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.