Dana Launches Line of Reduced Weight, Single-Piece Aluminum Driveshafts

HANOVER, Germany, Sept. 18, 2012 – Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN) today unveiled the Spicer^® Formed Aluminum Tube Driveshaft at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2012.  Designed for SUVs, medium-sized pickups and light commercial vehicles up to Class 6, the Spicer Formed Aluminum Tube Driveshaft offers manufacturers a single-piece assembly that delivers reduced weight and increased assembly clearance when compared to a traditional two-piece steel driveshaft.

Available in the summer of 2013 as an option for Spicer Life Series™ driveshafts in North America, the Spicer Formed Aluminum Tube Driveshaft weighs up to 25 percent less than two-piece steel assemblies, and it reduces cab noise and vibration.

Starting with a straight tube, the Spicer Formed Aluminum Tube Driveshaft is shaped to have an expanded center using a proprietary hydroforming manufacturing process. This expanded center allows it to run at higher speeds for a given length while offering increased strength and up to a 5 percent reduction in weight over straight aluminum tube driveshaft designs.

Because the driveshaft consists of a single piece, part complexity is reduced and vehicle system responsiveness is improved. By eliminating the center bearing required in a two-piece assembly, the Spicer Formed Aluminum Tube Driveshaft reduces noise, vibration, and harshness in the cab. The single-piece assembly is also lighter weight, increasing vehicle efficiency.

“With more than a century of driveshaft innovations, Dana offers a complete range of technologically advanced products that provide industry-leading efficiency, reliability, and performance,” said Pat D’Eramo, president of Commercial Vehicle Drivetrain Technologies at Dana. “The Spicer Formed Aluminum Tube Driveshaft is the latest innovation from Dana to deliver the premium benefits demanded by buyers of light commercial vehicles.”

Dana will present the Spicer Formed Aluminum Tube Driveshaft in Hall 17, Stand B27. 

 A world leader in driveshaft technology, Dana offers a complete line of light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty, and specialty driveshaft products for every commercial-vehicle application. These innovative, industry-leading products provide the most efficient, reliable, and durable performance on the road.

About Dana Holding Corporation

Dana is a world-leading supplier of drivetrain, sealing, and thermal-management technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of passenger, commercial, and off-highway vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains. The company's global network of engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities provides original-equipment and aftermarket customers with local product and service support. Based in Maumee, Ohio, Dana employs approximately 25,500 people in 27 countries and reported 2011 sales of $7.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.dana.com.