Watch CBS News

Danlaw Brings Telematics Manufacturing Back To USA

FARMINGTON HILLS -- Danlaw Inc., a global provider of automotive electronics and embedded engineering services, announced this week that it has signed a three year, multi-million dollar manufacturing contract for its GEN 2 DataLogger Telematics Device with Odyssey Electronics of Livonia.

The Danlaw DataLogger is a self-contained, easy to install wireless telematics system for monitoring and transmitting vehicle data and GPS position information for a variety of transportation applications.

Danlaw will be manufacturing its GEN 2 DataLogger at Odyssey Electronics in Livonia, whereas the GEN 1 DataLogger is produced by an overseas partner of Odyssey in mainland China. Danlaw's global engineering teams have been working hard over the last 18 months to make it possible to produce the GEN 2 DataLogger in the United States.

"The GEN 1 DataLogger required more than 90 manual assembly operations to manufacture and we knew that in order to cost effectively produce the GEN 2 here in Michigan, we would have to eliminate 90 percent of those manual processes," said Danlaw COO Tom Rzeznik. "We're proud to say that our global engineering teams have been able to reach that goal by reducing it to four manual assembly operations."

Danlaw is currently in the pre-production phase and said it will start volume production in July or August of this year. Danlaw will continue serving its global Telematics clients for the Insurance, Fleet and Mobile Resource Management markets with the GEN 2 device.

Raju Dandu, president and CEO of Danlaw said, "We have been working together with Odyssey Electronics for the past several years and we are very excited to be able to take this next step with them.  We are extremely proud of our contribution in bringing manufacturing jobs and investments back to the great State of Michigan."

Ernie Flamont, President of Odyssey Electronics added, "During the past six months, we've increased our manufacturing capacity, made investments in advanced printed circuit board assembly technology and will be adding at least six additional employees. We value our long term relationship with Danlaw and are looking forward to be able to provide the high quality, high volume production Danlaw needs for its DataLogger devices."

Danlaw's more than 300 engineering professionals have been providing automotive embedded electronics solutions to automakers and their supply base for more than 28 years. Danlaw has facilities in the United States, India and China. Its specialty areas include embedded systems development and testing for Embedded Control Units, vehicle network communications, infotainment, and telematics.

Odyssey Electronics is a contract manufacturer of electronics assemblies for the controls, instrumentation, medical, and telecommunication markets.  Their capabilities cover the prototype through production phases for PCBA, box-build and turnkey assemblies. They have both domestic and international manufacturing capabilities.

For more information: www.danlawinc.com and www.odyssey-oei.com

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.