Source: Bendix
ELYRIA, Ohio – Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC (BSFB) broke ground Sept. 6 on a 130,000-square-foot expansion of its wheel-end manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ky. The $65-million addition to the BSFB plant will increase air disc brake production capacity to keep pace with accelerating customer demand in North America.
Bendix is expanding on nearly 8.5 acres immediately adjacent to BSFB’s 302,000-square-foot building, a leased space the company is purchasing as part of the investment. Among other improvements in support of Bendix’s North American air disc brake (ADB) portfolio, the expansion will add a new bracket weld machine center, a third ADB production line, four ADB caliper machining centers, engineering test capability, and an on-site medical clinic and wellness center. Space will also be held in reserve to address long-term growth opportunities.
The facility employs more than 400 team members covering three shifts. Completion of the upgraded plant – which will total 432,000 square feet – is expected by the end of 2020.
BSFB is a joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC. It produces the full lineup of commercially available Bendix® brand foundation drum and air disc brake solutions at the Bowling Green wheel-end facility.
At its opening, in 2007, the plant employed 133 people and occupied 187,000 square feet. Since then, Bendix has invested millions of dollars in production capacity and equipment – part of the company’s commitment to continually invest in its manufacturing operations.
“Our team in Bowling Green is exceptional. They surpassed the 3-million-unit production milestone for the Bendix® ADB22X™ air disc brake earlier this year. And now, through this latest investment, they will be even better positioned to meet the escalating demand for air disc brakes in North America,” said Carlos Hungria, Bendix chief operating officer. “The improved space is part of our ongoing drive to optimize Bendix’s production facilities, as we keep our focus squarely on addressing the needs of our customers.”
Bendix’s strategy of ongoing investments, Hungria pointed out, have contributed to production and quality achievements at the Bowling Green operation.
The facility, located at 346 Central Avenue, is also adding six docks, three recycling compactors, 100 spaces in an enlarged parking lot, and a driveway for more efficient truck routing to and from the building.
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About Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC (BSFB) combines and expands the complementary wheel-end foundation brake technologies of two global leaders – Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC. The joint venture, formed in July 2004, is a single, complete source for OEM brake system design, manufacturing, hardware, and support for all foundation brake components and actuation systems, as well as all-makes coverage of nearly 50,000 medium- and heavy-duty aftermarket parts. foundationbrakes.com.
