For the first time in almost 50 years, Lisbon has had a delivery made via rail.
Global Water Services, L.L.C., based out of Lisbon, had their first order of water softener salt made the week of Feb. 10.
According to owner Keith Huebner, once a rail car has made a delivery, a business has 48 hours to unload a car.
Huebner expects that salt deliveries will be made every four to six weeks, with a 50-car target for 2025.
“Our next goal is to expand to transload of containers we receive from overseas, with origins in France, China, Germany and throughout the European and Asia Pacific region,” Huebner said.
Global Water Services is also working with other companies in the area, like M and K Dust Control, to help streamline operations and have more rail cars delivering orders here versus elsewhere in Eastern Iowa.
“Like us, this reduces the impact of truck miles and drive time in getting raw product to our facilities,” Huebner said.
Huebner said that having orders delivered by rail is 65 percent less than getting deliveries by truck.
“I’ve been looking at this locally since we acquired the property from Linn Co-op, and this was the reason we were interested in the property,” Huebner said. “Lisbon has been Industrial business friendly so we knew we could look to expand operations here.”
Huebner said that they are also looking at rail options for their industrial water rental fleet.
“A majority of our clients are serviced by rail and railroad reduces our deployment costs, lowers the impact of transportation on the environment, and allows us to deploy larger systems than is feasible or economical by truck,” Huebner said.
Global Water Services LLC is a service company that provides water treatment equipment consulting, service, sales, and rental operations that span the Globe.
The business has expanded locally with the addition of Endurance Truck and Equipment, LLC in Mount Vernon which services the company’s fleet of four smaller service vehicles, three tractor trailer power units, and 40+ semi-trailer mounted mobile water treatment units along with a variety of powered support equipment.