Means Industries, Inc.

What Means Industries, Inc. does

Means Industries, Inc. is a Tier 1 automotive supplier founded in 1922 and headquartered in Saginaw, Michigan, operating as part of the Amsted Automotive Group (a subsidiary of diversified parent Amsted Industries). The company designs and manufactures advanced electro-mechanical clutch systems, one-way clutch devices, and precision metal-formed components for automotive propulsion systems, with customers including General Motors, Ford, Honda, FCA, and Great Wall Motor. Its core technology portfolio centers on four proprietary clutch platforms — the Selectable One-Way Clutch (SOWC), the Dynamic Controllable Clutch (DCC), the Controllable Mechanical Diode (CMD), and the Mechanical Diode (MD) — combined with vertically integrated advanced metal forming capabilities including roller-die technology, aluminum flow forming, Grob forming, hoop-band forming, laser welding, and in-die splining.

The company generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of engineered components under multi-year quote-based contracts with OEM and Tier 1 transmission manufacturers. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting OEM and Tier 1 propulsion system engineers, supported by a distributed manufacturing footprint across Michigan (Saginaw, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township), Tokyo (business development), and Wuxi, China (joint venture manufacturing). The business model is anchored by long-cycle automotive platform awards — notably GM's 9T Hydra-Matic nine-speed transmission (SOWC) and emerging EV platforms (DCC-based E-axle disconnect) — with downstream demand tied to vehicle launch volumes and electrification roadmaps. The company is 100% employee-owned through an ESOP, holds IATF 16949 and ISO 9001/14001 certifications, and reports over 30 million clutch systems shipped from Saginaw since 2000, with more than 40 million MD units deployed in the field.

Strategically, Means Industries has pivoted its technology base toward electrified propulsion, launching the DCC into volume production in 2021 for EV E-axle disconnect applications and forming two China-dedicated joint ventures (VT Industrial Technology in Wuxi for advanced metal forming, BN-HOFO with Anhui HOFO for powder metallurgy) as part of the 2021 formation of the Amsted Automotive Group. The company has also concentrated its go-to-market on customer-intimacy activities (CTI Symposiums in Berlin, Novi, and Shanghai; SAE publications) and has secured top-tier supplier recognition from multiple OEMs, including GM Platinum Supplier status and Ford World Excellence Awards.

Name

Means Industries, Inc.

Legal name

Means Industries, Inc.

Website

https://meansindustries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Means Industries is a Tier 1 automotive supplier, founded in 1922 and part of the Amsted Automotive Group, that designs and manufactures electro-mechanical clutch systems and advanced metal-formed components for OEMs including GM, Ford, Honda, FCA, and Great Wall Motor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612), Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Transmission & Transaxle Manufacturing (Manual/Automatic/DCT/CVT) (IMACAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engine Components & Subsystems Manufacturing (Blocks/Heads/Valvetrain/Pistons) (IMACAHAB), Automotive Electric Motors & Actuators Manufacturing (EPS/Brake-by-wire/Seat/Window) (IMACAJAL)

Keywords

• Automotive powertrain components
• Electro-mechanical clutch systems
• Advanced metal forming
• Driveline disconnect solutions
• Tier 1 OEM supplier

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Automotive Components and Systems: Means Industries generates revenue as a Tier 1 automotive supplier selling highly engineered mechanical clutches, precision-formed metal products, and advanced propulsion system components to OEMs and transmission manufacturers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Means Industries is a Tier 1 automotive supplier that designs, engineers, and manufactures highly engineered electro-mechanical clutch systems (CMD, DCC, MD), advanced metal-formed powertrain components, welded assemblies, park lock/hill hold systems, and driveline disconnect solutions for traditional, hybrid, and battery-electric vehicle powertrains. The company sells directly to OEM and Tier 1 transmission manufacturers through custom quote-based contracts, leveraging vertically integrated advanced metal forming and powder metallurgy capabilities to deliver torque management and propulsion system components.

Product overview

Means Industries is a Tier 1 automotive supplier specializing in motorized and electric propulsion system solutions, organized under the Amsted Automotive Group. The company offers a unified portfolio of electro-mechanical clutch systems (CMD, DCC, MD) combined with advanced metal forming capabilities (TransForm Products) to provide torque management technologies for hybrid and electrified powertrains. Their core products include Controllable Mechanical Diode (CMD) and Dynamic Controllable Clutch (DCC) for EV applications, Mechanical Diode (MD) one-way clutches, advanced metal forming technologies (roller-die, flow forming, Grob forming), welded assemblies, and driveline disconnect solutions. The Propulsion Systems business unit handles clutch technologies while TransForm Products provides metal forming expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-10% improved energy efficiency in EV applications
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Anhui HOFO Mechanical and Electrical Co. Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Joint venture BN-HOFO combining Burgess-Norton's 60+ years of powder metal expertise with HOFO's world-class facility in China. Creates largest powder metal press in China for powder metallurgy materials in Asia.
• VT Industrial TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Joint venture combining Means' advanced metal forming and joining expertise with VT Industrial Technology's innovative tool-making capabilities. Serves powertrain manufacturing from plants in Wuxi, China. Focuses on advanced metal-forming processes for Chinese automotive manufacturers.
• Amsted Automotive GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Amsted Industries combined its Tier 1 automotive supply business units (Means Industries and Burgess-Norton) to form Amsted Automotive Group. Integrates advanced metal forming, powder metallurgy, and electro-mechanical torque transfer capabilities for electrified propulsion solutions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BorgWarner: Major global Tier 1 supplier with leading positions in transmission and drivetrain technologies, including e-axle disconnect and clutch systems that directly compete with Means' DCC and MD product lines for OEM business.
• Valeo: French Tier 1 supplier of powertrain and thermal systems, including transmission components and electrification technologies that overlap with Means' clutch and e-axle disconnect portfolio.
• Aisin: Japanese Tier 1 transmission specialist with deep relationships across Asian and global OEMs; directly competes with Means in automatic transmission components including clutches and one-way clutch assemblies.
• GKN Automotive (Dowlais): Specialist in automotive driveline technologies including AWD and e-axle systems; a directly comparable supplier of torque management and disconnect solutions for OEMs transitioning to electrified propulsion.
• Magna Powertrain: Magna's Powertrain division supplies transmission components, driveline systems, and increasingly e-powertrain solutions, overlapping with Means' product portfolio across multiple global OEM customers.
• ZF Friedrichshafen: Global Tier 1 supplier of transmissions, driveline, and chassis technology, directly comparable to Means as a Tier 1 propulsion supplier serving major OEMs with advanced transmission and e-mobility components.
• Continental (Vitesco Technologies): Vitesco, Continental's powertrain spinoff, supplies electrified drivetrain solutions including e-axle disconnect systems that directly compete with Means' DCC technology for BEV and hybrid OEMs.
• Exedy Corporation: Japanese specialist clutch manufacturer with strong presence across Asia and global OEMs; directly comparable to Means as a Tier 1 supplier focused on clutch and torque-management technologies.
• Schaeffler Group (LuK): LuK is Schaeffler's clutch and powertrain brand and a direct competitor in automotive clutch systems and torque management, serving the same global OEM customer base as Means.
• Eaton: Diversified industrial manufacturer with a Vehicle Group that produces clutches and powertrain components, serving similar OEM and commercial vehicle customers as Means.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/means-industries-inc-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Means Industries, Inc.