Eaton Corporation added a $1.9 million cross-wedge-rolling machine for use in the production of transmission shafts for heavy-duty trucks at its South Bend, Ind., facility. The new machine is expected to improve manufacturing efficiency by completing a forging process with the cross-wedge-rolling system. It replaces a hammering press operation that was previously outsourced. The cross-wedge-rolling machine heats steel to 2200°F and uses a rolling action to form the transmission shafts. The cross-wedge-rolling machine, which was built in Belarus, is one of about 10 such systems in the world and one of only a few in the U.S. Pending the completion of tests, the new machine is expected to be fully operational by mid-September. The South Bend plant supplies gear forgings to three Eaton facilities.