The Kaydon Bearings division operations in Monterrey, Mexico, celebrated its 25th anniversary in April. During the time the plant has grown from 12 employees to nearly 500 and has produced roughly 490,000 slewing ring bearings for customers around the world.
Kaydon’s Mexican operations manufacture slewing ring bearings for the renewable energy, heavy equipment and industrial machinery markets. Launched in a small shop in Santa Catarina in 1987, production moved in 1989 to a larger plant in La Silla, which has twice been expanded. In 2007, the company opened a second facility in Guadalupe to make pitch and yaw bearings for wind turbines. The two plants manufacture slewing ring bearings as large as 144 inches (3.66 m) in diameter and have earned ISO:9001-2008 and numerous customer certifications. Capabilities include induction heat treating and zinc flame spray coating.
The Kaydon Bearings operations have contributed to the Monterrey community in a variety of ways over the years. One successful program supports local citizens and the environment by collecting aluminum cans, selling them to recyclers, and using the money to buy wheel chairs, oxygen tanks and other medical equipment for those who need them.
“All of us in the Kaydon Bearings Division recognize and appreciate the contributions of our colleagues in Mexico over the past 25 years,” said Jeff Manzagol, division president. “Their dedication and hard work are vital to maintaining our high standards of quality and customer satisfaction, and to our company’s continued growth.”