American Axle Plans Tech Center in Detroit

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. plans to invest about $20 million to build a research center adjoining its headquarters in Detroit.

Construction will begin later this year. AAM intends to complete the facility, which eventually will employ 75-100 people, in stages over the next several years.

CEO David Dauch tells attendees at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich., that the center will help AAM cut the weight and lower the production costs of the axles and other powertrain components it makes.

The facility also will coordinate efforts to bring AAM's own suppliers into future product development programs earlier, according to Dauch. He says some of the company's smaller vendors will work with AAM engineers at the center.