Corporate Overview

Fairfield Manufacturing Company offers a broad range of gear and drive solutions including gearing, custom designed gear assemblies, and the industry renowned Torque Hub® planetary drives.

As part of the Oerlikon Drive Systems business segment, along with Oerlikon Graziano, our product portfolio also includes drive solutions such as axles, transmissions, and specialty gearbox assemblies for a wide range of applications.

Mission

Fairfield is a leading provider of engineered gear and transmission systems for off-highway and industrial original equipment manufacturers throughout the world. We are committed to providing our customers, employees, and shareholders with the highest degree of return on their investment through the ongoing practice of continuous improvement in all that we do.

History

1919 Fairfield founded as an offshoot of Ross Gear and Tool Company by David Ross to manufacture differential gears for the early automotive industry.

1920-30s Fairfield expands from a small gear shop to a highly regarded producer of all types of gears in the gear industry. Customers included Oliver Tractor Company, John Deere, and Clark Equipment Company.

1940s Fairfield makes significant contributions to the war effort during WWII. Fairfield Awarded the Army-Navy Production Award for outstanding accomplishment in the production of war materials.

1952 Moved into new modern facility on US 52, becoming North America’s Leader in the production of custom gear products. The company experienced several expansions throughout this decade. Developed and refined induction hardening process for gear teeth.

1960s Decade of innovation and invention. Fairfield developed self-locking differentials to improve traction of mobile machinery, as well as innovative types of gearing to adapt to market needs.

1972 Fairfield purchased the planetary final drive product, Torque-Hub® expanding the company’s market offerings. During this decade the last surviving Ross family owner passed away, Eleanor Ross Baird, and the company is sold to Rexnord a manufacturer of transmission, aerospace, and specialty components.

1987 Rexnord sells Fairfield to NEOAX Corporation

1989 As part of a restructuring and realignment process, NEOAX sells Fairfield to Lancer Industries.

1990 A line of compact track and wheel drives with hydraulic motors, were developed in a joint development agreement with Sauer-Sundstrand.

2000 Fairfield acquired Atlas Gear in India. The newly formed Fairfield Atlas Limited, expands from 75,000 square feet to over 170,000 square feet and adds the manufacture, assembly, and painting of complete gear assemblies to the company’s capabilities.

2006 Purchased by Saurer AG, the world’s leading textile machinery manufacturer. As part of this acquisition Fairfield joins the Graziano Trasmissioni Group, expanding the companies footprint and capabilities throughout the world.