Daniel Carleton was hired as manager of global gear program for American Axle & Manufacturing. Carleton has been involved with the gear industry since 1976, when he started at Balfre Gear in Chicago. In 1980, he moved to Arrow Gear and worked as production coordinator and later was promoted to the position of gear superintendent. Eight years later, Carleton left Arrow to become president of American Oerlikon Gear Machines. The company was bought out in 1991, as a result of a merger between Klingelnberg and Oerlikon. At that time, Carleton formed Gear Gear Inc., representing the Klingelnberg and Oerlikon brands.