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Dana Perfect Circle Plant Celebrates 50 Years

26 August 1998

Dana Perfect Circle Plant, Home of Centrifugally Cast Cylinder Liners, Celebrates 50 Years

    RICHMOND, Ind., Aug. 26 -- Dana Corporation's
Perfect Circle Sealed Power Division Richmond Liner Foundry, which opened in
Richmond, Ind., in the summer of 1948, is celebrating 50 years of continuous
operation.  The home of Perfect Circle's centrifugally cast gray iron cylinder
liners, the foundry has produced more than 200 million cylinder liners for a
wide variety of engines in its half century of life.
    Centrifugally cast gray iron, developed by Perfect Circle engineers in
1949, is used for piston rings and cylinder liners.  Its development 50 years
ago revolutionized cylinder liner technology and production.
    Before this method was perfected, cylinder liners were produced by sand
casting, a time-consuming process requiring extensive machining, as well as
low yield rates.  By using centrifugally cast gray iron, Perfect Circle was
able to reduce the time and materials used in the production of each cylinder
liner.  The method improved machinability, produced higher fatigue strength,
and improved scuff resistance.
    Centrifugally cast gray iron remains highly important to piston rings as
well.  Used primarily for the middle compression ring, gray iron produces a
ring that is virtually porosity free.
    Pioneered by two Perfect Circle engineers in a small garage in 1948, the
foundry has grown to a 223,400-square-foot plant that manufactures tens of
thousands of cylinder liners annually for diesel engines, natural gas engines,
and automotive powerplants.
    "We were given an assignment to make a centrifugal casting that could be
cut up into piston rings.  We made a beautiful casting ... that made a good
cylinder liner," said Bob Myers, one of the Perfect Circle engineers who
developed the technology.  "The thought of making something else besides
piston rings was almost sacrilegious at Perfect Circle.  They finally told us
to go ahead and prove that you have something as good as you say it is.  Today
the boys out there say this plant is the largest of its kind in North America.
We suspect it is the largest in the world," he added.
    "The Richmond Liner Foundry is an innovative institution in the automotive
industry, and the cast gray iron liners they have been producing for 50 years
have been highly important to engine builders throughout the world.
Congratulations to the plant and its highly skilled work force for a job well
done for half a century," said Hugo Ferreira, vice president for Engine
Products for Dana Corporation.
    Perfect Circle is part of Dana Engine Components, one of Dana's seven
global strategic business units.  Dana Engine Components provides advanced,
synergistic, total systems solutions to engine builders' parts design and
sourcing, worldwide.  Dana Engine Components combines the strength and
capabilities of Victor Reinz(R) gaskets and sealing products, Perfect
Circle(R) power cylinder and heavy duty camshafts, Fluid Systems Products, and
Plumley powertrain components.
    One of the world's largest independent suppliers to vehicular, off-
highway, and industrial manufacturers and their related aftermarkets, Dana
Corporation produces components used on more than 95 percent of the world's
650 million motor vehicles.  Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, the
company operates 270 major facilities in 33 countries and employs more than
79,000 people.  The company had pro forma sales of $11.9 billion in 1997.
Dana's Internet address is http://www.dana.com