On September 17th, OEM Off-Highway had the honor of celebrating a monumental achievement for AxleTech International, a General Dynamics company and global manufacturer and supplier of axles, axle components, brakes and aftermarket parts for commercial trucks, military and off-highway vehicles. The company opened its new state-of-the-art world headquarters in Troy, MI, an expanded new home and “testimony to our success and incredible growth in the face of the ‘great recession’,” said Mary Petrovich, general manager, AxleTech Intl. The new location is near the company’s old headquarters in south Troy, MI, showing the company’s dedication to Michigan and its community’s growth and development.
More than 300 employees, suppliers and government officials attended the grand opening ceremony,including U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Michigan State Senator John Pappageorge and Oakland, MI, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
“AxleTech is adding skilled workers, helping Michigan to lead in advanced manufacturing, and providing moreproof that fighting for the auto industry and its workers while it restructured was the right thing to do forMichigan jobs,” said Rep. Peters. “We need to do everything in our power to fight for companies like AxleTechthat are investing in America and creating jobs in America."
“This new facility will allow AxleTech to be more responsive, more efficient, and more effective in serving the needs of our customers,” she continued. “This means that we can better serve the country’s war fighters, construction workers, longshoremen, agricultural workers, and many other laborers.”
The facility is a massive 210,000 square feet, housing AxleTech’s new in-house engineering and technical center. “Our customers will benefit from rapid prototyping, testing, development and trouble shooting,” said Petrovich. The building also houses the global distribution center to send out service parts and spares to keep customer vehicles and machines operating. Additionally, the Troy location features brake system assembly and AxleTech’s Truck Trailer Transit operations, servicing municipalities around the U.S.
The headquarters expanded Troy-location employment by 140% to 190 people, and well complements AxleTech’s Oshkosh, WI, manufacturing facility, as well as its global operations in St. Etienne, France (manufacturing, product development and aftermarket) and Osasco, Brazil (manufacturing and aftermarket).
An impressive line-up of heavy-duty mobile equipment equipped with AxleTech components helped to demonstrate the breadth of industries touched by the company and its technology. AxleTech’s over 200 customers include industry heavy-weights such as Navistar Defense, Oshkosh Corp., Grove, Terex, Freightliner, AGCO and BAE Systems, showcasing its presence in industries from military to construction to agriculture and on-highway trucking.