Austrian Manufacturer Establishing U.S. HQ In New York

Seisenbacher Rail Interiors Inc. will create more than 50 new jobs at its Rochester, NY manufacturing facility.

Seisenbacher Rail Interiors Inc., a manufacturer of rail-car interiors and leading supplier of rail-car interiors in Europe, is expanding into the U.S. market and has selected Rochester, NY as its home base of manufacturing operations.

Rochester Seisenbacher Rail Interiors
Seisenbacher Rail Interiors’ Rochester facility will manufacture and assemble luggage racks and ceiling systems for Stadler’s TEX Rail Project in Fort Worth, TX. (Source: Seisenbacher Rail Interiors Inc.)

The family-owned, Austrian-based company is investing approximately $1.7 million for equipment and property and will create 59 jobs over five years. With new headquarters in Rochester, Seisenbacher will work with local suppliers for sheet metal fabrication and raw material sourcing, indirectly supporting the local economy and bringing noteworthy design, engineering, manufacturing and assembly know-how to the United States.

“We looked at a variety of locations for our first U.S.-based operations and ultimately chose Rochester because of the quality of its workforce, strength of its manufacturing expertise and the concentration of local suppliers that will help us produce a quality product,” said Seisenbacher Rail Interiors Inc. CEO Paul Edelsegger. “I thank Governor Cuomo and the local economic development partners here in Rochester for helping make this project a reality.”

Seisenbacher is a leading supplier of rail car interiors in Europe, providing the largest global rail-car manufacturers — such as Siemens, Bombardier, Stadler and Pesa — with ceiling systems, side panels, holding bars, storage cabinets and other items. Seisenbacher has successfully delivered light rail projects, trams for Europe’s largest cities and regional trams, and most recently won a contract to furnish Switzerland’s first high-speed train.

Empire State Development, the state’s economic development agency, will provide Seisenbacher up to $600,000 in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits in return for its job creation commitments. “By partnering with rail-car manufacturers in the region, Seisenbacher will be able to offer products and solutions across the country that will support the growth of manufacturing base in Upstate New York,” said Empire State Development President CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky.

Partnerships between Seisenbacher and local rail-car manufacturers will be supported by the establishment of a U.S. subsidiary that will cover the end-to-end value chain from design and engineering through production, assembly and logistics of interior solutions. The City of Rochester is expected to award Seisenbacher a $150,000 grant at a meeting in early September.

“I’m pleased that Seisenbacher has chosen Rochester, New York, as the site of its first U.S.-based operation. Our region has a depth of advanced manufacturing expertise, as well as a robust rail manufacturing supply chain that made Rochester the right location for this company,” said Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) President & CEO Mark S. Peterson.

“Seisenbacher Rail Interiors’ decision to build its first U.S. manufacturing location in Rochester is a win-win for the company and the region,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “By partnering with local suppliers, Seisenbacher builds on the rich rail history in upstate New York and supports our commitment to improving the business climate in the Finger Lakes and moving this region forward.”

The company’s annual double-digit growth has enabled management to strategically expand its global market and, since late 2015, the senior management team has been focused on discovering the U.S. market and assessing its opportunities. With manufacturing and assembly commencing later this year, Seisenbacher’s first products are scheduled to roll out by December 2016, and all manufacturing processes will be aligned to the highest European rail-manufacturing standards and supported by the latest process technology.

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