At MINExpo 2012, Dana Holding Corporation announced the company’s enhanced support for mining OEMs and increased production of drivetrain solutions, including new manufacturing capabilities in China.
Located in booth 26193 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Dana unveiled plans to launch the production of driveline products at the company’s facility in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China over the next several months to better support the world’s largest market for mining machinery.
This expansion of production capabilities reflects Dana’s planned 30% increase in global manufacturing output of mining axles over the next 24 months.
“For more than 45 years, we have offered the most durable, reliable solutions to the major global suppliers of mining equipment,” says Aziz Aghili, president of Dana Off-Highway Driveline Technologies. “With the demand for mining equipment expected to more than double over the next ten years, we have increased our production capabilities and deployed our engineering and manufacturing resources to more efficiently supply our driveline solutions to the regions of the world with the highest anticipated growth.”
Expanded Support for Mining in China
This summer, Dana began producing five medium- and large-sized Spicer mining axles at the company’s Dana Wuxi Technologies Company, Ltd. facility. Designed with dynamic load capacities ranging from 20 to 60 tons (18 to 54 tonnes), these axles are used for a variety of mining vehicles, including load haul dumpers (LHDs), mining trucks and scoops.
The deployment of added manufacturing capacity is the latest in a series of initiatives to better support Dana’s OEM customers in China. In February, Dana announced the start of production on the Spicer TZL Series, a new line of powershift transmissions for premium ZL50 and ZL60 front-end loaders and 110-165 kW (150 to 225 horsepower) motor graders manufactured in China.
Next year, Dana plans to open a 130,000 square-foot (12,000 square-meter) technical center in Wuxi to provide advanced product and applications engineering through research, design, development and testing of driveline, sealing, and thermal products, including electric vehicle battery coolers.
Global Resources Strategically Deployed for Mining OEMs
Dana’s production of mining drivelines in Wuxi is the latest example of the company’s increased support for the industry. Over the past two-and-a-half years, Dana has increased its production of axles, transmissions, and driveshafts by 50% at its four mining-focused manufacturing facilities in Arco, Italy; Brugge, Belgium; Lugoff, South Carolina, USA; and Wuxi, China.
Dana offers a comprehensive line of Spicer brand axles, transmissions, and driveshafts designed to supply the vehicle performance, efficiency, reliability and reduced operating costs required in mining. Dana also supplies a line of Victor Reinz sealing products and Long thermal-management technologies specifically engineered for engines and transmissions deployed in mining vehicles. To better service driveline systems and individual components, Dana has enhanced its aftermarket support, now operating 17 aftermarket-dedicated distribution centers globally to provide essential logistical support and a ready supply of genuine aftermarket products that reduce downtime and maintenance costs. Dana engineers work closely with OEMs to develop maintenance kits complete with the parts, instructions, and tools needed for typical service needs encountered at remote mining locations.
At MINExpo, Dana will exhibit the Spicer Model 16D axle commonly used on five- to seven-ton (4.5- to 6.5-tonne) LHDs and 28- to 33-ton (25- to 30-tonne) mining trucks. The Model 16D provides excellent torque capacity and the traction necessary for varying ground conditions.
