Dana Holding Corporation has announced the launch of production for Spicer mining axles in China.
Dana recently began producing five medium- and large-sized Spicer mining axle models at the company’s facility in Wuxi, Jiangsu Provence, China. Designed with dynamic load capacities ranging from 20 to 60 tons (18 to 54 tonnes), the Spicer Model 14D, Model 16D, Model 19D and two versions of the Model 53R axle are used for a variety of mining vehicles, including load haul dumpers (LHDs), mining trucks and scoops.
The addition of production capacity in Wuxi is part of Dana’s global effort to increase output to meet growing demand for mining equipment. Over the past 30 months, Dana has significantly increased its production of mining axles, transmissions and driveshafts at its four mining-focused manufacturing facilities in Arco, Italy; Brugge, Belgium; Lugoff, SC, USA; and Wuxi, China.
“China is the world’s leading producer of coal, iron ore, metals and rare earths, and mine operators are increasingly reliant on larger and more complex machinery to keep up with demand,” says Aziz Aghili, president of Dana Off-Highway Driveline Technologies. “Dana is positioned today to supply mining equipment manufacturers in China with field-proven drivetrain solutions, as well as manufacturing and aftermarket service capabilities in the region.”
The deployment of added manufacturing capacity is the latest in a series of initiatives to better support Dana’s OEM customers. This summer, Dana announced the opening of a new aftermarket distribution center in Wuxi to increase product availability, improve delivery times and provide additional support to its growing number of aftermarket customers.
In February, Dana announced the start of production on the Spicer TZL Series transmission, a new line of powershift transmissions for premium ZL50 and ZL60 front-end loaders and 110-165 kW (150 to 225 hp) motor graders manufactured in China.
Next year, Dana plans to open a 12,000 square-meter (130,000 square-foot) technical center in Wuxi to provide advanced product and applications engineering through research, design, development and testing of driveline, sealing and thermal-management products, including electric-vehicle battery coolers.
