Sumitomo Corporation Signs Comprehensive Contract for Equipment Renewal of the Automated People Mover Operating at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Shingo Ueno) and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (Head Office: New York, USA; Director and President: Kotaro Tameda) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Sumitomo Corporation Group”) have, through Crystal Mover Services, Inc. (hereinafter “CMSI”; Headquarters: Dulles, Virginia, USA), a joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., entered into a comprehensive contract with the City of Atlanta, Department of Aviation, the operator of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, USA, for a comprehensive equipment renewal project aimed at upgrading the Automated People Mover (APM)*1. The contract period spans 10 years, from March 2026 to March 2036.

CMSI operates and maintains (O&M) airport APMs across 8 routes at 5 U.S. airports. This contract, signed over 15 years after the initial APM delivery to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, aims to further enhance safe and stable operations. It involves updating various equipment and facilities, including the signaling system, as well as expanding the fleet and replacing existing vehicles with new ones. The fleet expansion is expected to alleviate congestion, increase transport capacity, and improve passenger comfort, thereby enhancing the convenience for airport users.

The APM at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport connects three stations, including the main terminal and rental car facilities. It operates on a double-track elevated track system spanning approximately 2.2 km. Serving as a vital infrastructure for the airport, which boasts the world's highest annual passenger volume of approximately 108 million passengers in 2024*2, the APM plays a crucial role. Since commencing commercial operation in December 2009, CMSI has provided O&M services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, contributing to ensuring safety, reliability, and comfort while enhancing convenience for airport users. In December 2024, CMSI secured a five-year renewal contract for O&M services at the airport and continues to reliably support the stable operation of the APM. This contract award recognizes CMSI's long-standing operational and maintenance track record and continuous efforts, alongside the highly regarded technical expertise cultivated through the design, manufacturing, and construction of the APM by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group. Furthermore, Sumitomo Corporation Group's proven track record and expertise in railway projects worldwide were also highly valued. 

Sumitomo Corporation Group's railway-related business has a long history and a diverse track record. It began in the 1940s with the export of railway wheels and axles manufactured by Japanese domestic manufacturers. In the United States and Canada, Sumitomo Corporation Group has been a leading supplier of railway rolling stock and APM systems for nearly 40 years, delivering a wide range of projects from transit vehicle procurements to full turn-key and DBOM (Design, Build, Operate and Maintain) contracts, while also meeting various local regulatory requirements. In addition, the business has expanded globally, including North America, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, to encompass the manufacturing and sales of railway components, the export of complete rolling stock, and railway construction (EPC) projects. In 2020, the Group participated in its first railway O&M project in the Philippines.

Moving forward, Sumitomo Corporation Group, in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, will promote the provision of APMs with excellent design, economic efficiency, and zero CO2 emissions, along with O&M services, both domestically and internationally. This will contribute to improving transportation convenience, solving regional challenges, and realizing a carbon-neutral society.

About Crystal Mover Services, Inc. (CMSI)
Since its establishment in January 2009, CMSI has handled O&M for APMs manufactured by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group at Miami, Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Orlando, and Tampa International Airports in the United States, contributing to safe and stable operations. 

About Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
Established in 1952, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) is headquartered in New York City and operates nine offices in major U.S. cities. SCOA is the largest subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world’s leading integrated trading and business investment companies. SCOA engages in a wide range of businesses, including Tubular Products, Environment and Infrastructure, Steel and Non-Ferrous Metals, Transportation and Construction Systems, Chemicals and Electronics, Media and IoT Applications, Real Estate, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Food. For more information, visit www.sumitomocorp.com.

*1 APMs are used worldwide as transportation systems connecting airport terminals and surrounding facilities.

*2 Based on the Airports Council International (ACI) press release “The busiest airports in the world defy global uncertainty and hold top rankings.”

The busiest airports in the world defy global uncertainty and hold top rankings | ACI World