The Leading Source for Manufacturing News & Insight
Lenovo Ramping Up Jobs At PC Manufacturing In NC
May 28, 2013 7:33 pm | News | CommentsLenovo Group is ramping up its first American manufacturing operation for personal computers. The No. 2 computer maker said Tuesday its new production line near Greensboro is on track to meet its hiring target of about 115 jobs by the end of June. Lenovo is based in China but has executive headquarters in Morrisville, where about 2,000 work.
Manufacture The Right Mix Of Business And Financial Savvy
May 28, 2013 1:51 pm | by Peter Arendt, Managing Director of Food and Agribusiness, Huntington Bank | Articles | CommentsThe degree of specialization along the food processing chain makes a significant difference in how one builds a sustainable business franchise today. Years of ingenuity and vertical integration have enabled operators to create uniform and predictable product applications and capture maximum operating efficiencies.
Kansas Officials Break Ground On NBAF Project
May 28, 2013 1:36 pm | by John Milburn, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe lab, slated to conduct research on dangerous animal diseases, will replace an aging facility on Plum Island, N.Y. State officials expect the lab to create more than 300 new jobs averaging more than $75,000 in salary and benefits. Ground was broken Tuesday under cloudy skies on the lab's central utility plant, which will provide a self-contained power supply to the lab.
A Model For American Manufacturing Growth
May 28, 2013 1:23 pm | by Kevin Duggan, Duggan Associates | Articles | CommentsAs an operation that manufactures about 97 percent of its product in the United States with a local labor force, yet sells 60 percent internationally, Hypertherm has become a model of how American manufacturing can be competitive globally with low-cost, low-wage markets.
Odor Complaints Persist At Wisconsin Plant
May 28, 2013 12:34 pm | News | CommentsNew complaints about the odor coming from a Green Bay area plant that processes animal fats and food waste has some Brown County supervisors pushing harder to punish the owners if the matter isn't addressed soon. Supervisor Patrick Evans says the county has provided plenty of time for Sanimax to fix the odor problems.
Germany: Merkel Vows To Avoid Trade War With China
May 28, 2013 12:32 pm | News | CommentsStill, Germany's powerful industrial lobby groups oppose the discussed EU anti-dumping measures against China because they fear an escalating trade war that would dent the countries' buoying business ties. Li said the EU's decision wouldn't serve its interests and would harm China and others.
EU: Google Must Up Offer To Settle Antitrust Case
May 28, 2013 12:29 pm | News | CommentsThe European Union's competition chief says Google will have to offer more changes to the way it displays search results to settle a pending antitrust case. Joaquin Almunia told the European Parliament Tuesday that the period to examine Google's proposals has been extended by one month but that his office will ask Google with "almost 100 percent" certainty in June to do yet more.
Consumer Confidence Rises To 5-Year High
May 28, 2013 10:50 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsAmericans' confidence in the economy jumped in May to a five-year high, lifted by a better outlook for hiring and business conditions. The increase suggests consumers may keep boosting economic growth this year. The Conference Board, a New York-based private research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose in May to 76.2.
Kellogg Reaches Settlement Over Mini-Wheats Claim
May 28, 2013 10:47 am | News | CommentsKellogg has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a class action lawsuit over the marketing claims it made for Frosted Mini-Wheats. The company, which also makes Frosted Flakes, Eggo waffles and Pop Tarts, was sued for saying that the cereal improved children's attentiveness, memory and other cognitive functions.
South Korea Idles 2 Nuke Plants After Cable Tests Faked
May 28, 2013 8:36 am | by Youkyung Lee, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsSouth Korea's trade and energy ministry said Tuesday a company contracted to conduct tests fabricated the results for cables that failed to meet international standards for capacity to withstand changes in voltage and pressure. It warned that the plant shutdowns would result in summer power shortages.
Industry Giant GE Aims To Improve Fracking
May 28, 2013 8:33 am | by Kevin Begos, Associated Press | News | CommentsGE doesn't drill wells or produce oil or gas, but Little said the complexity of the fracking boom plays into the company strengths. Wells are being drilled horizontally at great depths in a variety of formations all around the country, and that means each location may require different techniques.
Drug Maker Recalls Meds In 13 States
May 28, 2013 8:17 am | News | CommentsThe investigation began after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was notified of seven people who developed infections or adverse reactions after receiving injections of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA). It's the same drug that was linked to last year's deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis.
EU Looks To Small Business To Help Unemployment
May 28, 2013 8:12 am | News | CommentsLabor ministers warned at a conference in Paris on Tuesday that if high youth unemployment is not addressed, young people will lose faith in their governments and the European Union. But as many countries struggle to reduce spending, there is little money left in national budgets for youth programs.
Trailblazing Israeli Electric Car Company To Close
May 28, 2013 8:11 am | by Josef Federman, Associated Press | News | CommentsIt was an audacious idea that came to symbolize Israel's self-described status as "Start-Up Nation," a company that believed it could replace most gasoline-powered cars with electric vehicles and reduce the world's reliance on oil — and all within a few years. But it all came crashing down.
North Korea Relaxes Controls Over Worker Salaries
May 28, 2013 7:55 am | News | CommentsA North Korean economist says the government introduced new economic management methods last month that relax state control of workers' salaries. Government economist Ri Ki Song says the change introduced April 1 should not be seen as "reform and opening." He says North Korea is sticking to socialist ownership of the means of production.
Bridge Collapse A Major Break In Trade Corridor
May 28, 2013 7:53 am | by Donna Gordon Blankinship, Associated Press | News | CommentsFor farmers, business owners and government officials up and down the West Coast, Washington's bridge collapse on Interstate 5 represents much more than a close brush with tragedy. As much as $20 billion in freight travels to and from Canada and along the busy north-south corridor each year.
U.S. Investigating Ford Pickups For Engine Issue
May 28, 2013 7:49 am | News | CommentsThe federal government is investigating Ford F-150 pickups with EcoBoost engines after drivers reported that the engines lost power during acceleration. The government estimates around 400,000 F-150 pickups from the 2011 through 2013 model years are involved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 95 reports of engines losing power during hard acceleration, such as when passing.
Vintage Apple Computer Auctioned Off For $668,000
May 28, 2013 7:39 am | News | CommentsAn auctioneer says one of Apple's first computers — a functioning 1976 model — has been sold for a record 516,000 euros ($668,000). German auction house Breker said Saturday an Asian client, who asked not to be named, bought the so-called Apple 1, which the tech company's founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built in a family garage.
VW's German Workers Win Raises In Pay Deal
May 28, 2013 7:37 am | News | CommentsVolkswagen's German factory workers will get a two-stage raise under a new wage deal reached as the automaker grapples with slipping sales and profit. The company said Tuesday it agreed with the IG Metall union on increases of 3.4 percent from Sept. 1 and 2.2 percent from July 1 of next year through February 2015.
Valeant To Buy Bausch + Lomb For $8.7B
May 28, 2013 7:34 am | by Linda A. Johnson, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsValeant said the cash deal will help it capitalize on increasing demand for contact lenses and other products because of aging populations, growing demand in emerging markets and increasing rates of diabetes. Complications of the complex blood sugar disorder can damage the eyes over time.
