The Leading Source for Manufacturing News & Insight
Japan Watchdog To Halt Test Reactor Over Safety
May 15, 2013 8:01 am | by Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Nuclear Regulation Authority's decision is the latest blow to the Monju fast-breeder reactor and Japan's nuclear fuel cycle program. The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hoping that Monju will be a key part of Japan's plans for disposing of atomic waste and reducing the nation's plutonium stockpile.
Bill Squeezing Out Tesla Passes N.C. Senate
May 15, 2013 7:55 am | News | CommentsThe electric car manufacturer says the bill that passed the Senate unanimously Monday effectively bars it from selling to state residents through its Internet-based model. The bill would require Tesla to go through the state's system of 7,000 franchised dealers by amending the definition of a dealer.
Ford Owners Claim EcoBoost Engine Defective
May 15, 2013 7:48 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe lawsuit says more than 100 drivers have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the V6 EcoBoost rattling or losing power. Ford hasn't recalled any vehicles for the alleged defect, and NHTSA hasn't opened an investigation, which is often the first step in the recall process.
U.S. Launches Drone From Aircraft Carrier
May 15, 2013 7:45 am | by Brock Vergakis, Associated Press | News | CommentsA drone the size of a fighter jet took off from the deck of an American aircraft carrier for the first time Tuesday in a test flight that could eventually open the way for the U.S. to launch unmanned aircraft from just about any place in the world.
Google Poised To Show Off Latest Devices, Services
May 15, 2013 7:33 am | by Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsThe company, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., made a big splash at last year's conference by staging an elaborate production to highlight the potential of Google Glass — an Internet-connected device and camera that can be worn on a person's face like a pair of spectacles.
Corporations Kill Eagles
May 14, 2013 3:29 pm | by Mike Rainone, Co-Founder, PCDworks | Articles | CommentsIn spite of years of corporate hype over invention and creativity, and the millions spent on seminars, training, and corporate consultants, big corporations have found that they can be neither innovative nor creative. I suspect that a consultant must have told someone that one of the requirements for innovation is to internally foster entrepreneurship.
Engineering Answers: The Bionic Dragonfly
May 14, 2013 3:20 pm | by Melissa Fassbender, Associate Editor, PD&D | Articles | CommentsAfter successfully mimicking bird flight with the SmartBird, which is inspired by the herring gull, and can start, fly, and land autonomously – with no additional drive mechanism, the developers at the Bionic Learning Network took on their next big challenge, modeling the dragonfly at a technical level.
Manufacturing Revival Radio: Big Ass Fans — Keeping Cool While Saving Energy
May 14, 2013 2:22 pm | by Manufacturing Revival Radio | Podcasts | CommentsToday we had the pleasure of speaking with two individuals that are helping keep America’s work force comfortable. We welcomed to the show James DeSmet and Christian Taber, Director of Engineering and Operations Senior Applications Engineer (respectively) of Big Ass Fans.
Pest Birds And Corrosive Droppings
May 14, 2013 2:04 pm | by Chrissy Hansen, Bird-X Media Correspondent | Articles | CommentsPest birds cost individuals and businesses millions of dollars each year in clean-up expenses, repairs, and damaged equipment. Some large industrial facilities spend as much as six figures to combat pest bird problems. Facility managers must understand the important of implementing a preventative bird control program as means of reducing these costs.
Business Agility In The Evolving Workforce
May 14, 2013 1:55 pm | by Bob Dean, Executive Director, Business Transformation, Cisco | Articles | CommentsEighty five percent of companies with global supply chains experienced at least one supply chain disruption in the previous 12 months. Risk is inherently unpredictable. Fortunately, the current workforce is undergoing its own transformation to be able to identify and manage risk on a global basis.
AP: Wind Farms Get Pass On Eagle Deaths
May 14, 2013 1:48 pm | by Dina Cappiello, Associated Press | News | CommentsKilling these iconic birds is not just an irreplaceable loss for a vulnerable species. It's also a federal crime, a charge that the Obama administration has used to prosecute oil companies when birds drown in their waste pits, and power companies when birds are electrocuted by their power lines.
Safety Agency Probes Mazda Door Latch Problem
May 14, 2013 1:44 pm | News | CommentsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received four complaints that the doors wouldn't latch. In one case, a passenger door opened while a car was being driven. The agency says the owners complained that some of the door-latch mounting screws were missing.
Bard To Pay $51M To Resolve Kickback Investigation
May 14, 2013 1:41 pm | News | CommentsThe agency said Monday that Bard will pay $48.3 million to resolve allegations that its actions resulted in false claims made to Medicare, and the company will pay another $2.2 million as part of a non-prosecution agreement. The agency says the kickbacks were paid between 1998 and 2006.
Dell Raises Intrigue By Rescheduling 1Q Report
May 14, 2013 1:37 pm | News | CommentsStruggling personal computer maker Dell is going to report its latest quarterly earnings ahead of schedule in a move likely to spur speculation that the results will be dismal. The schedule change announced Tuesday means Dell Inc. will release its fiscal first-quarter earnings after the market close this Thursday.
NJ Man Charged With Plane Parts Fraud Scheme
May 14, 2013 1:35 pm | News | CommentsA northern New Jersey man is due in federal court to face charges he ran a scheme to sell airplane parts that had been scrapped or rejected. Gideon Vaisman of Edgewater was arrested Monday night. He is due in court Tuesday to face a wire fraud conspiracy charge that carries a 20-year maximum sentence.
RIM Unveils Cheaper BlackBerry
May 14, 2013 1:33 pm | by Kyle Hightower and Rob Gillies, Associated Press | News | CommentsResearch In Motion unveiled a lower-cost BlackBerry aimed at consumers in emerging markets on Tuesday, and said it will offer its once-popular BlackBerry Messenger service on iPhones and devices running Google's Android software. CEO Thorsten Heins said the time is right to offer BBM on rival devices.
France Approves Major Labor Reform Package
May 14, 2013 1:31 pm | by Sarah DiLorenzo, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe bill is one of President Francois Hollande's signature pieces of legislation designed to overhaul the country's notoriously hidebound labor market. It includes measures such as making it easier for workers to change jobs and for companies to fire employees.
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.
