A RAILWAY railway engineering company, Trendline Wagon Sdn Bhd is optimistic of expanding overseas amidst the global economic uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic that had led to lockdowns and worldwide control of movements.

Despite the trying times, Trendline Wagon announced they are going international for bids with a commitment over US$1 bil for refurbishment works in Asian countries including India over the next three years.

Its executive director and managing director Paramasivam Batumalai said having a strong base, relevant expertise, modern state of the art production and overhauling infrastructure as well as supported by global strategic partners like ELH Waggonbau Niesky GmbH (Europe-based freight wagon manufacturers) and others, gave the company advantage to expand overseas.

“Considering Malaysia’s strategic hub location, with well supporting regional rail market and well complimented by its investors and industry-friendly policies, we are already being approached by several large railway enterprises for joint development, production, selling and other encouraging investment proposals.

“Thus, we see a very promising horizon for the Malaysian railway industry, when all other sectors are being challenged amid Covid-19 health crisis,” he told Bernama.

He said Trendline Wagon would like to register its highest commitment to the industry, its global clients and more importantly the end customer who are the users of such essential public transportation services.

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Formerly known as Landasan Armada Sdn Bhd, Trendline Wagon which was established in 2018 is a Malaysia-based company that provide comprehensive railways engineering solutions comprising primarily Rolling Stock and Depot Equipment.

Paramasivam said the company is recognised among the top ‘Rail Manufacturing, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)’ leaders in the railway’s sector.

“Besides, we do have a manufacturing facility that is dedicated to the research and development (R&D) department of SIRIM at Rasa, Hulu Selangor, with the production space of almost 40,000 square meters and is filled with experienced and high technical-skilled workforce specialized in the manufacturing of railway wagons for all rail logistics.

“We also have very strong original equipment manufacturer partnerships across the globe and are thus being supported by more than 15 world-renowned partners,” he added.

Trendline Wagon’s mission according to him is to create valued solutions for the rail industry using innovative technologies while its vision is to become a pioneer in bringing cutting edge technologies to the Malaysian railway industry.

“Besides manufacturing routine wagons, we offer tailor-made products for specific purposes.

“Our engineering department designs and customises wagons based on client’s requirements while production department evaluates and manufactures the custom wagons,” he said.

THE COMPANY’S MASTERMIND

Paramasivam, has almost three decades of global experience, having set up and successfully implemented several rail and technology businesses.

He was the former executive director and shareholder of Exni Railway, a Spanish Railway company, specialising in depot equipment and machinery (E&M) manufacturer.

Having led several businesses across Europe (Primarily Germany, France and Spain) and Asia (primarily Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan), he specialises in among others, defining business strategies, structuring contracts and their seamless negotiations.

Previously, Paramasivam who was the Spanish’s Exni Railway (a specialist depot E&M manufacturer) executive director and the shareholder has led several successful projects, including US$20 mil Asian Games LRT project, supplying complete depot equipment for Jakabaring depot in Palembang, Indonesia.

Trendline Wagon is further boosted with the presence of the highly experienced executive chairman Datuk Ts Abd Radzak Abd Malek, a prominent figure with the Malaysian Railway Industry who has held various positions including the managing director of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).

Currently, Abd Radzak is also the president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport International.

MRO & REFURBISHMENT SEGMENT

Paramasivam said demand for rolling stocks will continue to be robust in view of the system replacement needs for matured markets, systems requirement for new greenfield projects in the Asia Pacific.

“In a nutshell, services undisputedly would be the most sought-after affairs and particularly as gradually the supplied/existing running rolling stock assets are likely to hit the mid-life cycle requiring overhaul or refurbishments.

“Several refurbishments projects have been announced in the regions with tremendous potentials which can be efficiently and adequately addressed with Malaysian know-how and technical expertise and whereby Malaysia can emerge as a good technology partner,” he said.

He believes Trendline Wagon’s role as an expert and an enabler is a true compliment to these requirements.

Paramasivam noted that the refurbishment projects include Indian Railways ‘Project Utkrisht’, which targets to upgrade and induction of about 40,000 coaches by 2022-2023 and retro fitment of Centre Buffer Coupler (CBC) with Balanced Draft Gear of 32,000 Integral Coach Factory coaches by 2022-23 with a total contract value of US$800 mil

“Refurbishing is our new venture as renewing a railway fleet requires huge investment and thus that is why refurbishing is a growing demand in the railway industry,” he said. – May 20, 2020, Bernama