ThyssenKrupp to Consolidate Crankshaft Machining

ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft Co. (www.thyssenkrupp-gerlach.com/) is planning to consolidate the crankshaft machining operations currently in Fostoria, Ohio, and Danville, Illinois, into a single facility in Danville. Effective November 2009, all forging and machining operations will be located in Danville.

ThussenKrupp produces forged crankshafts for the North American heavy-duty automotive, truck, and engine markets.

The company currently employees 359 at its Fostoria machining facility. In Danville, the company employs 123 at its machining plant, 112 at its forging facility, and 38 at its corporate headquarters. By November 2009, total employment for forging, machining, and corporate offices is expected to exceed 400 at the Danville site.

In October 2007 the company invested $40 million to expand its Danville machining operations to include a fully automated state-of-the-art crankshaft machining line. The company also announced the approval of an additional investment of $19 million for infrastructure expansion and the upgrading and relocation of equipment from its two existing facilities to a recently renovated 200,000 square-foot building, located next to the existing Danville forging operations. ThyssenKrup Crankshaft expects this combined total investment of $59 million to substantially improve its competitiveness and cost efficiency in a challenging market environment. It will also position the company to better serve its customers in North America and future select overseas markets from one location. The company received funds for job training and road infrastructure improvements from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the City of Danville and Vermilion Advantage, a VermilionCounty member-based economic development organization.