Supplier Series : Daido Metal – The Filthy Bearings Propping Up a Stinking Machine

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Look, in the churning bowels of the automotive world, where metal clashes against metal and profits trump everything else, sits Daido Metal Co., Ltd. This Japanese outfit churns out plain bearings – those unsung bits that keep engines from seizing up like a bad hangover. But dig a little, and you find a company mired in lawsuits, financial haemorrhages, and worker gripes that stink of corporate neglect. It’s not just bad luck; it’s a pattern that screams incompetence or worse. And here’s the kicker: they’re cosy with Cummins Inc., supplying the guts for their heavy-duty engines. Yeah, the same Cummins that’s been dragged through the mud by TCAP for months now for their own litany of screw-ups. Daido’s just another tainted cog in that ecosystem, oiling the wheels of a machine that’s long overdue for a reckoning.

These companies fuck me off acting like they’re untouchable, peddling reliability while their own foundations crumble. It’s the kind of bullshit that erodes trust in an industry already drowning in emissions scandals and corner-cutting. Daido Metal presents itself as a tribology titan, but peel back the layers, and it’s a mess of legal scraps and dodgy dealings that leave workers and investors holding the bag. And with that, let’s tear into this.

The Cummins Connection: Bearings for the Beast

Daido Metal isn’t just any supplier; they’re embedded in Cummins’ supply chain like a bad tattoo. According to their own announcements, they’ve been awarded contracts for bearings in Cummins’ heavy-duty commercial truck engines, including the X12 model used in North America and China. It’s a relationship built on mutual back-slapping – Daido’s bagged awards like the “Best of the Best Quality Award” and the “New Model Development Support Award” from Cummins. These aren’t just pats on the back; they’re seals of approval for providing the half-shell bearings that keep Cummins’ diesel beasts humming.

But what does that mean? Daido supplies the critical engine components that handle the friction in Cummins’ powerhouses, from marine diesels to truck engines. It’s a deep tie-up, with Daido touting their role in supporting Cummins’ global expansion in diesel and natural gas markets. Allegedly, this partnership ensures a “stable supply” of parts, but when you look at Daido’s track record, you have to wonder if Cummins is hitching their wagon to a horse that’s lame. In an industry where one faulty bearing can lead to catastrophic failure, this alliance raises eyebrows. Is Cummins turning a blind eye to Daido’s issues, or are they just as complicit in the grind?

Legal Tangles: A Parade of Courtroom Dramas

Daido Metal’s history reads like a rap sheet of disputes that would make any decent person furious. Take the 1998 case of Bjornson v. Daido Metal U.S.A., Inc., where an employee hauled them into federal court under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The details are gritty: allegations of wage violations that left workers short-changed in a system already rigged against them. It’s the kind of exploitation that boils my blood – companies squeezing every last drop from the labour force while executives count their yen.

Then there’s the 2009 dust-up in Ohio: Daido Metal Bellefontaine, L.L.C. v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Services. This one stemmed from a labour spat involving around 123 workers and their union, Local 1224. Unemployment claims flew, hearings dragged on, and it all pointed to mismanagement that allegedly screwed over employees during tough times. Fast-forward to more recent bullshit, like the 2025 jury trial in Illinois: Daido Metal Europe Ltd. v. TRM NRE Acquisition LLC. This commercial brawl, filed in August 2025, reeks of broken deals and breached trusts, with lawyers circling like vultures.

And don’t get me started on the lead poisoning litigation involving Daido Metal and Dana Atlantic. Here, a lawsuit claimed an employee’s child suffered elevated blood lead levels due to exposure – allegedly from workplace contaminants brought home. It’s heartbreaking and enraging, the sort of collateral damage that happens when safety takes a back seat to production quotas. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re symptoms of a company that allegedly prioritises output over oversight, leaving a trail of legal wreckage.

Financial Fumbles: Haemorrhaging Cash in the Shadows

Daido’s books tell a tale of woe that’s enough to make you swear. In 2025, they reported an extraordinary loss of 1,788 million yen – that’s about 12 million bucks – tied to doubtful accounts at their subsidiary, likely Daido Metal (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Poor performance and bad debts, they say, but it smells like lousy governance. How does a company boasting global reach let a subsidiary bleed out like that without alarm bells ringing?

Add to that the dissolution of their joint venture with Dana Corporation. Framed as a business move, Daido acquired manufacturing facilities after unwinding the engine bearing partnership. But these splits often hide ugly fights over assets, IP, or underperformance. It’s the corporate equivalent of a messy divorce, and allegedly, it left scars. In their integrated reports, Daido talks big about preventing scandals through codes of conduct, but when subsidiaries tank and ventures implode, it’s clear the rot runs deep. Investors deserve better than this half-arsed accountability.

Worker Woes: Grinding Down the Backbone

Daido’s treatment of its people is a disgrace that fuels my outrage. Back in 2017, at their Ilminster factory in the UK, workers were gripped by fears of job losses after the company opened a new European office. Dozens fretted over potential layoffs or closures, shrouded in mystery and poor communication. It’s the classic corporate playbook: expand here, gut there, and to hell with the human cost.

Stateside, the Bellefontaine case highlighted union tensions, with hearings over unemployment benefits exposing alleged mishandling of workforce disputes. And the lead poisoning suit? That’s not just a legal footnote; it’s a human tragedy where workplace hazards allegedly spilled into homes, harming innocents. Daido’s subsidiaries seem to operate in a haze of neglect, where employee welfare is an afterthought. In an era where labour rights are under siege, this shit is unacceptable – it’s a betrayal of the folks who keep the machines running.

The Bigger Rot: Daido in Cummins’ Toxic Web

Zoom out, and Daido Metal looks like just another enabler in Cummins’ sprawling empire. As a key supplier of engine bearings, they’re integral to Cummins’ operations, yet their own controversies mirror the broader ecosystem’s failings. We’re here, chronicling Cummins’ endless parade of issues – from emissions cheating to regulatory slaps – you don’t need me to rehash the details. Suffice it to say, Daido’s entanglements add fuel to the fire, propping up a giant that’s no stranger to scandal.

Is Daido complicit by association? I’d say yes – their awards from Cummins suggest a tight-knit relationship that overlooks red flags. In the cut-throat world of heavy-duty engines, suppliers like Daido enable the status quo, churning out parts while dodging accountability. It’s a vicious cycle, and breaking it means calling out these bastards for what they are: cogs in a machine that’s grinding us all down.

This expose isn’t about perfection; no company’s spotless. But Daido’s pattern of legal scraps, financial slips, and worker grievances paints a picture of a firm that’s lost its way. It’s time for transparency, not more awards and acquisitions. Until then, they’re just another dirty, greasy link in a chain that’s rusting from the inside.

Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project

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