Eaton is a vast international company with over 92,000 employees, started more than 100 years ago. They offer electrical and industrial power management services and make an immense variety of products, from mechanical devices to furniture and golf club grips. The Maumee Technical Center focuses explicitly on Hydraulic Fluid Conveyance Engineering and Product Management. Currently, 62 employees report to the well-equipped combination of laboratories, training facilities, and offices at 1660 Indian Wood Circle, constructed in 1992.
The customers of their various fluid conveyance products include John Deere, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Cummins, Volvo and Freightliner. “We make all kinds of hoses and what is needed to connect them. In Maumee, we do Engineering and Product Management of Fluid Conveyance products, taking care of existing products and developing new ones. Applications vary from aircraft carriers to Coca-Cola dispensing machines. We convey everything from jet fuel to cookie dough. Think: hoses, adapters, and fittings,” reported Paul DeWitt, Manager of Global Engineering Services.
“We apply our engineering expertise to maintain and improve reliability, efficiency, and safety of our products. Our services include design, analysis, installation, start-up, commissioning, project management, preventive maintenance, training, and troubleshooting,” continued Mr. DeWitt. “And business is improving nicely for 2021 with business starting to ramp up again after the economic and business impacts of 2020”
The facility is multifunctional where they perform:
- Current Product Engineering support and Product Management for the Americas
- New Product Introductions
- New and existing materials development and improvements
- Supply chain management (material suppliers)
- Reconfiguration of products for customer-specific applications. (a significant business driver)
- Hi-tech, professional training for product use and implementation (across the drive in a separate building)
- Product and Materials Testing
The labs, as you would expect, are impressive!
New Signage Coming!
More than a year ago, Eaton entered into an agreement to have the Hydraulics Group acquired by Danfoss– a Danish Company. “Within the next few months, we will officially become a new part of Danfoss. Our blue “Eaton” sign will turn to red and read ‘Danfoss’. Danfoss has no hose or fittings products in their wheelhouse. We are a natural extension of their hydraulics product lines, and our resident experts and vast knowledge of hose and fittings will bring great value to Danfoss” shared Mr. DeWitt.
Why Arrowhead Park?
Mr. DeWitt answered, “The original reason we put roots into Arrowhead Park is that we used to be part of Aeroquip and their headquarters were in Maumee. We are still here, and not at Eaton’s Cleveland headquarters or their Minnesota office, because we show we have value right where we are with an ideal Midwest location not only for business but brain power too with UT and BGSU providing extraordinarily talented people – right at our doorstep”.
“This location is centralized to many of our customers across the Midwest, to the East coast. We like being part of the Park Association and take advantage of collaborative opportunities like the park cleanup coming up on April 22. Eppstein Park is a wonderful attribute, and the installation of the sidewalks was a huge bonus! It has made such a difference for the employees. Maumee takes good care of us.”
