Rocla greenfield plant on track for 750K rail road tie output

Prestressed concrete railroad tie market leader Rocla Concrete Tie, Inc. will vacate its Denver site for a plant under way in Pueblo, Colo. Scheduled for completion in fourth quarter 2012 on a St. Charles Industrial Park plot, the operation will have a payroll in excess of 100 at full capacity. It will be the company’s largest plant, joining Amarillo, Texas, and Baer, Del., sites.

Rocla President Peter Urquhart credited cooperation from Pueblo Economic Development Corp. and the city of Pueblo among site selection reasons, also noting how the move was prompted by the Denver light rail transit system’s planned expansion. Rail tie fabrication technology to be used at the Pueblo plant has evolved during the company’s 25-year history, he affirms, during which it has delivered more than 20 million ties to Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific Railroad, plus light rail/transit, high-speed, and industrial rail lines throughout the country.