Jun 21, 2018
EL DORADO — This summer, Union Tank Car Company (UTLX) will begin to expand their railcar repair facility in El Dorado, Kansas. UTLX, the largest manufacturer, lessor, and maintainer of rail tank cars in North America, plans to add repair capabilities to this facility, and in doing so, also create new jobs.
The El Dorado facility, originally built by UTLX in the early 1960s, is situated on 40 acres of land adjacent to the BNSF Railroad. Increasing repair capabilities along the BNSF will provide UTLX customers with easier access to the company’s best-in-class railcar repair services near the geographic center of the country. The El Dorado facility generally services railcars from customers with tank cars in ethanol service, and hopper cars moving grain and other food-grade products.
Expanded capabilities, including exterior blast and paint operations, will allow for the facility to service a broader spectrum of cars from customers’ fleets. To safely support the facility’s growth, UTLX will also update all aspects of the shop’s infrastructure, including buildings, utilities, and track. The location is certified by the Association of American Railroads to perform all railcar-related maintenance activities, including tank qualifications, valve removal and replacement, valve rebuilding and general mechanical repairs.
“This expansion project has been thoughtfully planned because we see so much more potential to help customers in the Midwest by growing our repair capabilities in El Dorado,” said Neil Finn, general manager of shop operations at UTLX. “We value being part of the El Dorado community, and our team is excited to help further the Kansas economy through these facility changes.”
The Kansas Department of Commerce is working with UTLX to assist in the expansion through various tax incentives. UTLX is dedicated to expanding employment in the El Dorado area and foresees hiring approximately 70 new employees over the next few years. The company will also utilize training resources from the department to equip the local UTLX workforce with the best possible on-the-job knowledge for excelling in safe and efficient railcar repair practices.
The expansion project is estimated to be completed by early 2019. For more information about Union Tank Car Company, visit www.utlx.com.
About Union Tank Car Company (UTLX)
Since 1891, UTLX has provided high-quality railcar equipment and comprehensive tank car services to customers throughout North America, with a focus on railcar leasing, manufacturing, and car repair and maintenance. UTLX continues to advance car design, manufacturing capability, and complete tank car maintenance. In addition to its manufacturing facilities in Alexandria, Louisiana, and Sheldon, Texas, the Chicago-based company operates a major network of repair shops and lining shops across North America. UTLX is part of Marmon Holdings, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway Company.
