Global Parts Network, a subsidiary of Vipar Heavy Duty, has opened a new manufacturing center dedicated to the remanufacturing and distribution of truck brake shoes and related components in South Bend, Ind. The new 76,000-square-foot facility is the second Cooperative Manufacturing Center for GPN and more than doubles GPN’s overall production capacity. GPN’s first CoMan Center continues operations in Salt Lake City. The new facility’s address at 5102 Dylan Drive, Suite 200, South Bend, IN 46628.
GPN’s CoMan Centers are dedicated production facilities that provide service and support exclusively to the Vipar Heavy Duty network of distributors and suppliers. The South Bend location initially will provide new and remanufactured brake shoes, brake shoe kits, friction material and related parts. The brake product offerings support brands including Federal-Mogul’s Abex, Meritor, and TMD Friction’s Textar and Don, in addition to GPN’s proprietary brand of Ferodo OptiPro and TuffLine private label program.
“The central location of our new CoMan Center allows us to offer service to Vipar Heavy Duty distributors in Canada and improved service to stockholders in the central and eastern U.S.,” says Gene Damron, GPN’s general manager. “In addition, we are pleased to introduce improved equipment and processes at the new facility. This includes higher-capacity washers, blaster and packaging cells. A new coating process has also been developed and deployed to ensure the best possible products for our customers.”
“We are excited to open this new South Bend facility to enable our distributors to remain competitive with a consistent supply chain and to facilitate even more efficient service to fleets and end-users,” says Steve Crowley, president and chief executive officer of Vipar Heavy Duty.
