Introduction
We are one of the leading designers, manufacturers and marketers of railroad freight car equipment in North America and Europe, a manufacturer and marketer of ocean-going marine barges in North America and a leading provider of wheel services, railcar refurbishment and parts, leasing and other services to the railroad and related transportation industries in North America.
We operate an integrated business model in North America that combines freight car manufacturing, wheel services, repair and refurbishment, component parts reconditioning, leasing and fleet management services. Our model is designed to provide customers with a comprehensive set of freight car solutions utilizing our substantial engineering, mechanical and technical capabilities as well as our experienced commercial personnel. This model allows us to develop cross-selling opportunities and synergies among our various business segments and to enhance our margins. We believe our integrated model is difficult to duplicate and provides greater value for our customers.
We operate in three primary business segments: Manufacturing; Wheel Services, Refurbishment & Parts; and Leasing & Services. Financial information about our business segments for the years ended August 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is located in Note 20 Segment Information to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Greenbrier Companies, Inc., which was incorporated in Delaware in 1981, consummated a merger on February 28, 2006 with its affiliate, Greenbrier Oregon, Inc., an Oregon corporation, for the sole purpose of changing its state of incorporation from Delaware to Oregon. Greenbrier Oregon survived the merger and assumed the name, The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at One Centerpointe Drive, Suite 200, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035, our telephone number is (503) 684-7000 and our Internet web site is located at http://www.gbrx.com.
Products and Services
Manufacturing
North American Railcar Manufacturing - We manufacture a broad array of railcar types in North America which includes most railcar types other than coal cars. We have demonstrated an ability to capture high market shares in many of the car types we produce. The primary products we produce for the North American market are:
Intermodal Railcars - We manufacture a comprehensive range of intermodal railcars. Our most important intermodal product is our articulated double-stack railcar. The double-stack railcar is designed to transport containers stacked two-high on a single platform. An articulated double-stack railcar is comprised of up to five platforms each of which is linked by a common set of wheels and axles. Our comprehensive line of articulated and non-articulated double-stack intermodal railcars offers varying load capacities and configurations. The double-stack railcar provides significant operating and capital savings over other types of intermodal railcars.
Conventional Railcars - We produce a wide range of boxcars, which are used in the transport of forest products, automotive, perishables, general merchandise and commodities. We also produce a variety of covered hopper cars for the grain, energy, sand and cement industries as well as gondolas for the steel and metals markets and various other conventional railcar types, including our proprietary Auto-Max car. Our flat car products include center partition cars for the forest products industry, bulkhead flat cars, flat cars for automotive transportation and solid waste service flat cars.
Tank Cars - We produce a variety of tank cars that are designed for the transportation of products such as caustic soda, urea ammonium nitrate, vegetable oils, bio-diesel, ethanol and various other products for the North American market. We continue to expand our product line and capacity.