Website: www.dmaxengines.com
Location: Moraine
The product: The 6.6L Duramax diesel engine is offered as an option in GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks as well as in the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express full-size van.
The process: DMAX is a joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu Motors. GM owns 60 percent of the joint venture, while Isuzu ownership is at 40 percent. The administrative offices and manufacturing plant are located on Dryden Road in Moraine. Current employment is approximately 425 hourly and approximately 90 salaried team members. At the plant in Moraine, the major engine components are machined to specification — specifically, the engine block, the cylinder heads, and the crankshaft. Other major components of the engine, such as the connecting rods, camshaft, and manifolds, are purchased fully machined and ready for assembly. Team members assemble the machined parts and hundreds of other purchased parts into the final engine assembly. Once completely assembled, each engine is run through a computer-driven testing process in a dynomometer test cell. Each engine is individually tested before shipment to ensure that the engine performs to rated horsepower and torque specifications in addition to meeting all other DMAX quality metrics.
The numbers: While DMAX does not disclose production volume, the plant is currently running one full shift of both machining and assembly and also has machining operations on third shift.
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