September 13,2002
For immediate release:

 New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) Approves Saminco A300 Propulsion System

The Saminco A300 Vintage Street Car electric drive system has been approved by NORTA for use on the Canal Street expansion of their Vintage Streetcar program. The Saminco system powers 4 GE 60Hp, DC series traction motors per car, mounted in Brookville Equipment Corporation truck assemblies.

“The Saminco A300 propulsion system is extremely smooth and quiet at our operational speeds up to 35mph” states Elmer von Dullen, Superintendent, Vehicle Assembly for NORTA, adding: “The acceleration, traveling and regenerative braking of our Vintage cars with the Saminco system meets all of our design specifications”

Mr. Don Hyde, Project Administrator for NORTA is “ Completely satisfied and impressed “ with the Saminco system, and stated  “ Saminco delivered the working system on schedule and within budget, just as promised”

Saminco received the initial order for their A300 propulsion system on 15 July 2002, and delivered the first complete Streetcar controller package on 6 September 2002, less than 8 weeks from the order date. Operational testing began on 9 September, and the system was approved by NORTA on 11 September 2002. A total of 23 Vintage Streetcars will be in operation on the Canal Street Line in 2003.

 “Saminco is a wholly American owned, privately-held, profitable electric traction drive manufacturer, having supplied over 3,000 electric traction drives for the coal mining and off-road vehicle industry during its 10 year existence” states Saminco Inc Chairman Bonne Posma. “We have been instrumental in the development and deployment of revenue-producing Fuel Cell and Hybrid Transit Electric Traction projects and have a customer base in North America, Europe, Australia, China and South Africa”

Contact: Larry Machak, Saminco Inc (239) 561-1561   www.samincoinc.com

       NORTA Vintage Streetcar                                               Saminco A300 System
                    Photo by John Smatlak