Dayton auto parts plant looks to thrive under new owner

Enlarge Photo

DBJ File Photo

Eric Schueler is president of the former Dayton-based Sulzer Friction Systems (US) Inc. It is now called Oerlikon.

Joe Cogliano

Senior Reporter- Dayton Business Journal

Email  |  Twitter  |  Google+  |  LinkedIn

A Dayton manufacturing plant looks to have a pretty solid future following the sale of its parent company.

Officials from Switzerland-based Oerlikon told me Wednesday they plan to keep going with its "successful operation" here, which had been known until recently as Sulzer Friction Systems (US) Inc. The facility was part of Sulzer's Metco division until the division was sold to Oerlikon this summer.

Oerlikon has grown to 184 employees in Dayton — including 144 full-timers and 40 temps — which is up from 160 workers earlier this year. Additionally, the Sulzer sign in Dayton was recently replaced with an Oerlikon sign.

Manufacturing is a key driver of the local economy, so Oerlikon's plan to keep the Dayton facility chugging along is great news for the region.

The company has 115,000 square feet of space across several adjoining facilities near downtown Dayton where it makes transmission components and sub-assemblies for car companies and auto suppliers. In recent years, Sulzer Friction invested millions of dollars in new equipment to grow capacity and capabilities in Dayton.

Last fall, it took space in Dayton's Tech Town where it now oversees the three Oerlikon Friction Systems Americas locations including Dayton, Milwaukee, Wisc. and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In 2012, Sulzer Friction won the Manufacturing Business of the Year at the Dayton Business Journal's annual Business of the Year gala.