Metaldyne Names DeFauw Vice President / General Manager, Powertrain Products Group
PLYMOUTH, Mich., July 6 -- Bob DeFauw has been named vice president and general manager, Powertrain Products Group, effective immediately, Metaldyne Corp., an Asahi Tec company, announced today.
In his new role, DeFauw will oversee the operations in Hamburg, Mich., Middleville, Mich., Fremont, Ind., Bluffton, Ind., Niles, Ill., Twinsburg, Ohio, Pyeongtaek, S. Korea and the technical center in Solon, Ohio.
"Bob has shown great leadership and strong operations skills," said Tom Chambers, president and COO. "He is committed to operational excellence and will be a strong force as we continue to work to provide the high quality powertrain products our customers demand in a timely, efficient manner."
DeFauw was most recently vice president and general manager of Metaldyne's Vibration Control Products. Metaldyne is currently assessing potential candidates for DeFauw's replacement.
He also served as director of Powertrain Operations and plant manager of Metaldyne's Middleville facility.
Prior to coming to Metaldyne, DeFauw held several operations and supervisory positions at Eaton Corp., including product line manager for the company's heavy-duty engine valve plant, quality manager, manufacturing services for the Engine Components and Air Controls Division and several engineering positions.
He holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering from the University of Michigan and has a master's degree in management and supervision from Central Michigan University.
About Asahi Tec
Headquartered in Shizuoka, Japan, Asahi Tec primarily designs, manufactures and sells ductile iron cast auto parts for truck and construction machinery OEMs, aluminum casting parts for truck and passenger car OEMs and aluminum wheels for automobile OEMs. Asahi Tec also designs, manufactures and sells environmental systems, equipment and development technologies used by local governments and municipalities and electrical hardware and equipment used by electricity generators.
Its subsidiary, Metaldyne, is a leading global designer and supplier of metal-based components, assemblies and modules for transportation related powertrain and chassis applications including engine, transmission/transfer case, wheel-end and suspension, axle and driveline, and noise and vibration control products to the motor vehicle industry. It is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich.
Asahi Tec has annual revenues of approximately $2.7 billion and employs approximately 10,000 employees at 55 facilities in 15 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.asahitec.co.jp/ and http://www.metaldyne.com/.
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