The Leading Source for Manufacturing News & Insight
GM To Sell Van Made By Nissan
May 14, 2013 1:27 pm | News | CommentsThe vans will be based on the Nissan NV200 and will be sold at Chevrolet dealers starting in the fall of 2014. It will be called the Chevrolet City Express, and will compete with Ford's Transit Connect, a small van used by florists, plumbers, delivery services and other businesses across the nation.
EU Probes Oil Companies For Possible Price-Fixing
May 14, 2013 1:25 pm | News | CommentsEuropean anti-trust authorities have launched investigations into at least three oil companies on suspicion of price-fixing. Britain's BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Norway's Statoil confirmed they are subject to the inquiry announced Tuesday by the European Union's executive arm, the Commission.
Kickstarter of the Week: 128 Miles Per Gallon
May 14, 2013 11:48 am | by Eric Sorensen, Coordinator of Multimedia Development | Videos | CommentsToday on PD&D's Kickstarter of the Week, we're exploring the northern reaches of Wisconsin on a gas-powered, DC Lowrider bicycle from Sunny Hill Cycles. The bike features a custom-machined manifold that helps it fit into the frame of the bike, 120-spoke wheels, and pedals that let anyone with a driver's license putter it around on the street.
Honda To Produce New Acura NSX In Central Ohio
May 14, 2013 11:12 am | by Lisa Cornwell, Associated Press | News | CommentsHonda's new version of its Acura NSX sports car will be produced at a new plant inside one of the automaker's former facilities in central Ohio, Honda said Tuesday. The new $70 million plant, called the Performance Manufacturing Center, will be inside the former North American Logistics facility and adjacent to Honda's existing factory in Marysville.
Feds Probe 3 Chrysler Models For Engine Stalling
May 14, 2013 8:31 am | News | CommentsThe agency says it has 54 complaints from owners that engines stalled while the cars were being driven. In all cases the stalling happened after the cars were refueled. Forty-eight of the owners said they had several stalling incidents, and seven said they had trouble restarting the cars.
High-Tech Pushes For More In Immigration Bill
May 14, 2013 8:22 am | by Erica Werner, Associated Press | News | CommentsHigh-tech companies looking to bring more skilled workers to the U.S. pushed Monday for more concessions in an immigration bill pending in the Senate. Labor unions said these companies had already obtained enough in the legislation and further changes risked chipping away at protections for U.S. workers.
Nissan Chief Welcomes Yen Fall For Luxury Brand
May 14, 2013 8:08 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsJapanese automakers have been trying to move production to where their vehicles are sold to reduce risks from a strong yen, which lowers the value of their overseas earnings. But the yen has lost more than 20 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar in recent months.
Airbus Sales Drive 1Q Profits At Parent Company
May 14, 2013 7:57 am | News | CommentsThe Airbus parent company also reaffirmed Tuesday its forecast of lifting commercial aircraft deliveries this year to between 600 and 610, as demand from Middle Eastern and Asian carriers to expand their fleets continues to drive sales for one of Europe's largest exporters.
2 Hurt In Explosions, Fire At W.Va. Gas Plant
May 14, 2013 7:48 am | by Pam Ramsey, Associated Press | News | CommentsPutnam County emergency management director Frank Chapman said the explosion involved about 50 tanks of acetylene that were at Airgas waiting to be refilled. What caused the tanks to explode wasn't known. Chad Jones, a firefighter with the Bancroft Volunteer Fire Department, said four cylinders continued to burn Monday evening and that crews were letting them "burn out."
Idaho Spud Giant Bets On Biotech Potatoes
May 14, 2013 7:45 am | by John Miller, Associated Press | News | CommentsA dozen years after a customer revolt forced Monsanto to ditch its genetically engineered potato, an Idaho company aims to resurrect high-tech spuds. This month, tuber processing giant J.R. Simplot Co. asked the U.S. government to approve five varieties of biotech potatoes.
GM: Supercomputers To Keep Recalls In Check
May 14, 2013 7:40 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe Detroit automaker, which formally opened the giant data storage center in suburban Warren, Michigan, on Monday, said the changes are examples of how it is moving faster to cut costs and serve its customers better by bringing more computer technology inside the company.
Beechcraft Gets $210M Military Contract
May 14, 2013 7:38 am | News | CommentsA unit of Beechcraft Corp. says production will begin this month in Wichita on 35 training aircraft for the military. Beechcraft Defense Co. on Monday announced the signing of a $210 million contract with the Air Force, under the government's Joint Primary Aircraft Training System procurement contract.
Raising The Bar
May 13, 2013 6:14 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsMcNamara estimates that Hearthside currently has over 100 contracts that govern their business, with 80 to 85 percent of the business devoted to contract manufacturing. When acquiring new businesses, in many cases Hearthside also acquired the clients previously contracted with the facilities being purchased.
Glass Door Maker Opening Facility In Kentucky
May 13, 2013 4:52 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA company that makes glass doors will create 100 full-time jobs when it opens its manufacturing plant in western Kentucky. Glass Door Solutions LLC is a new company that plans to lease a facility in Elkton in Todd County with an investment of $3.5 million.
Bobcat Breaks Ground On $20 Million ND Facility
May 13, 2013 2:37 pm | News | CommentsBobcat Co. is investing $20 million in an expansion and renovations in Bismarck, about 3 ½ years after closing its manufacturing plant and laying off nearly 500 workers.The compact construction equipment maker broke ground Monday on a research-and-development facility at its existing site at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre.
AMT: U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders See 30 Pct. March Gain
May 13, 2013 2:21 pm | by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology | News | CommentsMarch U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $507.91 million according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was up 30.4 percent from February and up 3.2 percent when compared with the total of $491.96 million reported for March 2012.
Judge OKs Class-Action Settlement Over Skechers
May 13, 2013 2:19 pm | by Brett Barrouquere, Associated Press | News | CommentsA federal judge has approved a $40 million class-action settlement between Skechers USA Inc. and consumers who bought toning shoes after ads made unfounded claims that the footwear would help people lose weight and strengthen muscles.
U.S. Business Stockpiles Flat In March, Sales Fall
May 13, 2013 2:15 pm | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe Commerce Department said Monday that business stockpiles showed no increase in March on a seasonally adjusted basis. Businesses hadn't upped their restocking in February, either. Sales fell 1.1 percent in March, offsetting a 1 percent gain in February.
Drug Manufacturer Agrees To $500M Penalty
May 13, 2013 1:33 pm | by Eric Tucker, Associated Press | News | CommentsA subsidiary of an Indian pharmaceutical company has agreed to pay $500 million in fines and civil penalties as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Ranbaxy USA Inc. has admitted to making and selling adulterated generic drugs at two manufacturing sites in India.
Low Profile Cart Eliminates Bending and Dragging
May 13, 2013 1:25 pm | Products | CommentsThe L44 Low Profile Cart from CECOR Inc. has been designed to eliminate bending and moving heavy plastic totes or makeshift bins across the shop floor. The company says the practice or dragging dense loads of metal chips or parts is difficult and can cause back injuries, which makes the cart ideal for efforts to improve worker ergonomics.
