Manufacturing, Volusia style
Volusia’s rich
automotive heritage attracts a growing number of manufacturers
The Daytona Beach
area is known the world over for its beaches and Daytona International
Speedway. As disparate as these things seem, automotive history buffs know
well the role of the beach in the development of motorsports. Economists
know well the role of motorsports in automotive manufacturing in Volusia
County.
It was on the hard
packed sands of the area’s beaches that automobile racing began and
captured the imagination of the world. Initially, races were held on the
sands of Ormond Beach, which still claims the title of Birthplace of
Speed. Later, races were held on a course south of Daytona Beach proper
that included a long stretch of beach and S.R. A1A that parallels the
coast.
An enterprising
young racer and his racing buddies formed the National Association for
Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). That young dreamer was Bill France Sr.,
and to give his beloved sport a place to run wild, he built Daytona
International Speedway. From that time on, the area would be inextricably
linked to motorsports. And as motorsports grow, automotive manufacturing
in Volusia County increases.
Millions
of motorsports fans make the pilgrimage to the area every year for the
Daytona 500, the Pepsi 400 or the eight other major races staged at
Daytona International Speedway -- known as “The World Center of Racing.”
They travel to Volusia County to watch their favorite drivers push their
high-tech machines to the limit as they scratch and claw for victories
that are often measured in hundredths of a second.
Today, NASCAR is
considered by sports authorities as the fastest growing sport in the
nation. The phenomenal success of NASCAR has led to a complete makeover of
Daytona International Speedway and a marked increase in the volume of
automotive-related manufacturing in the area.
“For a community
that does not produce automobiles, we are proud to have several companies
whose products end up in some of the world’s most pervasive automobiles,”
said Rick Michael, Director of the Volusia County Department of Economic
Development. “Clearly, the fact this is the headquarters of NASCAR and the
home of Daytona International Speedway is a catalyst to the growth of
automotive manufacturing in Volusia County.”
A leader among the
world’s original equipment manufacturers is Florida Production
Engineering, an Ormond Beach company whose client list includes the
world’s leading automakers. FPE works exclusively in the design and
manufacture of automotive products including wheel trim, interior trim and
structural products. The company’s products are created from a wide
variety of materials and processes. The company’s engineering design,
computer aided engineering and laboratory expertise have a strong
reputation. The company’s manufacturing processes and quality assurance
programs have resulted in numerous awards from Daimler-Chrysler, Ford,
General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota.
Another Volusia
County manufacturer of automotive components is Microflex, Incorporated,
which makes a fuel line assembly for General Motors’ marquee vehicle --
the Corvette.
Microflex products
that are essential in the manufacture of cars, trucks and more. Its
automotive exhaust connectors are known for their performance and
trouble-free service. The connectors are produced in dozens of
configurations to meet a broad range of engineering specifications.
The company also
produces annular corrugated metal hose crafted from stainless steel, Monel
and special alloys. These products are produced under the company’s
ISO9001 certification that guarantees materials composition and origin.
Other Microflex
products include single and multi-ply bellows exhaust connectors for
buses, trucks, heavy equipment, locomotive and marine applications. The
company also produces expansion joints for a variety of industrial
applications domestically and around the world.
Microflex
collaborates with another Volusia County company in its automotive line.
Hudson Tool & Die Company, one of the world’s pre-eminent manufacturers of
precision deep drawn enclosures and assemblies, manufactures automotive
parts for Microflex.
Hudson Tool & Die, a
world leader among manufacturers of precision deep-drawn enclosures and
assemblies and stamped metal parts, has expertise in working in advanced
applications of high performance metals including stainless steel. Hudson
produces a sliding ring for Microflex, which, in turn, produces the fuel
line assembly connecting twin fuel tanks on the Corvette.
Hudson’s automotive
industry products include an exhaust de-coupler for Daimler-Chrysler’s
popular PT Cruiser. It also produces thermostat assemblies for Cummins
Diesel and Ford Motor Company vehicles. Its ISO 9000-2000 rating qualifies
Hudson to compete for and produce components for automotive OEM
applications.
“Automotive
contracts represent a small, but important part of our business,” said
John Marfiak, Hudson’s Director of Marketing and Sales.
He explained the
company also is known for its work in medical, aviation and a wide variety
of specialty applications. Its Ormond Beach plant was established in 1968
and the company headquarters was moved there from New Jersey in 1991. It
has designed and built custom tooling for more than 15,000 applications,
each meeting the exacting needs of demanding customers.
While Florida
Production Engineering, Microflex and Hudson are serving new vehicles,
Crane Technologies Group is carving out an impressive niche in the
automotive aftermarkets as a worldwide supplier.
The company has come
a long way from its beginnings in a south Florida garage. Today, with its
world headquarters having been established in Volusia County in 1985, the
company continues to prosper. Its 275 employees own the company and
maintain ISO 9001 and QS9000 ratings.
The company
manufactures, tests and distributes camshafts and valve train components
and engine components for automotive, heavy equipment, industrial, marine,
motorcycle and aircraft applications. It produces electronic ignitions and
components for high-performance applications and lists General Motors,
Ford, Chrysler, Harley Davidson, Mercury Marine, Lycoming Engine among its
customers.
Also concerned with
performance under the hood is the X1R Corporation, which produces high
performance products for a variety of applications including automotive.
X-1R performance automotive products include a line of lubricants,
boosters and treatments that keep engines running smoother and longer. X1R
has the distinction of being the only lubricant company to be inducted
into the Space Foundation/NASA Space Technology Hall of Fame, an honor
bestowed for its role in solving a lubrication problem on the Space
Shuttle Mobile Launch Transporter.
Another niche in the
automotive market is being filled by Raydon Corporation. The firm is
engaged in the leading edge technologies of simulation with a heavy
emphasis on ground-based simulators, primarily for the military. These
include Humvees and Bradley armored tanks outfitted with Raydon
simulators. But the company also produces simulation programs and hardware
for automotive applications, specifically driver training. Its Virtual
Driver has become an essential tool in driver education and safety.
The company has a
workforce exceeding 200 with an average annual salary of $46,000. While
its military work is in the news as the war in Iraq continues, its
automotive work is evolving.
Raydon began work in
its automotive simulator in 1995, when it placed simulators in area high
schools in a partnership with the Volusia County School Board. Today, its
programs and simulators have been refined and are in use in the United
States and Canada.
Metra Electronics
has become a leader in a wide variety of components and kits for a variety
of applications, most notably home theaters and automotive sound systems.
According to Metra President Bill Jones, its products are designed to be
heard, not seen. The company’s products include myriad OEM connectors and
cables, a line of antennas, radio installation kits, no-splice wiring
systems and more.
While Metra’s
products sit below the dash or in other obscure locations, Daytona Dash
produces products that add beauty to automobiles. Its line of easily
installable dashboard overlays includes beautiful wood patterns and
contemporary designs. Installations have been done on thousands SUVs,
pickup trucks, domestic and imported luxury cars. For example, it offers a
dash product with a rosewood finish with tan leather that creates a
Jaguar-style interior appearance.
Education and
marketing are key elements of the automotive industry that are well
represented in Volusia County.
On the marketing
front, Direct Mail Express is a marketing company that serves many
industries, automotive key among them. The company was founded in 1982 and
has grown rapidly. It employs more than 500 associates on its 11-acre
Daytona Beach campus. It has pioneered the field of personalized direct
marketing communications and integrated sales promotions, which it
provides worldwide and with the kind of speed only advanced technology can
support. The company has made return on investment a precise science and
as a result serves major automotive companies including Toyota Motor
Systems and Southeast Toyota, the world’s leading distributor of
automobiles.
With Volusia County
anchoring the eastern span of Florida’s High Tech Corridor, automotive
education delivered locally effects the entire automotive industry.
Daytona Beach
Community College, Flagler County Schools, Volusia County Schools and the
business community collaborated to create The Advanced Technology Center,
a unique complex dedicated to education in many disciplines of emerging
technology, not the least of which is automotive.
ATC programs prepare
students for challenging positions in automotive diagnostics, mechanics
and performance. There is also coursework in collision repair, on-board
safety systems such as alarms, satellite navigation, supplemental
restraint systems and more. As one student observed in describing the
automotive curriculum: “As a matter of fact, it is rocket science.”
Automotive students
and motorsports enthusiasts can experience applied technology at Daytona
USA, in the shadow of famed Daytona International Speedway. Here, visitors
can climb aboard simulators and experience the sensation of competing at
speeds approaching 200 miles per hour, 30-degree high banks and wrestling
a stock car through heavy traffic.
With the growth in
the popularity of motorsports and the continued expansion of facilities at
Daytona International Speedway, the future of automotive manufacturing,
marketing and education in Volusia looks bright. The area’s rich
automotive heritage continues its deep imprint on the area.
