Supplier Earns Technology Award for Innovative Drivetrain Product
TOLEDO, Ohio, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dana Corporation
announced today that it has begun supplying steel and bi-metallic Spicer(R)
propshafts, as well as full-perimeter frames, for the redesigned 2007
Toyota Tundra pickup truck.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070227/CLTU241)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA)
Dana is supplying 100 percent of the propshafts for both the two-wheel-
and four-wheel-drive versions of the Tundra. While the one-piece design is
made of steel, the two-piece propshaft configuration uses a unique
bi-metallic design, resulting in improved noise, vibration, and harshness.
This is the first time that Dana has supplied bi-metallic propshafts to
Toyota.
The bi-metallic propshaft earned Toyota's Award for Technology and
Development, which Dana accepted the at the automaker's Global Suppliers
Convention in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday. Toyota reviewed more than 200
supplier applications before it selected winners of the 2007 awards.
"Dana is an industry leader in developing new designs and material uses
to help our customers achieve improved performance," said Michael J. Burns,
Dana chairman and CEO. "It's an honor to have our engineering expertise
recognized by a respected customer such as Toyota."
"The redesigned 2007 Tundra presented Dana's first opportunity to
supply Toyota with bi-metallic propshafts," said Bob Fesenmyer, president,
business development. "This product is just one example of Dana's
dedication to providing innovative, valuable technologies to help our
customers deliver a quality vehicle."
The propshafts are manufactured at Dana's facility in Gordonsville,
Tenn.
The Dana frames come from the company's Owensboro, Ky., facility, which
is one of the industry's leading assemblers of advanced full-perimeter
frames. In recognition of its lean manufacturing approach, Dana's Owensboro
facility has previously been honored as one of IndustryWeek magazine's Ten
Best North American Manufacturing Facilities.
The Owensboro facility has flexibility to manufacture two significantly
different frames on a single line with zero changeover time -- which means
that the changeover takes place while the frame subassembly moves from one
station to the next. Due to the lean manufacturing approach, the Owensboro
facility maintains less than one day's inventory, and the lead time from
request to delivery is fewer than six hours.
Mr. Fesenmyer added, "We value our close relationship with Toyota that
dates back to the 1980s. Through our joint commitment to collaboration, we
are able to deliver innovative new technologies that contribute to enhanced
efficiency, logistics, and throughput, while also maintaining a high level
of quality."
About Dana Corporation
Dana is a leading supplier of drivetrain, chassis, structural, and
engine technologies. Dana people design and manufacture products for every
major vehicle and engine producer in the world. Based in Toledo, Ohio, with
operations throughout the world, Dana is focused on being an essential
partner to automotive, commercial, and off-highway vehicle customers, which
collectively produce more than 60 million vehicles annually. The company's
continuing operations reported sales of $8.6 billion in 2005. Dana's
Internet address is http://www.dana.com.
Dana and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries are operating under Chapter
11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as debtors in possession. Information about
the bankruptcy proceedings can be found at http://www.dana.com/reorganization.
While Dana continues its reorganization under Chapter 11, investments in
its securities are highly speculative. Although shares of Dana common stock
continue to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) under the symbol
"DCNAQ," the trading prices of the shares may have little or no
relationship to the actual recovery, if any, by the holders under any
eventual court-approved reorganization plan. The opportunity for any
recovery by holders of Dana common stock under such reorganization plan is
uncertain and shares of Dana common stock may be cancelled without any
compensation pursuant to such plan.
SOURCE Dana Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.dana.com
http://www.dana.com/reorganization
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070227/CLTU241
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/226839.html/
CONTACT:
Jeff Cole of Dana Corporation,
+1-419-887-3535, or jeff.cole@dana.com
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