SOUTH BEND – Schafer Gear Works was recently honored with the Economic Impact Award from the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County.

In early 2011, Schafer Gear announced a joint venture with Somaschini S.p.A. of Ital to produce engine gears for the heavy-duty truck market in North America. As part of the venture, a new 50,000-square-foot plant was built on the Schafer Gear campus on Nimtz Parkway. The total joint venture investment was $18 million, including the new manufacturing facility. As a result, 25 jobs will be added by the end of this year.