History of Delphi Packard Electric System's Dana Street complex in Warren:

History of Delphi Packard Electric System's Dana Street complex in Warren:
1890: Brothers James and William Packard form Packard Electric Co. to make light bulbs in a two-story plant.
1899: Brothers form a joint venture with a New York company to make Packard cars.
1901: Brothers add business that makes cable and wire.
1902: Car business is sold and moved to Detroit. Light bulb business is sold to company that is later bought by General Electric.
1932: General Motors acquires Packard, now an established maker of wiring harnesses for cars.
1952: The 12th expansion of complex is completed, with a new administration building and manufacturing addition.
1955: Some production moved outside Warren for first time as new plant opens on North River Road in Bazetta Township.
1966: Large addition creates more manufacturing space at North River Road complex.
1973: Packard opens two plants in Mississippi, signaling the start of a move toward lower-cost labor outside Ohio.
1978: Packard opens first Mexican plant, starting two-decade effort to move all labor-intensive work from Warren area.
1992: Headquarters moved from Dana Street to leased offices in Liberty.
2000: Deciding manufacturing space at Dana Street is antiquated, Packard moves some plastic molding operations to newly remodeled $42 million plant in Cortland.
2002: Headquarters is moved back to Dana Street from Liberty as part of a cost-cutting effort.
2003: More plastic molding moved from Dana Street to a new $60 million plant in Vienna, leaving 65 production workers in Warren.
Source: Vindicator files