Dana Corporation Dedicates New Axle Assembly Facility

    COMO, Italy, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Corporation (NYSE: DCN) today
dedicated a new, state-of-the-art agricultural axle assembly facility in Como,
Italy.  The new facility replaces an existing operation in Como and extends a
half-century presence in the city.
    (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA )
    "The new Como facility has increased capacity, while providing greater
flexibility and the most advanced assembly processes available today," said
Nick Cole, president of the Heavy Vehicle Technologies and Systems Group. "It
has been specifically designed to complement Dana's manufacturing plants in
Arco and Rovereto, Italy -- as well as other Dana operations worldwide."
    Dana Chairman and CEO Joe Magliochetti said, "Not only does this new
facility feature the latest technologies, but it also enables us to better
leverage Dana's other axle manufacturing and assembly operations to achieve
greater utilization and provide enhanced customer service to this important
market."
    The facility, which employs approximately 145 people, is dedicated to the
assembly of axles and transmissions for agricultural applications, primarily
tractors and harvesting vehicles.  Gearing, shafts, steel components, and heat
treatments are sourced from Dana's other facilities and other strategic
suppliers.
    The 16,700-square-meter (55,110-square-foot) plant features three assembly
lines with automatic handling of monolithic and two-piece axles.  Two fixed
stations are designed for assembly of low-volume medium and large axles, and
one station is dedicated to prototype assembly.  The plant also features a
state-of-the-art robotized paint shop that utilizes water-based electrostatic
paint.  Capacity is estimated at approximately 60,000 units per year.
    The Como facility incorporates advanced manufacturing processes and
practices, including an ERP/JIT management system, a strategic materials
management process, and capabilities ranging from order entry and engineering
to quality assurance and delivery.  In addition, all assembly, control, and
final inspection processes are fully integrated.
    Operations were transferred from the former Como facility in less than
nine months. The new plant continues a tradition of manufacturing agricultural
products that stems back more than 50 years, when Landini originally
established the Como plant to produce small tractors in 1949.  Since that
time, the facility was also operated by Massey Ferguson for the manufacture of
Perkins engines, and the GKN Group for the production of hydraulic lift
products.  In 1995, GKN Comaxle S.p.A. was acquired by Dana Italia S.p.A.

    Off-Highway Systems Overview
    Off-Highway Systems is part of Heavy Vehicle Technologies and Systems
Group, a business unit of Dana Corporation.  Off-Highway Systems is composed
of division facilities and research and development operations in Belgium,
Brazil, China, India, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The
unit designs, manufactures, assembles, and markets axles and transaxles;
driveshafts and end-fittings; transmissions; torque converters; electronic
controls; and brakes. Off-Highway Systems also provides replacement parts and
service.
    Off-Highway Systems serves 30 countries and more than 1,000 vehicle
assembly and manufacturing facilities. In addition, through Heavy Vehicle
Technologies and Systems Service, it has two global distribution centers and
more than 30 authorized service center locations serving more than 100
countries.  Construction, agriculture, specialty chassis, forestry,
underground mining, material handling, outdoor power, and leisure and utility
vehicles are just some of the markets that demand the quality found in
Spicer(R) off-highway systems and products.
    Dana Corporation is a global leader in the design, engineering, and
manufacture of value-added products and systems for automotive, commercial,
and off-highway vehicle manufacturers, and their aftermarkets.  The company
employs more than 60,000 people worldwide.  Founded in 1904 and based in
Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates hundreds of technology, manufacturing, and
customer service facilities in 30 countries.  The company reported sales of
$9.5 billion in 2002.

SOURCE Dana Corporation

Web Site: http://www.dana.com

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