Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake reported a milestone was reached at the Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant, with the production of more than 1 million foundation brakes over a 12-month period.
The announcement from the joint venture of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, noted that the plant’s production has increased 67% through a multi-year, $8.7 million expansion that began earlier in 2014. Production capacity has been increased 70%.
“This investment strengthens our commitment to highway safety technology, and has had an immediate impact on our ability to meet the continually increasing demand for Bendix foundation brakes,” said Andy Dale, Bowling Green plant manager, in a statement.
Air disc brake production was increased by adding two new machining centers, which created 75 new jobs this year, In 2015, a new assembly line and two more machining centers are being added, also to support growing demand. Still another assembly line is planned for 2016.
Drum brake improvements included new equipment and upgrades to component assembly, drilling, tapping, and machining processes, as well as painting and welding.
Production levels have risen fivefold for the Bendix ADB22X air disc brake made at Bowling Green over a five- year period. During a single month, workers set a plant record of more than 35,000 air disc brakes manufactured, the statement said.
Employment has tripled to more than 400 employees at the Bowling Green plant since it opened in 2007.
