New Research and Development Lab
at Fairfield - 1/4/2008
Fairfield Manufacturing Company, Inc., headquartered in
Lafayette, Indiana announces the opening of a new Research
and Development Center located at its US 52 South
facility. The new 8,800 square foot engineering test
center will be equipped with a broad range of dynamometers
and related testing equipment for testing a wide variety
of drive systems including those for mechanical,
hydraulic, and electric powered applications.
The company held a brief ribbon cutting and dedication
ceremony at 10:00 am on Friday, December 21st to
commemorate the completion and opening of the R&D
facility. Local officials including Mayor Tony Roswarski,
Senator Ron Alting, State Representative Sheila Klinker,
as well as key representatives from Purdue University were
on hand to take part in the recognition. Company President
and CEO Gary J. Lehman hosted the event.
“This is a very important step in our journey as a
global leader in gear and drive systems, and will help
enable us to reach a higher level of technology and
innovation in our drive system solutions”, stated Lehman,
“our people, the community, our customers, and our owners
at Oerlikon have all made a significant contribution in
helping Fairfield achieve its goal of becoming a
technology leader in the marketplace”.
The new Research and Development Lab is being dedicated
to James R. Dammon, Vice President of Engineering for
Fairfield. Jim joined Fairfield in 1966, shortly after
graduating from Purdue University’s School of Engineering.
During Jim’s 41 year career, he was instrumental in
helping the company obtain its current position as a
global gear and drive technology leader within the
industry.
Jim’s accomplishments include leading the company’s
first venture in the early 1970s toward developing “drive
systems”. Jim’s early designs were instrumental in the
company’s migration from designing individual gears to
developing complex 2 – speed drive assemblies for the
agricultural, mining and construction machinery markets.
Jim also pioneered the development of electric drive gear
assemblies for Fairfield starting in 1974 with the
development of an electric drive for an industrial
forklift application. He continued this developmental work
into 2002 with the development of a fully integrated steer
– able electric drive assembly for a mobile scissors lift,
taking the industry to new heights in high – efficiency,
environmentally friendly propel systems. “Jim Dammon’s
innovative spirit, dedication, and commitment to Fairfield
speak for itself” stated Gary Lehman, “dedicating this
facility to Jim is just a small recognition of our
appreciation for Jim’s 41 years with this company, and all
that he has done over the years to put Fairfield out in
the front as a technology leader in the industry”.
Fairfield is a global leader in the development and
supply of gears, planetary drives and gear assembly
solutions for a wide range of industrial and off – highway
applications worldwide. Fairfield is part of the Drive
Systems Segment of Oerlikon, headquartered in Pfaffikon,
Switzerland. Oerlikon is a worldwide leading high-tech
company with cutting-edge solutions for solar
manufacturing, textile production, thin-film coating,
propulsion, precision and vacuum technology. Oerlikon has
over 170 locations in 35 countries worldwide.