At the end of 2022, Dayco, a leading engine product and drive systems manufacturer for the automotive, industrial and aftermarket industries, announced it was investing in a new manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, to produce its globally recognized OE-quality drive belts.
Construction of the facility, which expands Dayco’s presence in North America and subsequently across the globe, was completed early and belt production in Dayco’s state-of-the-art facility is already underway.
The official grand opening ceremony, which took place February 27th, gave Dayco CEO, Craig Frohock, and several of the company’s other executives, as well as members of the Dayco team that will be operating the plant, the opportunity to thank representatives of the Mexican local and national governments who assisted in the completion of the project.
In advance of the ceremony, Frohock said: “In addition to the strategic location of this new facility and the benefits of Mexico’s free trade agreements, the key to the success of this project has been the vision we have had and the people behind it. Alongside the productivity goals built into its design and the logistical benefits of its location, the well-being of the Dayco family that work throughout the facility was of paramount importance in the fulfillment of the overall project. By considering the needs of our people first and including different amenities such as a nursery room and a gym, we have developed an environment which exemplifies our core values and operating principles and allowed us to create a great working culture in which everyone supports and believes in each other.”
Due to the clarity of its design and the cooperation of the local authorities, as well as the outstanding contributions made by everyone involved, Dayco’s new belt manufacturing facility opened flawlessly and in record time, after breaking ground in November 2022. By August 2023, the building was already erected and during September, the freshly recruited production team undertook training in Argentina, ready for the first prototypes to be produced at the end of November 2023. With everything progressing ahead of schedule, the first production belts began being manufactured in January 2024.
“We are very grateful for the help and enthusiasm selflessly given by everyone involved in this massive project,” Frohock continued. “This amazing commitment will allow Dayco to continue to serve its customers both efficiently and effectively over the long term.”
The new facility covers 73,000 square feet and is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery that can produce up to 4.2 million Poly-V belts annually, and also allows Dayco to expand its production capability to include EPS or timing belts. For more info: www.dayco.com.
