Holland Summer Interns: Yasaswi Boyapati

Written on 21 June 2020.

We're excited to introduce to you another Holland Summer intern! Yasaswi Boyapati is interning within our Rail Measurement Systems and Services (RMSS) Engineering department. We asked Yasaswi to tell us a little bit about himself and his average day as an intern. Here's what he shared!

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I am Yasaswi Boyapati, born in India. I’m pursuing my master's degree in Information Sciences at the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign. Though there are different pathways in my program, I’ve always been interested in Data Science. I’ve completed my Undergrad in Computer Science and Engineering. I’m a foodie and like to explore new cuisines. I follow NBA and F1 actively.

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Holland Summer Interns: Shardenay Morgan

Written on 15 June 2020.

Our summer interns have started! Although they are working from home and things are a little different than they usually would be, we still wanted to give them a spotlight to welcome them aboard! Please welcome Shardenay to the Holland family, who is working as an intern within our Human Resources Department. We asked Shardenay to tell us a little bit about herself and what her average day looks like. Here's what she shared!

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LRW Board Appoints Anne Schlegel to Board of Directors

Written on 04 June 2020.

Washington, DC, June 4, 2020 – The League of Railway Women (LRW) has appointed Anne Schlegel, JD, Senior Contracts Manager, Holland, L.P., to the membership chair position..Holland l.P. is an LRW Silver Corporate Partner. 

As membership chair, Anne will be responsible for leading the individual and corporate partnership programs. 

“We are very excited to welcome Anne ino her new role,” said LRW President Amanda Trainor Patrick. “Connecting and cultivating women in rail is our commitment to our membership and industry. We are inspired by the vision and experience these  industry leaders will share with our board and we look forward to their contributions to the organization.” 

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Holland's First Weld In Australia

Written on 11 May 2020.

Holland LP continues to break ground in Australia by completing their very first flash-butt weld.

Beginning in 2019, Holland has been making their move overseas to Australia. There have been many steps that needed to be taken to make this transition, including shipping our flash-butt welding equipment over to Australia. Last month, Holland's equipment made its move to Australia, which then needed to be unpacked and geared to start working. Now, we have completed our first flash-butt weld, which is a milestone in our move to Australia.

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Rail R U OK? Day

Written on 29 April 2020.

April 30^th is Rail R U OK? Day. Holland has taken part in this industry-wide mental health initiative to emphasize the importance of helping co workers who seem to be having a rough time.

At Holland LP, family is one of our core values. We display this value by being extremely close with our team members and respectful to anyone we encounter. We know more than anyone the everyday struggles that our team members face, and we would be the first ones to know of any life changes or big events in their life. By simply asking R U OK? an opportunity opens for a coworker to feel supported and, possibly, save their life.

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Holland Equipment Lands in Australia

Written on 24 April 2020.

Exciting progress is being made in Australia as Holland's equipment makes its landing. 

Holland is very excited to make their debut in Australia. Employees Kevin Piefer and Brian Boutwell have been working hard to establish grounds overseas, and now Holland's equipment has just touched down as well. Between startup procedures, equiptment verification and final shakedown (wiring checks, router installation, antenna installation, leaks and drips cleanup), the equipment is now ensured to perform with excellence and safety. 

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Gary Mang Joins Holland as Regional Sales Manager for Northeastern US

Written on 16 April 2020.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Gary Mang to our Holland Sales Team. Reporting to our National Sales Manager Maggie Vuono, Gary will be joining us as our new Regional Sales Manager for the Northeastern portion of the United States. In this role, he will be responsible for managing and maintaining this territory to represent all Holland divisions and all our Maintenance of Way products, including: Welding (Flash-Butt & Thermite), Track Testing Services, Track Maintenance and Construction Services, as well as Equipment Sales. 

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Holland Intelliweld Arrives in Australia

Written on 02 April 2020.

History in the making! Holland Lp has delivered, for the first time, its state-of-the-art Intelliweld Flash-Butt Welding Control System and supporting equipment to the Australian market. With the tireless effort of our engineers and technical staff as well as the help of our friends and partners at Aries Rail, our latest technology will be tested and showcased in Perth, Western Australia.

The Intelliweld Flash-Butt welding control system is new to the market, with over 250,000,000 welds per year and a 98% up time. Equipped with low consumption weld capability, real-time weld monitoring and real time automated data collection, the Intelliweld is the latest and greatest in welding technology. Holland is offering full-service Flash Butt Welding operational management and support to Australia, with best-in-class Flash Butt Welding experts set to train the Australian workforce.

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Holland COVID-19 Customer Update

Written on 25 March 2020.

Holland LP is closely monitoring the developing situation concerning the Coronavirus COVID-19. The federal governments of the United States and Canada have deemed railroads to be an essential service, and an integral part of our nations’ business. As a railroad contractor and supplier, Holland is prepared to meet our customer needs and requirements during this time.

On March 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency ("CISA"), issued a Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers. During COVID-19 Response, designating businesses that support the transportation industry, such as Holland, essential. All rail supply operations, including critical manufacturing, repair, and maintenance of rail equipment and infrastructure, are vital in mounting an effective response to the current pandemic.

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Holland LP COVID-19 Statement

Written on 13 March 2020.

Holland LP is closely monitoring the developing situation concerning the Coronavirus COVID-19. Guided by our core values of family, respect, partnership and integrity, the health of our team members across all our locations and job sites, along with that of our customers and industry partners is our top priority at this time.

Along with our owners, Curran Group, we have spent the last several weeks preparing for how the virus may impact our employees, customers, partners, and communities in which we do business. Our fixed locations and job sites are adhering to the latest updated guidelines provided by the United States White House Coronavirus Task Force, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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Railroad Day on the Hill 2020

Written on 06 March 2020.

On Wednesday, March 4th, industry professionals met in Washington D.C. for the annual Railroad Day on Capitol Hill. This event allows the United States Congress to be privy to issues surrounding the Railroad industry, and what changes can be made to further improve.

Holland employees who attended Railroad Day met specifically with Illinois State Delegates at their Hill appointments. With this, we were able to take matters into our own hands and put our concerns to the forefront of Congress’s decision making. 

 We look forward to seeing some major improvements in 2020!

Holland Engineer Spotlight: Ben Byma

Written on 19 February 2020.

For engineer's week we sat down with one of Holland's amazing engineers that help us with a variety of projects throughout the company. Ben Byma has been with Holland since 2013 and works within our equipment business unit. 

What did you originally want to be when you grew up?

I think I hit the whole gamut of childhood career aspirations at one point or another—astronaut, fireman, athlete, rock star, superhero, etc.

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Holland Engineer Spotlight: Justin Faanes

Written on 15 February 2020.

We sat down with Justin Faanes, Holland's Argus Product Owner, to dive deep into his engineering background and what led him to Holland for Engineers Week 2020!

What did you originally want to be when you grew up?

A lot of things! One I distinctly remember though was an archeologist. My grandfather took me to a natural history museum growing up that really left an impression. Getting to see and feel fossils that were otherworldly and the thought that more could be right underneath my feet was really compelling!

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Holland University

Written on 24 January 2020.

Every year, team leaders from each Holland Department get together to discuss highs and lows of the previous years, and the ways in which improvements can be made in the year to come.

Presentations and breakout meetings followed by company dinners and team bonding exercises are just a few of the events that took place at this week-long learning session called Holland University. 

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Maggie Vuono: NRC Discussion Panelist

Written on 16 December 2019.

Kicking off the New Year comes NRC's annual convention in San Diego. Maggie Vuono, Holland's National Sales Manager, has been asked to speak on a panel for the League of Railway Women once again.The topic of this year's NRC discussion panel is "Superwomen: Breaking Barriers and Biases." Maggie will be joined by Beverly Bailey of Stronghold Engineering and Amanda Bewley of Knife River Corporation on January 6, 2-4pm local time. 

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Taisha Poulin Featured as REMSA Member-of-the-Month

Written on 09 December 2019.

We're so honored to have Holland's very own Taisha Poulin featured as REMSA's (Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association) December Member-of-the-Month! Taisha started with us this year, but she's not new to the industry! After spending the last 2 years at the Canadian Association of Railway Suppliers handling their Membership Services and Events, she then joined our sales team as the Key Account Manager for Eastern Canada. 

In her interview with REMSA, she sys, "The Railroads may have been known to carry the 'Old Boys Club' title in the past, but I have to say it doesn’t feel that way. I work with amazing people, men and women who are hard -working, intelligent and share the love for the industry."

You can read more of Taisha's interview and subscribe to the Mainline newsletter from REMSA by visiting remsa.org

Paul Lindemulder to speak at AusRail 2019 Conference

Written on 25 October 2019.

Holland’s very own Paul Lindemulder is set to present on “The Development of Manganese Steel Laser Additive Welding as a Means of Special Trackwork Repair” at this year’s AusRAIL Conference.

Paul’s topic of presentation is on one of Holland’s newest technologies – the LaserWelder™. The laser welding service includes pre-weld material removal using plasma cutting and robotically controlled hot wire laser cladding welding to build back the damaged area on a frog repair. This service is proven to be more efficient than traditional frog repairs, cutting work time nearly in half and significantly lowering the chance of repeat damages in the future.

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Railway Interchange Round-Up

Written on 09 October 2019.

September 22nd - 25th was filled with fun at Railway Interchange in Minneapolis, MN! The show debuted some of Holland's latest innovations as well as featured some of our very own rail experts. Our indoor booth was bustling as we shared information on our new Gage Inspector, Rail Car Products, Sparkless Carbide Saw, and Manufacturing Capabilities. 

We also featured techncial sessions on various products and softwares that help our customers make the best decisions for maintenance of way projects. 

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Scott McLaughlin Now Serving as Holland’s Regional Sales Manager for the Western US

Written on 07 October 2019.

We're so pleased to announce that Scott McLaughlin will be serving as the Regional Sales Manager for our customers in the Western United States. In this role, he will be responsible for managing and maintaining this territory to represent all Holland divisions and all our Maintenance of Way products, including: Welding (Flash-Butt & Thermite), Track Testing Services, Track Maintenance and Construction Services, as well as Equipment Sales. 

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Maggie Vuono, National Sales Manager, Speaks at Railway Women Panel

Written on 30 September 2019.

Maggie Vuono, Holland's National Sales Manager, spoke at the League of Railway Women (LRW) Panel at this year's Railway Interchange in Minneapolis, MN. Maggie was joined by four members of the LRW for the panel; Lisa Tuningley of T-RAIL Products Inc., Kate Suprenuk of Union Tank Car Company, Pam Arpin of Canadian Pacific, and Shannon Emberly of Canadian National. Panelists spoke on strategies for achieving a highly impactful career as a woman in the rail industry.

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Holland Hang-On Geometry Systems: Real Time Track Inspector

Written on 26 September 2019.

We're so excited to now offer Hang-On Geometry Systems for your track testing needs. Holland's Gauge Inspector offers real-time gage measurement and is usable under any conventional hi-rail vehicle with any size trailer hitch. These are designed to be low cost, low power, and lightweight.

This product was recently unveiled at this year's Railway Interchange. You can find an interview on the Gauge Inspector with RT&S Magazine and Russ Newberg (Holland's Director of Operations for Rail Measurement Systems and Services) here.

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Railway Interchange 2019

Written on 19 September 2019.

We're in full swing preparing for Railway Interchange in Minneapolis, MN! This show from Sunday, September 22nd through Tuesday, September 24th will be full of new innovations for all to see.

Holland's indoor booth (Booth # 2650) will feature: 

• Gage Inspector - The newest addition to Holland's Hang-On Geometry Systems. This features real-time gage measurement and audible alerts. Low Cost, Low Power, and Lightweight!
• Rail Car Products - Holland's line of railcar products used to secure containers, safeguard automobiles, and protect lading against shifting while en route.
• Sparkless Carbide Saw - View a close-up video of this saw in action as well as samples of cut rail. 
• Manufacturing Capabilities - Learn about how Holland can assist in your next manufacturing and engineering project as well as fun facts on what we've accomplished through the years. 
• Technical sessions from Holland's own rail industry experts. View the full schedule and times here.

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650-Series Partnership with Custom Truck One Source

Written on 12 September 2019.

We're so proud to announce our latest partnership with Custom Truck One Source! Holland's newest 650-series contract testing vehicle was built by Custom Truck One Source and will be featured at their outdoor booth at this year's Railway Interchange. You can view this build up close in outdoor booth # 203.

The 650 Series provides track geometry and rail profile measurement data along with track strength information from our patented lightweight load axle in a medium duty package. This versatile testing vehicle has the flexibility you need to get a comprehensive assessment of your track condition to keep your track up and running safely and efficiently

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Holland's Maggie Vuono to Speak on League of Railway Women Panel

Written on 15 August 2019.

Join Maggie and three other distinguised woman as they discuss their roles of leadership in the rail industry, key leadership traits and strategies, as well as resources and opportunities that they have used along the way. This League of Railway Women panel will be taking place at this year's Railway Interchange on Monday, September 23rd at 10:00 AM. 

Founded in 1997, the League of Railway Women (LRW) is committed to improving the railroad industry by connecting and cultivating women in rail. You can find more information about this organization at railwaywomen.org

Panel: When Women Lead – Reflection & Strategy for Achieving a Highly Impactful Career

Monday, September 23rd 10:00 AM

Now Introducing Holland's Latest Innovation - The LaserWelder

Written on 05 August 2019.

We're so proud to introduce our latest innovation to add onto our sparkless service offerings. Holland's LaserWelderTM creates a new standard for safer, longer lasting repairs.

Traditional repairs to frogs often only last weeks to six months before requiring additional maintenance. Holland's LaserWelderTM service includes pre-weld material removal using plasma cutting and robotically controlled hot wire laser cladding welding to build back the damaged area. 

This process provides improved welding through lower heat input, on parent material, maintaining temperatures below 500 degrees. The resulting repair is higher quality, longer lasting and can be completed two to three times faster than a traditional repair weld. This helps reduce costs and maintenance time, keeping your track up and running. 

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Holland Transportation Technology Business Unit Reaches 1000 Days Injury Free!

Written on 05 August 2019.

We would like to congratulate our Holland Transportation Technology business unit for officially reaching 1000 days injury free! This is a tremendous safety milestone and we're so proud of this accomplishment. Thank you to the HoTT team for working with safety in mind always!

 Holland’s HoTT business unit provides a variety of specialized rail car products to ensure your cargo arrives at its destination safely and undamaged. Our rail car products secure containers, safeguard automobiles, or protect lading against shifting en route. These products include bridge plates, cable and chain securements, container locks, and more.

Holland Presents at Damage Prevention 2019

Written on 25 July 2019.

On July 8^th, 2019, Holland attended the 127^th Annual Damage Prevention and Freight Claims Conference (AAR) in Omaha, Nebraska.

Holland’s very own Chris Roberts had the delight of speaking about the Multi-Purpose Chain Assembly Success Story at the show.

Chris discussed how gathering input from various industries helped to create a chain made for flat car flexibility.

Joining Chris at the AAR convention was four other members of Holland’s HoTT (Holland Transportation Technologies) team. The HoTT team supplies specialized rail car products that ensure your cargo arrives at its destination safely and undamaged. With safety as their top priority, the HoTT teams takes pride in the fact that they are on their sixth year of no recordable injury.

Gauge Face Angle: Why Is It Important for Transits?

Written on 08 July 2019.

Gauge Face Angle is becoming an increasingly important measurement in the railway industry, particularly on rail transit systems. The shutdown of a transit system in the Eastern US after a derailment in which high gauge face angle was recorded has brought the measurement to the attention of transit systems across the country

What is Gauge Face Angle?

Gauge face angle (GFA) is an angle measured at the contact point of the wheel flange and the
gauge face of the rail, typically 5/8 inch below the top of rail. It is derived by fitting a straight line to
a restricted region of the gauge face of the rail. The region is bounded by two user-defined points,
one, typically about 2 mm above the gauge point and one about 2 mm below the gauge point. The
GFA is the angle in degrees that this line makes with a vertical line, defined by reference to
track level. 

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Holland LP and Village of Crete Raise Railroad Safety Awareness with New Sidewalk Signs

Written on 28 June 2019.

Committed to creating a culture of safety at Holland, we are proud to announce our latest project with the Village of Crete, IL to promote rail safety throughout our community. Painted sidewalk signs at high pedestrian traffic points now offer a permanent warning to community members who are crossing the railroad tracks by foot.

According to FRA Statistics, there were 1,050 pedestrian rail trespass casualties in 2018, and Illinois is ranked fifth with 44 last year alone. The goal of these sidewalk signs is to urge the community to cross the railroad tracks only where it is marked at a crossing and to “Stop, Look, and Listen” before crossing the tracks.

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Crete Rail Safety Day!

Written on 21 June 2019.

Holland is so excited to be a part of the first ever Crete Rail Safety Day!

Join us on July 12th from 1 - 3 PM to learn about trains and rail safety with special guests Operation Lifesaver and the Midwest Rail Rangers.

• See our Holland rail maintenance vehicles up close
• Coloring Station
• Free popsicles and giveaways
• Sidewalk Chalk Fun

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Sparkless Carbide Saw

Written on 01 April 2019.

Holland is proud to announce its latest railway innovation: The Sparkless Carbide Saw. Railways all over the world will now be able to increase their efficiency safely with the ability to destress rail while cutting spark free.

Holland’s Director of New Product Development, Paul Lindemulder, described the multiple safety and risk management improvements to field operations saying, “Using carbide tipped steel blades, rotating at low RPMs, provides spark and dust free cutting of rail. Spark free cutting reduces the risk of fires started on the job that can result in significant loss. Dust and fumes are eliminated compared to abrasive saw cutting that can be a breathing hazard.” These features make the saw ideal for bridge and tunnel work, as well as work in high fire risk areas.

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Holland Awarded 2018 Contractor Safety Award

Written on 07 January 2019.

Holland is proud to announce that they have received the 2018 Contractor Safety Award courtesy of Railway Track and Structures and Commercial Insurance Association. Holland is so proud of this accomplishment that shows the entire company’s commitment to safety.

The award was given to Holland during the 2019 National Railroad Construction (NRC) Conference in Marco Island Florida. Mike O’Grady, Holland’s Chief Operating Officer, graciously accepted the award on behalf of Holland at the conference.

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Holland's Transportation Technology Business Unit reaches Major Safety Milestone

Written on 14 November 2018.

Holland is proud to announce that its Transportation Technology (HoTT) business unit celebrated its second consecutive year with zero recordable injuries on November 9, 2018. We are so proud of this accomplishment that embodies not only the unit’s but the entire company’s commitment to building a culture of safety.

Holland’s HoTT products are for the majority produced at the manufacturing facility in Kenova, West Virginia. “The entire Kenova team has done an excellent job of leading and incorporating safety into daily operations resulting in a positively growing safety record of 2 years with no recordable injuries” said David Wright, Holland’s Safety Director.

Randy Haberman, Vice President of Holland’s Equipment Division continued saying, “Our company culture thrives around safety, so it’s a great accomplishment to see our business units hitting these safety milestones. We’re very proud of the entire HoTT team for taking safety as seriously as they do.”

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Rob Rosencrans joins Holland LP as General Manager of Turnkey Construction

Written on 09 July 2018.

We are excited to welcome Rob Rosencrans who joins Holland LP as the General Manager of Holland Turnkey Engineering & Construction (HTEC). Rob will be responsible for the safety, strategy, product development and daily operation of the business unit. In this role, Rob will propel Holland to its next level of growth by working closely with customers, sales and all supporting divisions to continue to provide exceptional track maintenance and services including new track construction, repair welding, turnout and surfacing work, cut and slide work, and crossing installation, just to name a few.

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Holland's Railway Measurement Systems and Services Business Unit Reaches Major Safety Milestone

Written on 09 February 2018.

Holland is proud to announce that its Railway Measurement Systems and Services (RMSS) business unit celebrated its fifth consecutive year with zero recordable injuries on February 18, 2018. This is a tremendous accomplishment that embodies not only the unit’s but the entire company’s commitment to building a culture of safety.

“Five years injury free is incredible given the challenging environment we operate in,” noted Jordan Wolf, President. He continued to recognize the commitment and continued effort demonstrated by RMSS’ achievement of this milestone saying, “they really lead the way and provide inspiration to the rest of the company and myself. If they can achieve such a tremendous goal, we all can.” Holland’s 2020 Safety goal is to achieve zero injuries across all business units.

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