The Leading Source for Manufacturing News & Insight
Cuba Lifts Ban On Energy-Hogging Appliances
May 22, 2013 8:09 am | by Anne-Marie Garcia, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe change could strain even further the already-overstuffed cargo holds of flights from places like Miami, Ecuador and Panama to Havana. Cuba-bound travelers who routinely check bulky bundles and multiple plasma-screen TVs will now start thinking about things like air conditioners, chest freezers, microwaves and ovens.
Technology Could Let Users Disable Guns
May 22, 2013 7:58 am | by Martha Mendoza, AP National Writer | News | CommentsThe new Yardarm Technologies LLC system would trigger an alarm on an owner's cellphone if a gun is moved, and the owner could then hit a button to activate the safety and disable the weapon. New guns would come with a microchip on the body and antennas winding around the grip.
Ex-Ford Execs Charged In Argentine Torture Cases
May 22, 2013 7:49 am | by Michael Warren, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe 150-page indictment written by Judge Alicia Vence reads like a history lesson, going to considerable lengths to explain why their actions constitute crimes against humanity and why it has taken nearly four decades to result in criminal charges.
U.S. Auto Factories Cutting Back On Summer Downtime
May 22, 2013 7:43 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe three Detroit carmakers traditionally shut factories for 14 days around July 4 to do maintenance and change the machinery for new models. But they don't have that luxury this year. U.S. demand for new cars and trucks has been strong, up 7 percent through April, led by soaring demand for full-size pickup trucks.
Safety Board: ATF Blocking Plant Blast Probe
May 22, 2013 7:38 am | News | CommentsFederal agents and the state fire marshal have effectively barred a federal safety panel from the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others, hampering its investigation, the panel's chairman said.
Indian Guest Workers Sue Company In Miss., Texas
May 22, 2013 7:35 am | News | CommentsDozens of Indian guest workers are suing an Alabama-based marine and fabrication company, claiming it financially exploited them and forced them to live in squalid conditions after bringing them to work at Gulf Coast shipyards after Hurricane Katrina.
CI Tools Aren’t Just For CI Events; They’re For Everyday
May 21, 2013 3:42 pm | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | Articles | CommentsI write a great deal about the difference between Lean and Six Sigma and Kaizen on the production floor and in the office. As much as many of us are figuring out that the same tools can be used in those very different environments with some translation for context, the training in the tools and methods hasn’t caught up.
The New Food Fight: Defending Against Labeling Litigation
May 21, 2013 3:38 pm | by Andrew J. Scholz, Matthew R. Shindell, and Matthew D. Cabral, Goldberg Segalla LLP | Articles | CommentsOnly a very small portion of this litigation actually relates to manufacturing defect claims allegedly resulting in consumer injuries or death, such as with salmonella outbreaks. Rather, the bulk of the litigation is focused on alleged “false advertising” associated with food labeling.
Preparing To Succeed When Your Network Has Been Breached
May 21, 2013 3:34 pm | by Jeff Multz, Director of North America Midmarket Sales, Dell SecureWorks | Articles | CommentsAccording to the 2013 Verizon Data Breach report, 22 organizations, mainly in manufacturing and professional services, with only one to 100 employees became a victim to cyber espionage last year. And 23 firms, mainly in manufacturing with 101 to 1,000 employees, also were breached.
Advanced Technical Finishing Invests $10 Million In Huntsville Facility
May 21, 2013 3:29 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | News | CommentsAdvanced Technical Finishing, the Huntsville, Ala.-based surface treatment resource for components in a variety of industries — aerospace, defense, medical and transportation — is adding 16,000 square feet to the current facility with a $10 million investment.
Precise Flow Measurements On Small Pipelines
May 21, 2013 2:41 pm | Products | CommentsEmerson Process Management has added the Micro Motion ELITE CMFS sensor platform to its line of Coriolis flowmeters in the effort to bring more precise measurement to pipelines smaller than 2” or DN50. According to the company, the new sensor platform features better scalability and standardization.
Tight-Tolerance Springs And Stamping At MD&M East
May 21, 2013 2:23 pm | Products | CommentsConnecticut Spring & Stamping will showcase its selection of precise medical product components, such as springs and progressive stampings, at MD&M East from June 18-20, 2013. The company says its tight-tolerance springs and metal stampings are ideal for handheld surgical devices, endoscopic clip appliers, suturing devices, stable removers and more.
Equipment Lease Finance Industry Confidence Improves In May
May 21, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation | News | CommentsWhen asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 9.7 percent of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, up from 6.3 percent in April. 87.1 percent of respondents believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, up from 84.4 percent in April.
Manufacturing Gangnam Style
May 21, 2013 2:08 pm | by Stacey Wagner, Manager, Workforce Systems Development, NIST MEP | Blogs | CommentsRethink Robotics, the firm that designed and manufactured Baxter the famous industrial robot, has met its match. Robotis’ Bioloid, an educational DIY robotics set, has developed a new, hipper cousin to Baxter that dances – Gangnam Style. And no wonder. Baxter is a “serious robot” who has a job at Vanguard Plastics.
Germany's SAP To Recruit Tech Staff With Autism
May 21, 2013 1:37 pm | News | CommentsGerman software giant SAP AG said Tuesday it plans to recruit people with autism to take make full use of their talents to process information. Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in communicating, emotional detachment and rigid or repetitive behavior.
France: Drug Company On Trial, Suspected In Deaths
May 21, 2013 12:28 pm | News | CommentsA French drug company and its founder are on trial on charges of misleading the public about a diabetes drug marketed as a weight loss method and suspected in hundreds of deaths. But after years of delays in one of France's biggest recent health scandals, the proceedings could still be pushed back further.
Hershey Tapping Into 'Milk Candy' Market In China
May 21, 2013 12:19 pm | News | CommentsThe new product marks Hershey's latest push to expand its presence in China, where the potential for sales growth is far greater than in developed countries such as the U.S. But the company has plenty of catching up to do with just 2.2 percent of the country's chocolate market, according to Euromonitor International.
Ericsson Closes Down Cable Production, Cuts Jobs
May 21, 2013 12:16 pm | News | CommentsWireless equipment maker Ericsson AB says it will close down its telecom cable manufacturing operation and cut around 350 jobs in Sweden. Ericsson said Tuesday it has given notice to 318 workers in the city of Hudiksvall in Sweden and has started negotiations with unions to cut another 36 positions in Stockholm.
Kohler To Pay $9.6M In Patent Suit
May 21, 2013 12:05 pm | News | CommentsJurors in U.S. District Court in Boston last week found Kohler willfully infringed on the patents issued in 2008 and 2010. They are owned by an affiliate of the Westerbeke Corp., which accused Kohler of infringing on both patents with several models of its low carbon monoxide marine generators.
Microsoft Reveals Xbox One
May 21, 2013 12:03 pm | by Derrik J. Lang, AP Entertainment Writer | News | CommentsFor the past two years, Microsoft has led the gaming industry in console sales with the Xbox 360. In April alone, consumers spent $208 million on Xbox hardware, software and accessories, more than rival consoles from Nintendo and Sony, according to market research firm NPD Group.
