TOLEDO, Ohio (June 21, 1999) — Dana Corp. will supply complete, heavy-duty chassis systems for Western Star Trucks Inc.’s new plant in North Charleston, S.C., when it fires up toward the end of this year. Full production levels are estimated at 6000 units a year.

The modules, to be used on Western Star’s class 8 trucks, will be assembled at Dana’s Spicer Heavy System assembly facility in Lugoff, S.C., and delivered to the factory just in time, in sequence, Dana said. In the spirit of Dana’s “Rolling Chassis” module, the chassis system will include a ladder assembly frame, dressed front and rear axles, suspension, steering gear, electric and pneumatic connection harnesses, and other components.

“We understand that our full chassis system will be one of several assembly modules — including cab, dashboard, and engine and transmission — creating a module-based factory environment and giving Western Star great flexibility with lower investment,” said Rick Clayton, president of Dana’s Heavy Truck Group. “We look forward to delivering the first module later this year.”

Dana is a pioneer in heavy- and light-duty modular systems. Since 1987, its Spicer Heavy System Assembly Division has been providing complete chassis systems to other customers on a just-in-time basis from facilities in Lancaster, Pa., and Lugoff, S.C. In 1998, the Lugoff facility was selected as a finalist for IndustryWeek’s “America’s Best Plants” award. Both facilities are ISO and QS-9000 certified.

Dana also supplied the first complete chassis system for use on a light-duty application — the Rolling Chassis module — for the Dodge Dakota pickup truck, which is manufactured in Curitiba, Brazil.