In high decay zones, primarily located in the southeastern United States, heat and high humidity accelerate the early decay of wood railroad ties, posing challenges from both cost and environmental perspectives. To address these issues, the North American railroad industry is increasingly adopting composite railroad ties as a sustainable alternative.
At Evertrak, we’ve taken the first steps towards addressing these issues, engineering durable composite ties made from Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and recycled plastic that deliver superior environmental performance, extended durability, and long-term cost savings.
The next step in addressing this challenge?
Our strategic partnership with Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (Sumitomo).
Through this partnership, Sumitomo has made the first strategic investment in composite railroad tie technology. This partnership is a decisive step toward building a more sustainable railroad infrastructure across North America.
Shared Vision and Mission Alignment: Innovation Meeting Sustainability Goals
Sumitomo’s mission of enriching lives and the world perfectly aligns with our commitment to transform railroad ties. Both organizations recognize that reaching sustainability goals requires more than just environmental consciousness—it demands operational excellence, proven performance, and scalable solutions where there is no trade-off between the business case and the case for sustainability.
Core values shared between Evertrak and Sumitomo to drive these initiatives include:
Dedication to Long-Term Sustainability
Rail ties are the backbone of the railroad industry. Our shared vision is to build a more sustainable railroad infrastructure in North America through composite railroad tie solutions. These innovations, targeting the core of the rail industry, promise to decrease tie replacement frequency in high decay zones, reduce landfill waste, reduce CO2 emissions, and offer mid- to long-term cost advantages.
Focus on Innovative Solutions
Powered by a commitment to quality and reliability, Sumitomo’s global leadership in sustainable railroad infrastructure development will continue our mission to focus on providing innovative, competitive solutions to industry challenges.
Drive to Create a Lasting, Positive Impact
As the only AAR M-1003 supplier of composite ties, Evertrak’s ties are supported by rigorous testing and validation protocols trusted by Class 1s. Paired with Sumitomo’s proven leadership and expertise in infrastructure, we will continue innovating a path toward long-term environmental stewardship and value for railroads.
Reimagining Railroad Infrastructure
This strategic investment will have major impacts for Evertrak and the industry, including:
Innovative Investments
On the ground level, Evertrak will be able to take care of our people; develop competitive products that address our customers’ needs for performance, value, and sustainability; expand production capabilities to meet growing demand; invest in advanced equipment and technologies; build stronger industry partnerships; scale operations to expand our markets and serve more Class 1 railroads; enhance manufacturing efficiency; accelerate market adoption of composite ties; and further advance research and development initiatives.
Full Steam Ahead with Evertrak’s Composite Ties
This strategic partnership arrives at a crucial moment—the railroad sector faces intensifying pressure to adopt sustainable practices while maintaining operational excellence. Together, Evertrak and Sumitomo are positioned to address this challenge head-on.
With a proven track record of over 100,000 installations and zero claims, Evertrak has demonstrated the viability of our composite ties. Now, backed by Sumitomo’s global expertise and resources, Evertrak stands ready to scale this solution across North America.
Evertrak is creating a brand-new category of railroad ties that are capable of withstanding both the long-term operational and environmental challenges in the high decay zones of North America and beyond.
The future of the railroad sector is about creating a sustainable path forward that benefits railroads, communities, and the environment. Through this partnership, Evertrak and Sumitomo are laying the foundation for that future, one tie at a time.
