The Leading Source for Manufacturing News & Insight
Buffett: Women Key To Nation's Prosperity
May 2, 2013 1:32 pm | by Josh Funk, Associated Press | News | CommentsBillionaire Warren Buffett is optimistic about America's economic future because the nation has begun to unleash the potential of women. He says that most of America's prosperity was created using only about 50 percent of its talent — the men. So he's confident the country will prosper as more women excel in the workforce.
Report: Government Policies Seen As Key To Manufacturing Competitiveness
May 2, 2013 12:32 pm | by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited | News | CommentsThe three-volume report, “Manufacturing for Growth,” finds that executives around the world crave government policies that simplify taxes and protect free and fair trade — along with stronger energy and infrastructure policies and more focused education and workforce frameworks. They also want science, technology and innovation policies that promote advanced manufacturing.
Adjustable, Operator-Fed Packaging
May 2, 2013 11:44 am | Products | CommentsIntertape Polymer Group now offers the Interpack USA Series Case Sealers — adjustable, operator fed machines that process same sized RSC style cases. These machines are engineered to provide industry leading features, heavy duty construction for 24/7 operation, and ergonomic, user-friendly operation and case size set up.
Engineering Newswire 36: Electric Car Charge Time Cut in Half
May 2, 2013 11:01 am | by Eric Sorensen, Coordinator of Multimedia Development | Videos | CommentsToday on Engineering Newswire, brought to you by Interpower, the premier supplier of power system components for worldwide markets, we’re bending cellphones, electrifying motorcycles, cutting electric vehicle charge time in half, and riding a screw-propelled snowboard.
KUKA Systems Acquires Utica Companies’ Plant Engineering Arm
May 2, 2013 10:55 am | News | CommentsSterling Heights, Mich.-based KUKA Systems Group, has finalized its acquisition of the plant engineering business of privately-owned Utica Companies, which is headquartered in Shelby Township, Mich. As the transaction was completed, KUKA Systems became the No. 1 manufacturing systems supplier in the North American automotive sector.
Descartes Acquires Scandinavia-Based KSD Software
May 2, 2013 10:41 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | News | CommentsKSD is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and currently has more than 1,300 customers throughout the EU, with a focus on Norway and other Scandinavian countries. The company also holds offices in Sweden, Denmark, and The Netherlands. Descartes says the all-cash purchase was NOK 190 million ($33 million USD).
Verizon Report: State-Affiliated Espionage Dominates Security Landscape
May 2, 2013 10:00 am | News | CommentsTaking the top spot for all breaches in the 2013 report is financially-motived cybercrime (75 percent), with state-affiliated espionage campaigns claiming the No. 2 spot (20 percent). Breaches in the No. 2 spot include cyberthreats aimed at stealing intellectual property — such as classified information, trade secrets and technical resources — to further national and economic interests.
Steel Firm To Add Jobs To Supply Caterpillar Plant
May 2, 2013 9:38 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Times of Gainesville reports that Impulse Manufacturing will produce parts for several small excavators that will be produced at the new Caterpillar plant. The parts will be shipped by truck each day to the Caterpillar plant, where they will be assembled.
Jobless Claims Fall To 5-Year Low Of 324K
May 2, 2013 8:40 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to seasonally adjusted 324,000, the lowest since January 2008. The drop points to fewer layoffs and possibly more hiring. The Labor Department says weekly applications fell 18,000, the second straight sharp drop.
European Commission Investigates Peugeot State Aid
May 2, 2013 8:11 am | News | CommentsThe European Commission says it has opened an in-depth investigation into the government-backed restructuring of France's PSA Peugeot Citroen group to see whether it violates European Union state aid rules. Under the plan, the French state has guaranteed 7 billion euros ($9.1 billion) in loans to Peugeot and given or advanced another 85.9 million euros directly.
Fed Keeps Stimulus, Says Taxes And Cuts Have Hurt
May 2, 2013 7:59 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe Federal Reserve cautioned America's political leaders Wednesday that their policies are hurting the economy. The Fed stood by its aggressive efforts to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment. But it sent its clearest signal to date that tax increases and spending cuts that kicked in this year are slowing the economy.
Alabama's Honda Plant Celebrates Start Of MDX
May 2, 2013 7:55 am | News | CommentsGov. Robert Bentley is joining Honda officials in Lincoln to celebrate the start of production for the 2014 Acura MDX sports utility vehicle. A spokesman for the governor said the ceremony Thursday morning comes after Honda invested $400 million and hired more than 400 people to support the production of the MDX.
Calif. Lawsuit Claims Lead In Ginger, Plum Candies
May 2, 2013 7:52 am | by Jason Dearen, Associated Press | News | CommentsCalifornia has filed a lawsuit against Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and other food retailers, manufacturers and distributors, alleging the companies are selling lead-tainted ginger and plum candies without warning labels, as required by state law.
Ford Adding 2,000 Workers To Missouri Plant
May 2, 2013 7:47 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writers | News | CommentsFord Motor Co. said Thursday that it's adding 2,000 workers to the Missouri plant that makes the F-150 pickup because of surging U.S. truck demand. The company plans to add a shift with 900 workers in the third quarter of this year to make pickups. That's in addition to the 1,100 workers Ford will hire to make the new Transit van.
Judge Gives Major Break In GM Theft Case
May 2, 2013 7:42 am | by Ed White, Associated Press | News | CommentsA former General Motors engineer convicted of stealing thousands of pages of hybrid technology was sentenced Wednesday to just a year and a day in prison, far below the punishment sought by the government in a case that involved her husband and an alleged scheme to take the trade secrets to China.
Kodak To Exit Bankruptcy A Different Company
May 1, 2013 7:33 pm | News | CommentsEastman Kodak plans to emerge from bankruptcy protection by the end of September after shedding most of the businesses that turned it into an American icon. The reorganized Kodak will focus instead on commercial imaging and printing, where it believes it can once become profitable, according to its bankruptcy reorganization plan.
Electric Car Maker CODA Files For Bankruptcy
May 1, 2013 7:29 pm | by Robert Jablon, Associated Press | News | CommentsElectric car maker CODA Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday after selling just 100 cars and said it plans to quit the auto business altogether. The Los Angeles-based parent of CODA Automotive filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court in Delaware. A consortium of debtors plans to acquire CODA for $25 million.
IDC: Tablets With Windows RT See Slow Sales
May 1, 2013 5:11 pm | by Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsResearchers at IDC said manufacturers shipped 200,000 tablets running Windows RT, the special version of Windows for iPad-style tablets, in the January to March period. That's down from about 900,000 shipped in the fourth quarter. Microsoft Corp. launched Windows RT in October, along with the Surface tablet.
La. Gov: $340M More From BP For Gulf Restoration
May 1, 2013 2:23 pm | by Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press | News | CommentsBP PLC has agreed to pay $340 million to restore four of the barrier islands that act as hurricane buffers for Louisiana's mainland and create two fish research hatcheries in the state, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday. The money is part of $1 billion the oil giant agreed two years ago to pay for early restoration work after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Carpet Company To Create 2,400 Jobs In Georgia
May 1, 2013 2:17 pm | News | CommentsA spokesman for Gov. Nathan Deal says a carpet manufacturing company will open two plants in northwest Georgia and create about 2,400 jobs. The Dalton area — about 90 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta — is internationally known as a carpet manufacturing hub and lost tens of thousands of jobs when the housing market stalled.
