Aisin Drivetrain Inc. is at 1001 Industrial Way in the Crothersville Industrial Park.
From left are Crothersville Town Councilmen Jamy Greathouse and Chad Wilson, Crothersville Clerk-Treasurer Danieta Foster, Aisin Drivetrain Inc. President Scott Shade, Crothersville Junior-Senior High School Principal Doug Ballinger, Crothersville Community School Corp. Superintendent Terry Goodin and Crothersville Community School Corp. board of trustees member and ADI Assistant Section Manager Chad Ord.
Aisin Drivetrain Inc. in Crothersville recently donated $10,000 to Crothersville schools and another $10,000 to the town for public safety services.
CROTHERSVILLE — A supplier of automotive transmissions recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in this southeastern Jackson County community by donating $10,000 to the town and another $10,000 to the schools.
The donation from Aisin Drivetrain Inc., a business unit of Aisin Corp., to the town is to be used for public safety services, while it wasn’t announced how the Crothersville Community School Corp. donation would be spent.
ADI President Scott Shade made the check presentations recently during a small, private event due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
“We’re thrilled to be able to give back to the community that has supported us for 25 years,” Shade said. “The ADI family attitude extends beyond the plant and into the community. It makes a difference how we work together, how we treat each other and ensures we can safely and successfully coexist for many years to come.”
ADI manufactures a wide range of products and systems, such as power steering columns, automatic transmissions and electric water pumps, for the automotive and heavy equipment industries.
The company is nearing completion of a major $55 million expansion that is expected to add up to 80 new jobs by the end of 2022. The expanded business will support Aisin’s global initiative to accelerate vehicle electrification. ADI will accommodate equipment and design changes for the Toyota large capacity Hybrid electric rear axle assembly and electric water pump in the 353,799-square-foot facility.
Reflecting on ADI’s history, Shade said through the years of typical ups and downs experienced in the automotive and heavy equipment business, the company has persevered.
“It has been quite a journey,” said Shade, who has been with ADI since 1998, the last three years as president. “Anyone in manufacturing knows there will always be challenging years, but we are tough and we got stronger thanks to generations of strong leaders, an excellent employee base and strong community support.”
Shade also credits the mother plant in Ogawa, Japan, and the members from Japan who gave a portion of their personal lives to help ADI grow and provide critical technical product and equipment training.
“We’re a world-class manufacturing facility with a legacy of excellence and the best workforce anywhere, and we’re very proud of that,” Shade said. “We’ll continue to be a good neighbor and provide a stable workplace well into the future as the auto industry evolves.”
Founded in 1996, ADI currently employs 476 team members with projected annual sales of more than $299 million for 2021. Since 2008, ADI has invested nearly $96 million into its operations in Crothersville.
In the Americas, Aisin Group companies include 14,000 employees and 40 manufacturing, sales and research and development centers. Aisin is the world’s fifth largest Tier One supplier of automotive components and systems, such as brakes, transmissions, navigation systems, drivetrain, chassis, body, engine-related parts, electronics and intelligent parking systems.
A $32 billion company, Aisin Group employs more than 120,000 team members at 208 consolidated companies.