The Lead
Cuba Lifts Ban On Energy-Hogging Appliances
May 22, 2013 | by Anne-Marie Garcia, Associated Press | Comments
The 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.
Should We Let Wunderkinds Drop Out Of High School?
May 22, 2013 8:17 am | by Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press | Comments
Some folks in Silicon Valley and elsewhere say a conventional education can't possibly give kids...
Indian Guest Workers Sue Company In Miss., Texas
May 22, 2013 7:35 am | Comments
Dozens of Indian guest workers are suing an Alabama-based marine and fabrication company,...
Japanese Execs Face Prison For Price Fixing
May 22, 2013 8:19 am | Comments
Two executives at Japanese auto supplier Denso Corp. are facing more than a year in U.S. federal...
Lea Industries Recalls 63,000 Children's Beds
May 22, 2013 10:21 am | CommentsLea Industries is recalling more than 63,000 children's beds in the U.S. and Canada because a support rail could break, putting users at risk of falling. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday that two injuries have been reported since 2009. There have been 22 reports of incidents involving the recalled beds in the U.S. and one in Canada.
Boeing Examining Speed-Ups On 787, 737
May 22, 2013 10:19 am | CommentsIt's already doubling 787 production, from 5 per month last year, on its way toward 10 per month by the end of this year. The efficiency of the 787, Boeing's newest plane, has made it very popular with airlines. The company has orders for more than 800 that it hasn't built yet.
Evian Giving Its Water Bottle A Makeover
May 22, 2013 10:17 am | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | CommentsEvian is giving itself a facelift to keep up with its sleek, young competitors on store shelves. The water, which is owned by French food and beverage company Danone, is unveiling a new bottle for the first time in 14 years as it looks to reinvigorate its image and win back market share in the premium water category.
Japan Watchdog: Nuke Plant Sits On Active Fault
May 22, 2013 10:13 am | by Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press | CommentsIt was the first time Japanese regulators had officially recognized an active fault underneath an existing reactor, virtually acknowledging that the risk at Tsuruga had been overlooked for decades by both the operator and regulators despite warnings by some experts.
Fiat Industrial Considers Making Tax Home In UK
May 22, 2013 10:09 am | CommentsFiat Industrial is considering moving its tax home to Britain after it completes the merger with its U.S.-based subsidiary CNH. The possible move by the maker of heavy trucks, farm and construction vehicles would be a blow to the new Italian government of Enrico Letta, which is struggling to put public finances in order.
United Tech CEO Sees Stronger Economy, Airlines
May 22, 2013 8:11 am | CommentsCEO Louis Chenevert told analysts that airline profitability looks better for 2013 than in recent years. Chenevert said North American commercial construction is improving — good news for its Carrier heating and ventilating business. And orders were up 22 percent in emerging markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China.
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.
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.