The Leading Source for Manufacturing News & Insight
GM Recalling SUVs For Fire Risk
June 17, 2013 7:41 am | News | CommentsGeneral Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver's door could short and cause a fire. The vehicles involved are the Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Saab 9-7x and Isuzu Ascender from the 2006 and 2007 model years.
Machinists Deal With Memphis Heat With Big Fans
June 14, 2013 1:02 pm | Articles | CommentsMachinists at Memphis-based Engineered Medical Systems (EMS) were working up a sweat carving and shaping bars of steel into lifesaving surgical equipment. “If you’ve ever been to Memphis, you know it gets really hot here with really high humidity,” said EMS Controller Charles Stanford. “You sweat walking out to the mailbox. And that heat lasts for a long stretch of time.”
High-Voltage Battery Simulator & Test Systems
June 14, 2013 10:24 am | by Randall Beattie, President of SAKOR Technologies | Articles | CommentsHigh voltage battery simulator and test systems are essential for conducting testing of the high voltage DC power systems that are such a critical element of electric (EV) and hybrid/electric (HEV) vehicles. To accurately test a high voltage hybrid or electric drivetrain, you need to be able to provide precise, repeatable high-voltage DC power.
Top 6 Mobile Apps For Engineers
June 14, 2013 9:56 am | by Brian Spero, www.moneycrashers.com | Articles | CommentsBesides calling on knowledge and experience to get the job done, engineers rely on a host of resources and tools that, thanks to the development of mobile applications, are becoming increasingly accessible from handheld devices.
Europe Seeks Ways To Ease Youth Unemployment
June 14, 2013 9:33 am | News | CommentsEconomic and labor ministers from France, Germany, Italy and Spain are meeting in Rome to find a way to reduce record youth unemployment. Italian Premier Enrico Letta has made finding jobs for the young one of the battle cries of his new administration. About 40 percent of Italians aged 15-24 and active in the job hunt are unemployed.
Boat Maker Expanding With New Ind. Factory
June 14, 2013 9:29 am | News | CommentsA company making high-end pontoon boats is moving to a new location in Fort Wayne with plans to double its workforce over the next couple years. State and local officials joined Brunswick Corp. executives in a ceremony Thursday at its new factory on the city's west side at the site of a closed restaurant oven plant.
Factory Output Barely Rises In May
June 14, 2013 9:22 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. factories barely increased their output in May after two months of declines, a sign that manufacturing is providing little support for the economy. The Federal Reserve says manufacturing production increased just 0.1 percent in May from April. Output fell 0.4 percent in April and 0.3 percent in March.
Record $11M Fine For Illegal California Gold Mine
June 14, 2013 9:12 am | by Don Thompson, Associated Press | News | CommentsRegulators say the miners have continued to scrape valuable ore from a ridge about 45 miles east of the state capital even though two of the operators also face criminal charges in El Dorado County. Joseph Hardesty and Rick Churches have another court appearance set for Friday.
U.S. Wholesale Prices Rise 0.5 Percent In May
June 14, 2013 8:57 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsA rise in food and gas costs drove a measure of wholesale prices up sharply in May. But outside those volatile categories, inflation was mild.The Labor Department said Friday that the producer price index rose 0.5 percent in May from April.
Lightweight Microsoft Office Available On iPhone
June 14, 2013 8:27 am | by Anick Jesdanun, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsMicrosoft's Office software package is coming to the iPhone for the first time Friday, offering people the ability to read and edit their text documents, spreadsheets and slide presentations at the doctor's office or at a soccer game.
GAO Rejects Beechcraft's Protest Of Lost Contract
June 14, 2013 8:24 am | News | CommentsBoth companies issued statements Thursday announcing the decision by the Government Accountability Office. It's the latest development in a high-stakes competition that has taken nearly three years with legal challenges from both sides.
First Flight Of Airbus A350 Reopens Wide-Body Race
June 14, 2013 8:00 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsFriday's flight from Toulouse is to last about four hours and marks a key step on the path to full certification. More than half of the A350 — Airbus' first all-new plane in eight years — is made up of lightweight carbon-fiber designed to save on jet fuel, which makes up half the cost of long-haul flights.
Ind. City Sues Over Failed Pharmaceutical Facility
June 14, 2013 7:57 am | News | CommentsGreenwood officials three years ago approved the project incentives, including a $6 million construction loan for 50,000-square-foot plant in a business park east of the city just south of Indianapolis. Elona said then it expected to employ some 70 workers and spend more than $25 million on a planned expansion.
FDA Aims To Prevent Hacking Of Medical Devices
June 14, 2013 7:53 am | News | CommentsThe Food and Drug Administration wants makers of medical devices to design future products to prevent hackers from targeting them and disrupting patient care. A draft of the agency's recommendations — what the FDA calls guidance — was posted on its website Thursday.
New Hostess Owner Prepares To Restart Ga. Plant
June 14, 2013 7:51 am | News | CommentsThe smell of snack cakes could soon return to the Dolly Madison plant in Columbus as Hostess Brands LLC prepares to relaunch production.Hostess Brands LLC spokesman Michael Cramer said workers will be resuming production by July. He said crews are now getting the facility ready to bake goods again, including testing equipment that's been idle since November.
Revlon Paying $850K Penalty To Settle SEC Charges
June 14, 2013 7:47 am | News | CommentsCosmetics company Revlon Inc. has agreed to pay a $850,000 fine to settle federal charges that it withheld key information from shareholders about a "going-private" transaction. Going-private transactions are typically when a company seeks to cash out shareholders so it or a private equity firm can acquire all outstanding shares.
Companion Apps, Open Worlds: 5 Trends From E3
June 14, 2013 7:40 am | by Derrik J. Lang, AP Entertainment Writer | News | CommentsSharing gaming clips will be as easy as hitting a button, especially in the case of the PS4. The controller for Sony's next-gen console features a "share" button, while Microsoft has partnered with the popular streaming service Twitch to allow users to quickly upload clips from the Xbox One.
Kodak Ending Production Of Acetate Film Base
June 14, 2013 7:13 am | News | CommentsEastman Kodak Co. says it's ending in-house production of one of the key components of camera film and cutting 61 jobs. The Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester reports (http://on.rocne.ws/11cAOIs ) that Kodak plans to shut down its acetate base manufacturing operations next week. Light-sensitive chemicals are spread on the acetate base for photographic film.
Gov't: LNG Export Decisions Due By End Of Year
June 13, 2013 4:15 pm | by Matthew Daly, Associated Press | News | CommentsMoniz, who took office last month, told a House energy panel Thursday that he has been reviewing the issue and will soon begin evaluating applications on a case-by-case basis. Asked whether he would make decisions on export applications this year, Moniz said "yes, absolutely," but he did not give a more specific timeframe.
NC Chamber Holds Manufacturing Summit
June 13, 2013 4:10 pm | News | CommentsJohn Bolla is a vice president at GlaxoSmithKline and will be the keynote speaker at the summit, which is being held Thursday in Greensboro. Other speakers include Dale Folwell of the state Division of Employment Security and Preston Howard of the N.C. Manufacturers Alliance.
