AFL buys catenary hardware maker IMPulse

AFL

AFL has acquired IMPulse NC LLC, a manufacturer of overhead electrification systems and catenary hardware, as AFL expands its offering for rail transit systems.

Headquartered in Mount Olive, North Carolina, IMPulse makes power systems for all varieties of electrified transit systems including streetcars, light rail, intercity and commuter rail, heritage trolleys and more. It’s product line can be traced to the late 1880s. The company was founded in 1990 and operated as a subsidiary of Marmon Engineered Components Co., which is controlled by Berkshire Hathaway.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

AFL, based in Spartanburg, SC,  is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. AFL manufacturers a slew of products related to electrified transit systems, including fiber optic cables, Alumoweld brand  Aluminum Clad Steel cables for AC voltage supply, connector bars, mechanical socket and core compression systems, transformer stud connectors, and more.

IMPulse claims to be the largest U.S. manufacturer of overhead contact system (OCS and Catenary) hardware for the mass transit industry. Customers include the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Blue Line and the Airport TRAX line in Salt Lake City.