Becker, Amsted, which holds nearly 80% of the market of wagons in Brazil, has a low volume of exportation. Yesterday, MRS started receiving the first batch of alternating current locomotives of Brazil. The models are GE AC-44 and they were manufactured in the United States. Yesterday's delivery will be followed by others. "Also in September, MRS will receive another batch with 19 machines and, in October, another batch with 19 machines will arrive in Brazil. Between November and December, 2008, another eight locomotives, these last ones manufactured in Brazil, will also integrate the company fleet". According to MRS, choosing the alternating current technology "was previously a challenge", and studies needed to prove its economic and technical viability. "The MRS team, especially the locomotive engineering team, performed studies to prove the initial cost, higher than that of the continuous current locomotives, is rewarding", explains the corporate manager of maintenance engineering, Gustavo Monasterio.
