Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems recently celebrated the grand opening of a new production facility at its operation in Acuña, Mexico. The 185,000-square-foot plant will use highly automated manufacturing processes to produce two emerging, next-generation technologies: global scalable brake control and global scalable air treatment. Production on the new lines has begun and is slated to expand on a staggered, multiyear schedule.
The facility represents the latest step in the ongoing expansion of the multisite Acuña operation. Opened in 1988, the campus engages in manufacturing, remanufacturing, and assembly across a wide range of products: antilock braking systems, air dryers, compressors, valves, actuators, and integrated vehicle modules.
“We’re proud to unveil this new plant, which is the physical manifestation of the move toward greater automation and high-tech assembly at our Acuña operation,” said Piotr Sroka, Bendix president, CEO, and COO. “Reaching this milestone is the result of an ongoing, concerted effort over the last eight years to increase the sophistication of the operation across a range of products—and doing so with Bendix’s signature product performance, quality, and reliability.”
Sroka continued, “Most importantly, as customers are always at the center of our thinking, the increasing high-tech production capabilities in Acuña improve our productivity and give us the added flexibility to respond to the growing demands of our OEM and fleet customers—including meeting and exceeding their delivery expectations. The new facility is the latest example of our manufacturing operations evolution—here in North America and around the globe—in step with the changing commercial vehicle marketplace.”
See also: Bendix highlights global scalable brake control during Advanced Clean Transportation Expo
GSBC and GSAT are brake control and air treatment modular global systems that are designed to be adapted to customer needs in various markets. The high integration of base and advanced technologies enables more flexible installation options, making adaptability to different vehicle platform requirements and needs easier. In addition, GSBC and GSAT advanced capabilities and diagnostics enable the groundwork for automated driving.
“In manufacturing GSBC and GSAT products, we will take advantage of the stability, knowledge, skill sets, and strong quality and safety records we have cultivated here,” said Jacqueline Perez, Bendix senior director of operations in Mexico. “Also, since Acuña already builds all Bendix valves and air dryers currently, we are well positioned to manufacture GSBC and GSAT—the next generation of those products—with both the space and capability to make that happen.”
At the same time, the new plant is the latest opportunity for Bendix Acuña to support education and develop local talent for the future, an ongoing commitment of the operation.
“Bendix is proud to establish a partnership with Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Acuña , a local university, by launching the first dual-education apprenticeship program with the institution to host five students for one year, focused in the new plant,” said Reginaldo Olivo, plant manager of the new facility. “In this partnership, we have created a rotation program covering fields like operations, quality, supply chain, manufacturing engineering, and maintenance. This program will allow these students to develop in a working environment, gaining the necessary exposure for their future, while also providing Bendix the opportunity to prepare our future engineers.”
