Manufacturing.net All

Durable Goods Orders Rise 3.3 Percent

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:19 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in April, buoyed by more demand for military and civilian aircraft and an increase in business investment.

The Commerce Department says durable goods orders rose 3.3 percent last month after a 5.9 decline in March.

And a measure of business investment plans increased 1.2 percent after a revised 0.9 percent gain in March. Business ordered more machinery, computers and electronics last month.

Stricken Japan Nuke Plant Struggles To Keep Staff

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:28:32 +0000

TOKYO (AP) -- Keeping the meltdown-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northeastern Japan in stable condition requires a cast of thousands. Increasingly the plant's operator is struggling to find enough workers, a trend that many expect to worsen and hamper progress in the decades-long effort to safely decommission it.

Health Canada: Voluntary Recall Of Children's Medicine

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:03:45 +0000

OTTAWA (CP) -- Some child fever medicine has been recalled because of concerns with the quality of one of the ingredients produced in China.

Health Canada says Prestige Brands is voluntarily recalling their products that include acetaminophen.

The agency says it was made aware of concerns about quality involving a Chinese manufacturer that produces the ingredient for the medicines.

Health Canada says the move is being done as a precaution only.

Canada Disapproves Of New Meat Labeling Rules

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:51:14 +0000

TORONTO (AP) -- Canada said Thursday that it is considering retaliatory measures against the United States in a dispute over meat-labeling rules that Ottawa and the World Trade Organization consider discriminatory.

The Canadian government said that new U.S. country of origin labeling regulations announced Thursday that require tracking beef, chicken and hogs from livestock through the meat processing and distribution systems are unduly burdensome.

Tempur-Pedic Changes Name On Sealy Deal

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:48:08 +0000

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Tempur-Pedic International Inc. said Thursday that shareholders have approved changing the company's name to Tempur Sealy International Inc.

The decision, made at the company's annual meeting, reflects its recent acquisition of fellow mattress maker Sealy Corp.

Tempur-Pedic completed the $228.6 million acquisition of Sealy on March 18.

The company's global corporate headquarters will be in Lexington, Ky., and its subsidiaries will continue with their existing names. The company will continue to trade on the NYSE under the symbol "TPX".

New Rules For Labeling Meat Go Into Effect In U.S.

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:45:33 +0000

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Shoppers in the U.S. will soon have more information about where their meat comes from after new federal labeling rules went into effect Thursday.

The rules require labels on steaks, ribs and other cuts of meat to say where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered. Earlier U.S. Department of Agriculture rules only required that countries of origin to be noted, so a package might say "Produce of U.S. and Canada." Now, the label will specify "Born in Canada, raised and slaughtered in the United States."

GM Aims New Chevy Cruze Diesel At Volkswagen Jetta

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:42:31 +0000

DETROIT (AP) -- The marketing people at Chevrolet make no secret of the goal for the new diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze: Take sales from Volkswagen.

In fact, they're rolling out the car in 13 markets where VW sells the most diesel versions of its Jetta, another compact.

"Jetta owns the segment," concedes Phil Caruso, small-car marketing manager for the General Motors' Chevy brand. "We're looking to be a key competitor and take over some of that business."

Fisher-Price Moving, Eliminating About 100 NY Jobs

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:09:17 +0000

EAST AURORA, N.Y. (AP) -- Toy maker Fisher-Price said Wednesday it's moving or eliminating roughly 100 jobs from its operations New York as part of restructuring by parent company Mattel Inc.

The majority of jobs will be reassigned to Mattel's El Segundo, Calif., headquarters, and workers have been offered relocation packages, but an unspecified number of employees received layoff notices, said Fisher-Price, the maker of Little People and Power Wheels.

MAPI: 1Q U.S. Trade In Manufactures Stays Flat

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:01:33 +0000

ARLINGTON, Va. -- For calendar year 2013, Chinese manufactured exports are on track to nearly double U.S. exports, with a surplus of more than $900 billion, compared with a U.S. deficit of $500 billion, as the trade gap between these global powers continues to expand, according to a report from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI).

Campbell Buying Plum Organics Baby Food Maker

alawrence — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:52:21 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) -- Campbell Soup said it's buying Plum Organics, which makes food for babies and kids, for an undisclosed amount as it looks to move into faster-growing categories.

The company, which also makes Prego pasta sauces and Pepperidge Farm cookies, had been struggling to grow sales of its canned soups in recent years as people increasingly look for foods with a fresher feel. To diversity its stable of products, Campbell also recently purchased Bolthouse Farms, which makes premium juices, salad dressings and bagged carrots.