AirBoss, Ralph McKay form joint venture

TORONTO (May 17)—AirBoss of America Corp. is adding another element to AirBoss Railway Products Inc., a subsidiary housed in Kansas City, Mo., by forming a joint venture with Regina, Saskatchewan-based Ralph McKay Industries Inc. to manufacture metal clips for the railroad industry. As part of the alliance, AirBoss and Ralph McKay Industries are building a 20,000-sq.-ft. facility in Regina, buying equipment and hiring personnel, AirBoss President Robert L. Hagerman said. The plant should be set up by late August and is expected to be in production by September. AirBoss makes rubber and plastic pads used on tracks but entered the joint venture because it wanted to expand to a full rail fastening product line, Hagerman said.