News
Technology Could Let Users Disable Guns
May 22, 2013 7:58 am | by Martha Mendoza, AP National Writer | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
Advanced Technical Finishing Invests $10 Million In Huntsville Facility
May 21, 2013 3:29 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | 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.
Equipment Lease Finance Industry Confidence Improves In May
May 21, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation | 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.
Germany's SAP To Recruit Tech Staff With Autism
May 21, 2013 1:37 pm | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
GM Investing $44.5 Million In Mich. Plant, Hiring 200
May 21, 2013 10:55 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | CommentsLansing, Mich.-based General Motors today announced a $44.5 million investment for its Lansing Grand River Assembly plant, which currently manufactures the Cadillac ATS and CTS. With the investment, the company will build a 400,000 square-foot Logistics Optimization Center and hire 200 additional employees.
Chinese Rice Contaminated With Cadmium
May 21, 2013 8:22 am | CommentsAn official notice Tuesday said mills in Hunan province's Youxian county were ordered to suspend business and recall their products after samples showed excessive cadmium levels. It said the mills had been operating legally and sourced their rice from local farmers.
Feds: NYU Researchers Took Bribes From Chinese Co.
May 21, 2013 8:20 am | CommentsThe researchers' work involves MRI technology. It's funded by the National Institutes of Health. They're accused of providing nonpublic information about the technology to a medical company in China and a research institution supported by the Chinese government.
United Restarts 787 Flights After Grounding
May 21, 2013 8:14 am | by Joshua Freed, Associated Press | CommentsThe failure of Boeing's newest, flashiest and most important plane embarrassed the company and its customers. Both United CEO Jeff Smisek and Boeing CEO Jim McNerney were on board Monday's flight, and United promoted the plane's return to service.
GM Giving Paid Internships To 110 HS Students
May 21, 2013 8:10 am | CommentsGeneral Motors is kicking the tires on a unique new internship program for Detroit-area high school students. GM has hired 110 students for paid summer internships, the automaker said Monday in announcing the formation of the GM Student Corps, a program that combines service, education and mentoring.
Firm To Appeal Nuclear Plant Whistleblower Case
May 21, 2013 8:04 am | by Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press | CommentsThe Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found Enercon Services violated whistleblower protections when it retaliated against an engineer for raising concerns during construction work at the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant in Burlington.
Sports Seem OK For Many With Heart-Zapping Device
May 21, 2013 7:53 am | by Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer | CommentsA registry tracked 372 people who stuck with competitive sports after having a defibrillator surgically implanted to guard against dangerous irregular heartbeats — and found that the lifesaving device worked when needed despite the physical exertion.
