This post is part of an ongoing series of manufacturer profiles. The blogs will cover some of the many names in manufacturing in the state of Nebraska. Check back later for more posts in the series. To see previous posts in the series, click here.

Driveline products manufacturer Neapco is actually headquartered in Belleville, MI and has facilities in locations from Shanghai to Germany to California.

They’re an international supplier for OEM manufacturers and the automotive industry worldwide, which is why in 2006, they acquired a facility in Mexico to provide a local supply source for Chrysler, and in 2011, opened a business office in Shanghai to better serve customers and suppliers in Asia.

Today, though, we’re highlighting their manufacturing facility located in Beatrice, Nebraska, one of three component manufacturing locations (the other two are in Pennsylvania and Mexico).

The company has a heritage beginning in 1924, right around the time of the automobile’s invention. And during World War II, Neapco worked to supply the U.S. Navy with projectiles and pin & block universal joints, becoming one of the first companies ever to receive a Navy “E” award for excellence.

Today, their product line includes industrial joints, shafts, and heavy-duty driveline components for over-the-highway trucks. The Nebraska facility opened in 1981, and has since undergone four major expansions to accommodate manufacturing for CV joints and drivelines, universal joints, and a complete line of driveline products.

Much of the reason Neapco’s Nebraska facility is able to run so smoothly is thanks to the exceptional team in place, led by James “J.C” Stiles, vice president, general manager for Neapco Components in Beatrice.

After joining the company in 1989, J.C. worked his way up through diverse areas like sales, product design, research & development, testing, operations, and purchasing, with extensive experience in propshafts, half shafts, universal joints, PTO shafts, and drive components (if you’re a car lover, you know what all that means. If not, click ). During his employment at Neapco, J.C. received 3 U.S. patents and led a team responsible for opening Neapco’s facility in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.

After getting his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Penn State, J.C. moved with his wife and two youngest children to Nebraska in the summer of 2012 (his oldest son decided to remain a Penn State student and fan, but the rest of the family has transitioned to full-fledged Husker fans). Stiles oversees all aspects of the Neapco facility, including manufacturing, quality, sales, product design, purchasing, and materials.

It’s clear that strong leadership is one of the keys to success, and it’s outstanding to see a heritage company with such a remarkable team making the magic happen out in Beatrice. To learn more about careers at Neapco, click .

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photo credit: via