Dana reaches the century milestone
Auto parts manufacturer marks 100 years in Pottstown
POTTSTOWN >> The auto industry has changed significantly in the last 100 years. What hasn’t changed is the contribution made by the Dana Inc. Pottstown plant and its employees.
Dana Inc. is marking its 100th year in Pottstown this month.
“Celebrating 100 years is an outstanding achievement and I couldn’t be more proud of the legacy that our employees and retirees have built throughout the last century,” said Plant Manager Eric Phillips, adding the achievement shows the resilience of the employees, especially since the company serves customers primarily in the Midwest.
“To be able to support them and ship product to those customers over 100 years over the distance says a lot about the performance of the plant and the workers,” he said.
The 500,000-square-foot facility is Dana’s oldest facility and manufactures driveshaft components for the light-vehicle market.
The Center Avenue facility currently has 350 employees making the individual components for the universal joints, which are sent to other Dana facilities to be assembled.
“Today, bearings are the heart and bloodline of the plant. We do roughly 45 to 48 million bearings a year,” Phillips said during a presentation to visitors Oct. 3.
“Are we competitive? That is our best product. We beat China, Thailand, we’ve had one customer go to another plant to get parts from India, then came back and asked if we had capacity, because we beat their price. That’s how competitive we are.”
The company has held several events recently to mark the 100th anniversary.
A celebration on Saturday, Oct. 5, was just for employees and retirees, and featured tours, food, music, activities and a car show on the property. Phillips estimates that between 700 and
“Celebrating 100 years is an oustanding achievement and I couldn’t be more proud of the legacy that our employees and retirees have built throughout the last century.” – Eric Phillips, plant manager, Dana Inc. Pottstown
1,000 attended. The company estimates that 700 invited guests turned out for the event.
“We have had nothing but great feedback and comments. The employees and retirees enjoyed coming to the plant and seeing where their significant other works. They thought the plant looked great,” he said.
Attendees had the opportunity to view the photo museum, located off the lobby, and featuring historic and current photos and information. A number of people found their names or photos on the wall — and those of some of their family members.
On display at the car show was a 1910 Chadwick Model 19 car, one of only three remaining. The car was made in the factory Dana purchased and remains in today.
A number of retirees at the event said they have fond memories of their time at Dana.
“All of my friends were here (at Dana),” said Bruce Wambach, who has 53½ years of service and worked at Dana from 1965 to 2018
“It just took me one song on my AM radio to get to work (from home)” said Wayne Strogus, an employee from 1971 to 2003.
“I like the people and it paid the bills. It was a great place to work,” said Dan Ciccone, who with 52 years of service worked at the plant from 1964 to 2017.
At least one current employee is working toward a milestone of his own — longest employment.
With 51 years and counting, James Repko is in second place for the employee with the most years of service.
“I’m waiting to retire until I get to the number one spot. Right now, I’m in 2nd place. The employee in the first place has 54 years of service,” he said. Repko started at the plant in 1968.
The day before the employee event, Jim Kamsickas, president and CEO, Dana Inc. visited Pottstown — meeting with employees on the first and third shifts. Kamsickas received a tour of the facility, and spoke with employees about the history of the industry and key milestones of the company.
He also thanked employees for their continued support and congratulated them on reach
“The hard work, talent and commitment of the employees in Pottstown helped to shape a young company into the leading global mobility supplier we are today, and the team continues to deliver important components that help to move the vehicles we drive every day.” – Jim Kamsickas, president and CEO, Dana Inc. Phillips, plant manager, Dana Inc.
ing the milestone, according to Dana spokesman Jared Bryan.
“Our Pottstown facility was opened at a pivotal time in our company’s history and was critical to expanding our business to support a rapidly growing automotive industry,” Kamsickas said in a statement provided by the company. “The hard work, talent, and commitment of the employees in Pottstown helped to shape a young company into the leading global mobility supplier we are today, and the team continues to deliver important components that help to move the vehicles we drive every day.”
A group of Pottstown business leaders visited the plant on Thursday, Oct. 3, getting an overview of the work of the plant and seeing it for themselves during a tour.
Among the attendees were: Peggy Lee-Clark, executive director of Pottstown Area Industrial Development, or PAID Inc.; Eileen Dautrich, president TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce; Johnny Corson, president of the Pottstown Chapter of the NAACP; David Kerns, president of the Pottstown Historical Society, Justin Keller, Pottstown Borough Manager; and former state Rep. Tom Quigley, R-146th Dist.
Phillips told the group that at one time, the plant had 1,800 employees. He said at one point there were 70 positions open, and 1,700 people applied. A photo in the museum illustrates that — showing a line of applicants stretching out of the building.
In 2015, $9.8 million was invested in the plant. Since then, Dana has invested another nearly $15 million in Pottstown. This includes maintenance and repair activities, machine updates and modernization activities, according to information emailed from the company.
“Pottstown can be proud that it has a business with
“Pottstown can be proud that it has a business with such longevity as Dana. We often talk so much about the businesses that have left, but we don’t talk as much as we should of those businesses that have pioneered and stayed here.” – Peggy Lee Clark, executive director Pottstown Area Industrial Development
such longevity as Dana. We often talk so much about the businesses that have left, but we don’t talk as much as we should of those businesses that have pioneered and stayed here,” said Lee-Clark.
The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Pottstown Progress luncheon in June recognized the businesses that have been operating in Pottstown for many years. Dana Inc. was among the businesses presented with a Pioneers of Progress award.
“I push back when I hear there is no business in Pottstown. There is business every day,” Lee-Clark added. “Not the same type of businesses all the time and the behemoths of yesteryear, but businesses like Dana with a long term impact.”
David Kerns, president of the Pottstown Historical Society, found more than one photo of a relative that worked at Dana. He found two photos of his grandfather, Ray Hoel, who served as a chief inspector at the Pottstown plant.
“He transferred here in 1930 from Toledo, and retired in 1955,” Kerns said.
Phillips also attended the Oct. 9 meeting of Pottstown Borough Council, where Dana was recognized for its years of service and presented with a proclamation honoring the company, read by Council President Dan Weand.
Dana was founded in 1904 by Clarence Spicer, the inventor of the encased universal joint. Dana acquired the Pottstown operations in 1919 from Chadwick Engine Works. The original facility consisted of four buildings on an old farm. The buildings were renovated and equipped to produce 200,000 universal joints per month with the addition of a mill for driveshaft tubes added in 1925.