Drivetrain Systems International (DSI)

The Borg-Warner manufacturing plant at Lavington opened in October 1971 after shifting its operations from Sydney NSW to Lavington. By 1982 the plant had reached its peak, employing 1251 people from the Border and making it Albury-Wodonga’s largest employer.

Borg-Warner trained hundreds of apprentices and supported many local suppliers and businesses, as well as actively sponsoring local clubs and sporting teams. The social club at Borg-Warner staged golf tournaments, functions and fondly-remembered family days.

BTR Nylex purchased the plant in 1987, changing its name to BTR Automotive. The plant then ran successfully for 15 years, making die cast aluminium transmissions for Ford, Chrysler and Ssang Yong.

ION Limited purchased the Lavington site in 2002. In 2004 ION Ltd’s parent group collapsed, and its administrators kept the manufacturing plant running with staff and shift cutbacks.

Drivetrain Systems International (DSI) purchased the site in 2006, and in 2009 DSI was purchased by Geely Automotive, a Chinese manufacturing company. Geely Automotive had contracts with Ssang Yong and Mahindra in the emerging markets of Korea and India, and these contracts allowed the Lavington site to re-establish its dwindling workforce.

In 2014 it was announced that the plant at Lavington would close permanently.

The DSI Collection consists of a broad range of material relating to the former gearbox factory, covering its history as Borg-Warner, BTR Automotive, ION Ltd, DSI and Geely Automotive Holdings. It includes the last gearbox made at the factory as well as photographs, uniforms, equipment, memorabilia, company records, promotional videos, DVDs and ephemera.