American Axle Opens New Plant in Barcelona

American Axle & Manufacturing staged an event to mark the opening of its new manufacturing plant in Viladecans, Spain, an industrial area near Barcelona. The Detroit-based Tier One supplier to automotive and commercial vehicle sectors announced the new plant in July 2018 as a consolidation of two smaller plants, to produce automotive powertrain components for regional automakers.

The value of the capital investment was not announced.

The new plant is producing vibration control and damper products, including PV-bonded dampers, press-in compression dampers, isolation pulleys, in-mold bonded dampers, and damped gears, for a range of automotive OEMs in the EU region.

Last year AAM said the plant would manufacture damped gears for Ford, BMW and PSA; PV-bonded dampers for Audi, Mercedes and FCA; isolation pulleys for Renault; and in-mold bonded dampers for Mercedes, Ford and Porsche.

At its full capacity, the 15,600 sq.-m. plant will employ nearly 300 workers.

“AAM’s new Barcelona manufacturing facility is a key part of our continued mission to diversify and expand our global customer base and product mix,” according to chairman and CEO David C. Dauch,. “European automakers are continuing to downsize engines and AAM’s segment-leading products support this mission with technology that helps reduce noise and vibrations in the vehicle.”