Sumitomo invests in composite railroad tie manufacturer Evertrak
Partnership to support building sustainable railroad infrastructure in the U.S., replacing traditional wooden ties with those made with recycled plastics and fiberglass.

Source (All Images) | Sumitomo Corp. and Evertrak
(Tokyo, Japan), through its subsidiary Sumitomo Corp. of Americas, has announced a strategic investment in (St. Louis, Mo., U.S.) a manufacturer of composite railroad ties for the North American railroad industry. This partnership aims to reduce environmental impacts and build a more sustainable U.S. railroad infrastructure.
In high-decay zones, primarily located in the southeastern U.S., heat and high humidity accelerate the early decay of wood railroad ties, posing challenges from both cost and environmental perspectives — currently, railroad tie replacement demand is ~20 million ties annually. To address these issues, the North American railroad industry is increasingly adopting composite railroad ties as a sustainable alternative. Made from recycled plastics and fiberglass, composite ties offer numerous advantages, including optimal environmental performance, extended durability and long-term cost savings. In addition, composite ties are 100% recyclable after use. Annual demand is estimated to be only ~6 million ties.

Railroad wood tie decay across the U.S.
Evertrak was founded in 2017. Its flagship product, the Evertrak 7000, offers a lifespan of more than 50 years in high-decay zones, compared to the average 8-12 years of wood railroad ties. The North American railroad industry has been considering the adoption of composite railroad ties since the early 2000s, but achieving the required cost competitiveness and quality for mass production has been a significant challenge. Evertrak overcame these barriers with the Evertrak 7000, which is now being adopted by Class 1 railroads.
Sumitomo Corp. Group, primarily through its Steel Group, reports that it has been instrumental in supporting North American freight railroad infrastructure by exporting rails from Japan and manufacturing and selling tie plates, wheels and axles in North America. The decision to invest in Evertrak stems from a shared vision to build sustainable railroad infrastructure and the opportunity to create synergies with Sumitomo Corp. Group’s existing businesses. This strategic partnership will enhance Evertrak’s production capacity and accelerate the development of competitive and sustainable product solutions.
Related Content
-
Dawn Aerospace reusable rocket-powered aircraft flies twice in one day
Eighth and ninth flights of composites-intensive Mk-II Aurora reach an altitude of 63,000 feet, demonstrates same-day reusability capability for rocket-powered systems.
-
Bioabsorbable and degradable glass fibers, compostable composite parts
ABM Composite offers sustainable options and up to a 60% reduction in carbon footprint for glass fiber-reinforced composites.
-
Paris Air Show 2023 highlights
The Paris Air Show, one of the largest aerospace trade shows in the world, returned for the first time since 2019 and proved that the global aviation industry industry is very much alive and kicking.