Dana Off-Highway Systems Group Launches New Axle Assembly Operation in India

    CHAKAN, India, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Corporation's (NYSE: DCN) Off-
Highway Systems Group has launched a new off-highway axle assembly operation
here to better serve and support its global and regional customers.  Located
near Pune, India, the new off-highway operation in Chakan is wholly-owned by
Dana.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA )
    "Dana Off-Highway is developing a significant customer base in India,"
said Nick Cole, president, Dana Off-Highway Systems Group.  "Implementing an
off-highway assembly operation here was necessary to maintain a high level of
support and service to our customers in India and the surrounding region."
    The facility, located within an existing light-axle operation, will
initially focus on off-highway agricultural axle assembly and have
capabilities to weld, assemble, wash, paint, and test axles.  According to
Bill Hennessy, director of international operations, Off-Highway Systems
Group, the facility will eventually have capacity to output 250,000 axles per
year.
    "We know there is great potential in India and are committed long term to
this market.  Since India is currently one of the world's largest producers of
agricultural tractors, our initial focus is to serve agricultural vehicle
manufacturers located in the Indian market," said Cole.  "But we will also
export axles to other regional customers."
    "Our strategy is to support our global customers wherever they go while
utilizing our assets efficiently," he said.  "By using an existing Dana
facility, we are able to leverage our current investment in the region to
achieve improved economies of scale in serving this important market segment."
    Hennessy also said other assembly opportunities will be pursued for
construction market applications.  Assembly of off-highway driveshaft and
transmission products is also being considered, he added.
    The new agricultural axle assembly operations, known officially as Dana
India Private Limited, will create up to 100 new jobs.
    Dana's Off-Highway Systems Group is composed of Spicer Off-Highway
Products Division in North and South America, Spicer Agricultural Axle
Division, Spicer Off-Highway Axle Division, Spicer Off-Highway Driveshaft
Group, Spicer Specialty Axle Division, Spicer Outdoor Power Equipment
Components Division, and Spicer Off-Highway Parts & Distribution Division.
    The Off-Highway Systems Group consists of 14 manufacturing operations
serving 30 countries and more than 1,000 vehicle assembly and manufacturing
facilities, as well as two global distribution centers and 28 authorized
service centers, serving over 100 countries.  The Group's products include a
diverse mix of Spicer off-highway and on-off-highway axles and brakes,
transmissions, transaxles, electronic controls, torque converters, and
replacement parts and service.  Market segments served include construction,
agriculture, mining, forestry, materials handling, specialty chassis, outdoor
power equipment, and leisure/utility vehicles.
    Dana Corporation is one of the world's largest suppliers to vehicle
manufacturers and their related aftermarkets.  Founded in 1904, and based in
Toledo, Ohio, the company operates some 300 major facilities in 35 countries
and employs more than 75,000 people.  The company reported sales of
$12.3 billion in 2000.  Dana's Internet address is http://www.dana.com .

SOURCE Dana Corporation

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

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