What Zephir does

Zephir S.p.A. Socio Unico is an Italian industrial manufacturer headquartered in Modena that designs and builds bimodal road-rail shunting vehicles, known as locotrattori, used to move railcars inside industrial sites, logistics terminals, ports, and railway depots. Founded in 1969 and operating for over 55 years, the company has produced more than 3,000 machines, with over 90% still in service worldwide. Its core technology is a bimodal road-rail drivetrain that allows the same vehicle to operate on conventional roads and to enter and exit tracks through a simple maneuver, supported by multiple rail-gauge configurations (1,067mm to 1,676mm) and a broad coupler portfolio.

The commercial lineup centers on three platforms: the diesel LOK D, the latest-generation electric LOK E (80V battery, dual electric motors, zero emissions, remote control, camera suite), and the compact electric CRAB EZ (300-1,040 ton towing range). Complementary offerings include the ZEMU multi-unit tandem system, Zephir BASIC and PLUS rebuild programs for installed equipment, and used-equipment sales and rentals. Towing capacity across the range spans 300 to 5,600 tons, and the company positions these machines as delivering over 50% cost savings versus equivalent standard locomotives, with a 99.7% customer-reported uptime.

Zephir is a privately held subsidiary of Marmon Holdings Inc., part of Berkshire Hathaway, after a December 2016 acquisition, and since January 2019 has been grouped within the Global Railcar Mover Group alongside Trackmobile and Powerhouse. It sells exclusively through an authorized distributor network spanning 60+ countries across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Monetization combines new-hardware sales (LOK D, LOK E, CRAB EZ), used equipment and rentals, after-sales service and spare parts, and tiered rebuild programs, with pricing set distributor-by-distributor rather than publicly disclosed.

Name

Zephir

Legal name

Zephir S.p.A. Socio Unico

Website

https://zephir.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zephir is an Italian manufacturer of bimodal road-rail shunting vehicles that move railcars inside industrial sites, ports, logistics terminals, and railway depots across more than 60 countries, serving steel, intermodal, mining, and railway operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railcar Shunters (Locotractors) Manufacturing

NAICS

Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing (3365)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743)

akta.pro primary industry

Rail Maintenance & Track Vehicles (Hi-Rail, Track Machines, Inspection Vehicles) (IMAHAIAK)

Keywords

• Railcar shunters
• Road-rail locotractors
• Bimodal towing vehicles
• Industrial railway equipment
• Locotrattori strada rotaia

Headquarters

HQ city

Modena

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. New Railcar Shunter Sales: Sale of new LOK D (diesel), LOK E (electric), and CRAB EZ railcar shunters. Machines capable of towing loads from 360 to 5,600 tons.
2. Used Equipment Sales and Rentals: High-quality used Zephir machinery available for purchase or lease. Late-model rental units for emergencies and longer production times.
3. After-Sales Service and Parts: Service and spare parts for all Zephir models through distributor network. On-site or in-shop service and repair.
4. Rebuild Programs: Zephir BASIC and Zephir PLUS rebuild programs through authorized distributors. BASIC includes repair/replacement of broken components; PLUS includes complete disassembly and upgrade of mechanical and electrical components.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Zephir manufactures bimodal road-rail locotractors (railcar shunters) capable of operating on both roads and railways for moving railway cars within industrial facilities, logistics centers, ports, and railway workshops. The portfolio includes diesel (LOK D), electric (LOK E), and compact electric (CRAB EZ) models with towing capacities from 300 to 5,600 tons, plus the ZEMU multi-units system, rebuild programs, and rental options sold through a global distributor network.

Product overview

Zephir is a manufacturer of railcar shunters (locotractors), producing bimodal road-rail vehicles that operate on both roads and railways. The product portfolio centers on three main railcar shunter models: LOK D (diesel-powered), LOK E (electric-powered), and CRAB EZ (compact electric). All are designed for maneuvering railway cars within industrial facilities, logistics centers, interports, ports, railway workshops, and other settings. The company also offers the ZEMU multi-units system for tandem operations of multiple shunters, rebuild programs (BASIC and PLUS levels) to restore used machines, and rental/lease options. Zephir's machines can tow loads from 300 to 5,600 tons and support multiple rail gauges (1,067mm to 1,676mm) and coupler types.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LOK: Diesel and electric bimodal road-rail locotractors for railway car movement, with towing capacities from 360 to 5600 tons.
• CRAB
• LOK E
• LOK D
• CRAB EZ
• ZEMU

Products and services

• LOK E Latest generation electric bimodal road-rail railcar shunter powered by an 80V battery system with dual electric motors, capable of towing up to 4,400 tons with zero emissions. Features full-sized operator cab, comprehensive camera system, remote control availability, and heated cabin with optional air conditioning. Designed for industrial and railway customers seeking sustainable railcar maneuvering.
• LOK D

Quantifiable outcome

• 50%+ cost savings compared to equivalent standard locomotives
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gainwell Commosales Private LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Exclusive distribution agreement for India. Gainwell (formerly Tractors India Private Limited) with 80+ years in construction, mining, and transportation sectors will offer Trackmobile and Zephir railcar moving solutions throughout India. Partnership includes Lloyd's LLC for comprehensive market coverage.
• Adapt-a-Lift GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Distributor partnership for Australia with Adapt-a-Lift Group (Victoria, Australia) and Freightquip. Adapt-a-Lift is a leading material handling equipment distributor with 11 branches and 44+ years of experience. They will offer Zephir and Trackmobile railcar moving solutions throughout Australia.
• Lloyd's LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Partnered with Gainwell to offer Trackmobile and Zephir solutions in India, operating in East and North India plus Bhutan and Nepal through subsidiary Tractors Nepal Private Limited.
• FreightquipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Partnered with Adapt-a-Lift Group to offer Zephir and Trackmobile solutions in Australia for passenger and mining sectors.
• Global Railcar Mover GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Zephir is part of the Global Railcar Mover Group (since January 2019), which includes Trackmobile and Powerhouse companies. This group continues to set new standards for railcar movement with innovations in efficiency, reliability, safety, and ease of use.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Progress Rail (Caterpillar): Caterpillar's rail division offering locomotives, railcar services, and trackwork products. A broad incumbent with overlapping industrial rail customers and an installed base of switching locomotives that compete with Zephir's shunters.
• Geismar: Manufacturer of railway maintenance and construction equipment including road-rail vehicles. Comparable to Zephir in the broader category of rail-bound specialty vehicles for industrial and transit applications.
• Harsco Rail: A division of Harsco Corporation supplying railway maintenance equipment, trackwork, and specialized rail vehicles. Overlaps with Zephir in rail maintenance and trackside equipment used by industrial and transit operators.
• Greenbrier Companies: Major North American supplier of railcars, marine barges, and aftermarket services. While primarily a railcar builder, its aftermarket and industrial rail services overlap with Zephir's parts/service revenue stream.
• Plasser & Theurer: Global leader in track maintenance machines (tampers, stabilizers, etc.). While focused on track maintenance rather than car movement, it competes for rail-sector capex budgets at transit authorities and freight operators.
• Vossloh: European rail infrastructure provider offering rail fastening systems, switch products, and rail services. Relevant adjacency in rail products for industrial and transit operators, with overlap in European customer base.

Direct peers

• Nordco (Rail King): Manufactures the Rail King brand of railcar movers, a direct functional competitor to Zephir's locotrattori. Both serve industrial customers needing to move railcars within yards, ports, and terminals.
• Trackmobile: Direct competitor and sibling brand within the Global Railcar Mover Group (since 2019). Both manufacture road-rail bimodal railcar movers for industrial customers; Trackmobile is more established in North America while Zephir leads in Europe.
• Powerhouse (Global Railcar Mover Group): Member of the same Global Railcar Mover Group as Zephir, producing railcar moving equipment. Comparable in product category (railcar shunting) and customer base (industrial rail operators).

Others

• Marmon Rail (Parent Division): Marmon's rail sector grouping that includes Zephir, Trackmobile, Powerhouse, and related entities. Provides the strategic umbrella and shared distribution infrastructure that shapes Zephir's competitive positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zephir.eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zephir-s-p-a-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zephir