Business Details
42 Years
experience
Your Trusted Railroad Engineering Partner
Founded in 1984, Sims Professional Engineers has established itself as a trusted partner in the railroad transportation industry. Our team specializes in rail car design, structural analysis, and regulatory compliance consulting, leveraging decades of combined experience to deliver tailored engineering solutions. We prioritize client needs through timely, cost-effective services while maintaining rigorous adherence to Federal and AAR standards.Our expertise extends to finite element analysis, dynamic vehicle performance simulations, and compliance certifications for freight rail operations. With a legacy rooted in innovation from industry veteran Roger D. Sims, we continue to provide cutting-edge engineering support across North America and globally.
Services
Rail Car Design
Structural Analysis
Compliance Consulting
Finite Element Analysis
Dynamic Vehicle Simulation
Details
- Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of railroad engineering expertise since 1984
- Our team provides AAR compliance certification services
- We deliver finite element analysis for structural optimization
- Our engineers specialize in dynamic vehicle performance simulations
- We maintain international compliance standards for rail transport
What people say
Skilled in their fields
Professional relationships
Detailed analyses
Timely turnaround
Industry knowledge
Services
Rail Car Design
We provide complete rail car design solutions from concept development to detailed engineering drawings. Our team optimizes designs for structural integrity, weight efficiency, and regulatory compliance while ensuring manufacturability. Services include environmental compliance assessments and international standard certifications for global applications.
Structural Analysis
Our finite element analysis services evaluate structural performance under various loading conditions. We use advanced modeling techniques to predict stress points, optimize designs, and investigate field failures. This includes dynamic load simulations and material optimization for improved durability.
Compliance Consulting
We ensure rail transportation equipment meets AAR and FRA compliance standards. Services include Rule 88 applications, brake system design validation, and safety certification for freight cars and maintenance equipment. Our experts handle both domestic and international compliance requirements.
Dynamic Simulation
Using NUCARS and other advanced tools, we analyze vehicle performance characteristics including pitch, bounce, twist, and high-speed stability. Our simulations assess ride quality, wheel/rail interactions, and safety parameters for complete dynamic system validation.
Testing Services
We conduct comprehensive testing for rail car components and systems. This includes brake shoe force testing, suspension system evaluations, and structural load certifications. Our testing services verify design performance and identify improvement opportunities for existing equipment.
People
Keith A. Miller
Vice President of Engineering, Co-Owner
Licensed Professional Engineer with extensive railroad industry experience, overseeing engineering operations and technical direction at Sims PE since 2020.
Suzanne L. Babusiak
Director of Engineering, Co-Owner
Engineering leader with deep expertise in railroad equipment design and compliance, managing engineering projects and client relationships at Sims PE.
Cody S. Kasten
Engineering Supervisor, Analysis
Specializes in structural analysis and finite element modeling, leading analysis projects and mentoring engineering staff at Sims PE.
Dan H. Thompson
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical engineer with focus on rail car design and compliance projects, contributing technical expertise to various railroad transportation solutions.
Robert D. Wineinger
Tank Car Specialist
Specializes in tank car design and compliance, providing technical expertise for hazardous material transportation requirements and safety certifications.
Questions
What engineering services do you specialize in?
We specialize in rail car design, structural analysis, compliance consulting, finite element analysis, and dynamic vehicle simulations for railroad transportation.
Are you AAR compliance experts?
Yes, we provide AAR compliance services including Rule 88 applications, brake system design, and freight car inspections.
How long have you served the rail industry?
Our team has over 40 years of combined experience serving the railroad transportation industry since our founding in 1984.
Do you handle international compliance standards?
Yes, we provide engineering solutions meeting international compliance standards for global rail transportation applications.
What makes your analysis services unique?
We combine classical analysis techniques with advanced finite element modeling and NUCARS dynamic simulations for comprehensive evaluations.
