ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft Company investing in integration

ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft Company has improved its Danville,IL crankshaft production process by integrating forging and machining operations in the same location.

The company, a unit of ThyssenKrupp Forging Group with nine locations around the world, has become a benchmark in production process. As part of the consolidation process, the successful relocation of the machining lines from Fostoria, Ohio to Danville, Illinois implemented in a record time.

This consolidation puts the machining of the crankshafts directly next to the forge plant allowing a streamlined approach that utilizes core competencies and best practices already in existence at Danville. In addition, Danville provides advanced technologies including CBN grinders, automatic heat treat machines, and auto-assembly robots for components. The whole production process is integrated by a gantry loading system.

This endeavor will lead to more than 300 jobs offering a state of the art campus setting.
“We’re making this a world class campus for our customers,” said ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft CEO Norman Young.

Quality is a fundamental part of the process, including automatic inspection activities in all phase of the production process. In fact, in July 2009 this plant was awarded by Caterpillar the Silver Level Supplier Quality Excellence Award. This honor is given to only 2 percent of Caterpillar’s 7,000 suppliers. The award was based on holding stringent production tolerances and achieving Caterpillar higher level quality requirements.