Doug Fozo has been named operations manager for South Bend Gear, a new joint venture of Schafer Gear Works, Inc. with headquarters in South Bend, Ind., and Somaschini S.p.A. of Italy. South Bend Gear will produce gears for engines for the heavy-duty truck market in North America. A new 50,000-square-foot plant is currently under construction on the Schafer Gear campus on Nimtz Parkway in South Bend.  Production is scheduled to begin in late 2011 at 50 percent capacity and will reach 100 percent production capacity by the end of 2012.

Fozo has been with Schafer Gear since 1993 and has held various management positions in both production and quality assurance, most recently serving as project manager. "Doug has shown us the extent of his capabilities over the past 18 years," said Bipin Doshi, president of Schafer Gear.  "We are very excited for him to assume this leadership role at South Bend Gear."

The new plant will employ 12 people in phase one and an additional 13 people, for a total of 25 people, when fully operational. The total joint venture investment is $18 million, including the new manufacturing facility.  The plant will utilize the process technology developed by Somaschini S.p.A. in Italy with Schafer Gear managing the operations.