Dana/Clark-Hurth Alliance Spurs Formation Of First Global Off-Highway Operating Unit
Feb 17, 1997
TOLEDO, Ohio, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its recent acquisition of Clark-Hurth Components, Dana Corporation (NYSE: DCN) today announced the formation of a new global operating unit: Spicer Off-Highway Components Group. Nick Cole has been appointed worldwide president for the Group. A 29-year Dana veteran, Cole most recently served as president of Dana's Parish Structural Components Group. With 12 manufacturing facilities in four countries, Spicer Off-Highway Components Group combines the Clark-Hurth operations with Dana's former Spicer Off-Highway Axle Division facilities and its European-based off-highway axle operations. "The creation of this single global operating unit is a first for Dana," said Dana President Joseph M. Magliochetti. "We're excited about the opportunity to further leverage our resources and synergies, and speed the growth of our off-highway business worldwide. "Nick was a natural choice to lead the new Group," Magliochetti added. "He has guided our off-highway business from annual sales of less than $40 million in 1985 to nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars today. With Nick at the helm, we see a very bright future for our off-highway components and systems business." Other members appointed to the Spicer Off-Highway Components Group leadership team include: * Dan Fischer, Group Controller; * Alfredo Gottardi, General Manager, Marketing and Sales; * Giulio Befani, General Manager, Spicer Agricultural Axle Division; * Fiorenzo Busso, General Manager, Clark-Hurth Off-Highway Axle Division; * Joe Sober, General Manager, Clark-Hurth Powershift Transmission Division; and * Vince Kelble, Manufacturing Manager, Spicer Off-Highway Components Group. In addition, Cole said he will soon name general managers for the Group's Kirkstall Specialty Vehicle Axle Division in the United Kingdom, and its domestic Spicer Off-Highway Axle Division. The Spicer Off-Highway Components Group will produce axles and brakes, transaxles and powershift transmissions for off-highway vehicles used in agriculture, construction, forestry, leisure, outdoor power equipment, mining and material handling. Together, the Group will serve off-highway equipment manufacturers in more than 30 countries. "Clark-Hurth brings new customers, new products and new technologies to Dana," Cole said. "Our focus will be on integrating these resources with those of our existing operations to benefit our customers. "With our broad range of components, we will also be dedicated to the development of modular systems for off-highway manufacturers," he added. A worldwide manufacturer of off-highway vehicle and equipment components, Clark-Hurth has facilities in Brugge, Belgium; Arco, Rovereto and Valsugana, Italy; and Statesville, N.C. Dana also has off-highway operations located in Atessa, Como and Vimercate, Italy; Leeds, U.K.; and Fredericktown, Ohio; Plymouth, Minn.; and Morganton, N.C. Dana Corporation is a global leader in the engineering, manufacture and distribution of products and systems for the vehicular, industrial and off-highway markets. Its core businesses are axles, driveshafts, structural components (frames), sealing products, filtration products, engine products, industrial products and leasing. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates facilities in 29 countries with more than 46,000 people. Its 1996 sales were $7.7 billion. Dana has more than 40 product research and development centers worldwide. Dana owns Dana Credit Corporation, whose Commercial Credit lease financing operation was a recipient of the 1996 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The internet address for Dana's home page is: http://www.dana.com. SOURCE Dana Corporation CONTACT: Gary Corrigan, Director-Corporate Communications, of Dana Corporation, 419-535-4813