METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Biz Briefs: ABB Invests in Virginia Facility, Tolar Deliver Bus Shelters, and More

Get the latest from ABB, Tolar Manufacturing Company, and Camira.

Biz Briefs: ABB Invests in Virginia Facility, Tolar Deliver Bus Shelters, and More

Among the annoucements by ABB and Tolar, Camira has partnered with UKFT to lead a $5 million project that will divert thousands of tons of waste from landfill each year.

Photo: METRO

2 min to read


ABB, Tolar Manufacturing Company, and Camira recently announced news from their respective companies.

The $6 million investment includes more than 65,000 square feet of operational space and will employ nearly 100 skilled production workers when at scale.

Photo: ABB

ABB Invests in Virginia E-Mobility Manufacturing Facility

ABB announced it has opened a new manufacturing, distribution, and repair center in Mechanicsville, Virginia, to support its Motion Traction business. 

Ad Loading...

The facility is equipped with manufacturing equipment to produce converters and batteries for the railway and transportation industries as well as electric off-road construction machinery for mining as well as electric buses

The $6 million investment includes more than 65,000 square feet of operational space and will employ nearly 100 skilled production workers when at scale. 

“This investment demonstrates ABB’s commitment to bring more products and solutions closer to customers and use technology to enable OEMs and operators to improve reliability, performance, and energy efficiency,” said Peter Basile, president, U.S. Traction Division, ABB, Inc. “This facility provides a comprehensive offering to our customers that will allow them to enhance their business by utilizing ABB technology and support.”

Tolar designed and fabricated two shelter lengths, 10-foot and 12-foot, to meet StarMetro’s size and foundation requirements.

Photo: Tolar

Tolar Delivers 30 Bus Shelters To Tallahassee

Tolar Manufacturing Company announced it has delivered 30 Signature Sunset bus shelters to the City of Tallahassee, Florida.

The shelters were purchased under a cooperative purchase agreement with the neighboring Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

Ad Loading...

Tolar designed and fabricated two shelter lengths, 10-foot and 12-foot, to meet StarMetro’s size and foundation requirements. 

Some of the shelters provide revenue-generating advertising opportunities through oversize displays that are lit with solar illumination.

Camira Partners with UKFT

Camira has partnered with UKFT to lead a $5 million project that will divert thousands of tons of waste from landfill each year. 

Autosort for Circular Textiles Demonstrator (ACT UK) is a two-year project which will see Camira, alongside a consortium of recycling technologies, textile collectors, academia, textile manufacturers, and retailers including Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Pangaia, and New Look, develop to pilot a fully integrated, automated sorting, and pre-processing plant for waste textiles.

“ACT UK will be instrumental in making an impact in the textiles industry and Camira is committed to advancing the work towards a more circular economy,” said Ian Burn, director of marketing and sustainability at Camira. “More than one million tonnes of used textiles are generated annually in the UK and a third of these are unsuitable for resale, resulting in the majority being put into landfill or incineration. The ACT UK approach will allow us to combine existing and new technologies to generate huge volumes of material which can then be used for existing and emerging recycling processes.”

More Management

LIT 10-Year Anniversary Graphic
Managementby Alex RomanSeptember 17, 2026

LIT Marks 10-Year Milestone at Annual Summit

Hosted by the COTA from September 10 to 13, the Summit carried the theme “Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence, Leadership, and Impact,” with every part of the program honoring the people, agencies, and partners who built LIT over its first decade.

Read More →
Third Generation Joins Dan Dipert Coaches Leadership Team
Managementby Alex RomanSeptember 17, 2026

People Movement: Dan Dipert Coaches Adds Third-Generation Leader, Keolis Names New Valley Metro VP/GM, and More

In this edition, we also cover recent appointments and announcements at the Wabtec, SilverRide, HNTB, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Read More →
AAAHI receiving METRO's Innovative Operator of the Year Award
Motorcoachby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

METRO Opens Submissions for 2026 Motorcoach Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for METRO Magazine’s Operator of the Year and Innovative Operator of the Year awards.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A New York MTA subway car with an open gangway
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 16, 2026

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion

Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.

Read More →
Transit Leaders Gather for National Safety Summit
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit

Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.

Read More →
A blue and white graphic with text reading "NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 14, 2026

NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program at First Board Meeting

The new regional transit authority appointed its first board chair and interim executive director while extending reduced fares across CTA, Metra, and Pace for eligible riders.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
From Checklists to Better Outcomes
TechnologySeptember 11, 2026

Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance

Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with the APTA logo and text reading "APTA Nominates 2026-2027 Chair & Vice Chair."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 10, 2026

APTA 2026 Nominating Committee Selects Leadership Slate, Names Chair and Vice Chair Nominees

Leadership changes will help shape the association’s priorities and its representation of the transportation industry during the 2026–2027 term.

Read More →
DART's light rail station at 8th and Corinth
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative

The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
STraffic White Paper Cover Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.
SponsoredSeptember 9, 2026

Advancing Fare Collection Through Technology and Innovation

Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.

Read More →