Poor crane cams. RIP.
Poor crane cams. RIP.
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ringram

Original Poster:

14,701 posts

272 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnlin...

Crane Cams shuts down, workers laid off

By JIM WITTERS
Senior Business Writer

DAYTONA BEACH — Crane Cams, a 56-year-old auto parts manufacturer, closed its doors this week and laid off its employees, a worker said today.

The news took Volusia County’s top economic development officer by surprise. City, county and state officials were working with Crane Cams and officials from its New Jersey parent, Mikronite Technologies, to keep the company open and in the community.

“We were trying to help them through this transition,” said Rick Michael, Volusia County economic development director. “They were considering a transfer of ownership. We were not expecting any closure.”

An automated voice mail system at Crane’s plant on Fentress Boulevard announced at midday today the company was closed and suggested calling back during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A call to Mikronite’s New Jersey offices produced similar results. Six cars sat in the parking lot early this afternoon at the local plant, which employed 220 just three years ago.

Inside the lobby, a reception desk sat empty. A call from the lobby phone got an answer from Dennis Burgess, who declined to comment and said no one at the plant could provide information.

In the parking lot, 14-year employee Ronald Dorn was leaving the plant for what he believed was the last time

He said workers were told during the past week that layoffs were likely, but he didn’t expect the plant to close.

Mikronite received approval in 2006 to receive tax rebates from the state and the county amid discussion about moving its New Jersey operations here. But the company ended its contract with the state in 2008 due to nonperformance, Michael said.

“Crane has gone through a series of small layoffs recently,” he said.

Crane Cams and Crane Technologies Group were founded by Harvey J. Crane Jr. in 1953 as Crane Engineering Inc. in Hallandale. The company is well known in high-performance and racing circles for its line of camshafts and engine valve train components.

In 1979, Crane Cams became an employee-owned company. Some operations moved to Daytona Beach in 1981, with the remainder of the operation and employees relocating here in 1985.

Mikronite, an industrial technology firm, bought Crane in 2006.

In March 2007, Mikronite sold its property on Fentress to STAG Capital Partners of Boston, then signed a 10-year lease.

crisisjez

9,209 posts

229 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
Shame, but I guess there`s such a smmmmall market for performance cams

Drew SS

2,683 posts

208 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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Wheres all the closing down sales

ringram

Original Poster:

14,701 posts

272 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
They also sold, pushrods, gears, rockers, lifters etc as Im sure you know Mr Crisis.

TTLS1

140 posts

231 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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shame that, 90% of the cams, lifter and pushrod gear we used to use when building the old holden V8's were crane developed. Our most popular como was a holden 355Ci stroker with VN heads, yella terra rockers and a good old crane 288 cam, ahh the good old days.

MyM8V8

9,468 posts

219 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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Does that mean that my Crane Cam is now a collectors piece?

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

284 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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MyM8V8 said:
Does that mean that my Crane Cam is now a collectors piece?
I doubt it. It was probably ground on a Comp blank in the first place.

Drew SS

2,683 posts

208 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
its up to the crows now

crisisjez

9,209 posts

229 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
quotequote all
ringram said:
They also sold, pushrods, gears, rockers, lifters etc as Im sure you know Mr Crisis.


yes



Mental Betty`s full `o` the stuff

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

284 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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Drew SS said:
its up to the crows now
And they do good stuff smile

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

234 months

Wednesday 25th February 2009
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not any more they dont!

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

284 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
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Well they do for me smile Have you upset them or are they also out of business?

ringram

Original Poster:

14,701 posts

272 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
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stigmundfreud said:
not any more they dont!
Crow cams "sickmind" smile

http://www.crowcams.com.au

Edited by ringram on Thursday 26th February 08:40

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
quotequote all
ringram said:
stigmundfreud said:
not any more they dont!
Crow cams "sickmind" smile

http://www.crowcams.com.au

Edited by ringram on Thursday 26th February 08:40
I do apologise I was very very tired

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

284 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
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And I was thinking of Crower, I'd forgotten all about Crow.

ringram

Original Poster:

14,701 posts

272 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
quotequote all
Some blokes use cam motion to grind custom cams too.
Most of those places are retail off the shelf stuff. But some of the US dudes like to mix their own spec's up.
Which makes sense to me, if you know what you are doing.

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
quotequote all
in my recent quest for cam I had been looking at the crane ones but for the kit decided to go comp cam instead. Project on hold now.

ringram

Original Poster:

14,701 posts

272 months

Thursday 26th February 2009
quotequote all
Looks like Holley is in Chapter 11 too .. http://www.wbko.com/pressreleases/headlines/155597...