Expansion News
Japanese Company Expanding Indiana Factory
October 31, 2012 8:11 am | News | CommentsHitachi Powdered Metals said it would build a second facility at its site in Greensburg and plans for operations to start there next August. The company now has about 150 full-time workers at its Greensburg factory and expects to possibly hire 60 more people in the coming year. Hitachi says it is looking to hire for production, engineering and maintenance jobs.
Lilly Plans Insulin-Related Manufacturing Growth
October 30, 2012 2:18 pm | News | CommentsDrugmaker Eli Lilly says it is planning a multi-million dollar expansion of its manufacturing operations to make cartridges that deliver insulin to patients. The company says the cartridges will help meet growing demand in the U.S. for diabetes treatments. Nearly 26 million U.S. residents have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Schweitzer Engineering Expanding In Idaho
October 22, 2012 8:43 am | News | CommentsA company based in Washington state that makes equipment for the electric power industry has announced it's more than doubling the size of its plant in the northern Idaho city of Lewiston. The expansion will give the Pullman-based company room for more than 750 employees in Lewiston. The Lewiston facility currently has 150 employees.
Deere-Hitachi Plant Could Add 340 Jobs
October 5, 2012 4:01 am | News | CommentsGov. Beverly Perdue plans to be on hand Friday for what her office calls a jobs announcement at the Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corp. plant in Forsyth County. Commissioners last week approved more than $1 million in incentives that would match state-level sweeteners. Deere-Hitachi would have to add at least 340 full-time jobs in five years to land the benefits.
ISM Report: Manufacturing Is Back On Track — For Now
October 3, 2012 3:31 pm | by Mike Schmidt, Associate Editor, Manufacturing.net | News | CommentsEconomic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September following three straight months of slight contraction, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The September PMI registered 51.5 percent, an increase of 1.9 percentage points when compared to the August reading of 49.6 percent. To add to the good news, the overall economy grew for the 40th consecutive month.
Southeast Michigan PMI Shows Growth Resuming
October 3, 2012 10:12 am | News | CommentsThe Southeast Michigan Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for September is at 50.6, up nearly five points from the August PMI of 45.7 and indicating a resumption of growth in the Southeast Michigan economy after three declining months. A PMI value of 50 or more generally suggests an expanding economy. Increases in production, new orders and vendor deliveries were the contributing factors to this month’s increase.
Johnson & Johnson Expands Puerto Rico Factories
October 2, 2012 7:42 am | News | CommentsThe company and the governor of the U.S. island territory jointly announced an expansion of four existing plants that will add 308 jobs. A Johnson & Johnson spokesman said the company based in New Brunswick, New Jersey would invest up to $225 million to add capacity at two plants.
ExxonMobil To Expand 2 Chemical Plants
September 28, 2012 1:56 pm | News | CommentsExxonMobil said a $200 million project to expand two of its Louisiana chemical and lubricant plants will bring more than 400 construction and full-time jobs to the state over the next two years. Company officials say construction on the chemical and lubricants plants in Baton Rouge and Port Allen will begin at the end of the year.
Survey: Fewer CEOs Plan To Expand, Hire
September 26, 2012 11:12 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsA survey of U.S. chief executives shows a sharp drop in the number of large companies that plan to add jobs or hire more workers. The Business Roundtable says that only 29 percent of its member CEOs plan to increase hiring over the next six months. That's down from 36 percent in June, when the group last released its quarterly survey.
ConAgra To Expand Ark. Plant, Add Jobs
September 25, 2012 8:08 am | News | CommentsConAgra Foods Inc. said Monday that it is expanding its plant in Russellville, Ark., and will add more than 80 jobs. The food maker has operated in the Russellville area since 1965 and has approximately 1,350 employees there. ConAgra said it is investing $100 million to expand the plant to make Bertolli and P.F. Chang's frozen meals.
Georgia-Pacific To Hire 100 In South Carolina
September 19, 2012 10:32 am | News | CommentsGeorgia-Pacific says it will need 100 new workers as it expands a plant that makes a wood product used for furniture. The company bought two South Carolina plants in 2010 that make oriented strand board, which is a product that combines compressed wood strips with wax and resin to make a product similar to plywood.
Georgia-Pacific To Begin Operating Clarendon OSB Mill
September 18, 2012 1:22 pm | News | CommentsGeorgia-Pacific today announced that it plans to begin a ramp up of production at its oriented strand board (OSB) facility at Clarendon County, S.C., in the first quarter of 2013. The mill was part of the acquisition in May 2010 from Grant Forest Products that also included an operating plant at Allendale County, S.C., and another operating plant at Englehart, Ontario.
Honda Plans To Build Diesel Engine Plant In India
September 17, 2012 10:33 am | News | CommentsAmid burgeoning demand for diesel engine-powered cars in India, Honda plans to invest about 30 billion yen to build the engine plant within the compound of its existing production site in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, according to the sources. Honda envisions installing diesel engines of around 1500 cc in its compact City and Brio models.
Huawei: Australia Law Could Exclude China Firms
September 14, 2012 9:37 am | by Rod McGuirk, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn official of Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei Technologies said Friday he is concerned that new Australian laws to protect communication networks from cyber-attacks could exclude companies from tendering for work simply because they're Chinese. Huawei's Australian subsidiary was last year barred on security grounds from working on a national broadband network that is now under construction.
State Tax Credits Help Frito-Lay Expand In Conn.
September 14, 2012 5:51 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSnack foods company Frito-Lay North America is receiving up to $4 million in tax credits to expand its manufacturing and distribution plant in Killingly. The company plans to spend $38 million for technology for material handling and delivery. State officials said Thursday that the improvements are expected to increase efficiency and improve delivery while also reducing the plant's environmental impact.
Survey: Manufacturing Adjusting To Post-Recession 'New Normal'
September 13, 2012 2:00 pm | News | CommentsMiddle market manufacturers and distributors are adjusting to the “new normal” of the post-recession era by focusing on efficiencies, operational improvements and innovation, according to a newly released McGladrey Manufacturing and Distribution Monitor, a survey of middle-market manufacturing and distribution executives that provides a unique look into the state of manufacturing on “Main Street.”
$1.2B Fertilizer Plant Planned For Eastern N.D.
September 12, 2012 3:24 pm | by Dale Wetzel, Associated Press | News | CommentsCHS Inc. plans to build a $1.2 billion anhydrous ammonia plant in eastern North Dakota, taking advantage of the state's abundant natural gas supplies to satisfy rising demand for fertilizer, company officials said Wednesday. Once it begins operating by late 2016, the factory should be capable of making more than 2,000 tons of anhydrous ammonia daily, said Carl Casale, the company's president and CEO.
Packaging Manufacturer To Expand Va. Operation
September 12, 2012 1:57 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsPackaging manufacturer Carded Graphics is planning to expand its Staunton, Va. operations, creating 34 jobs. Gov. Bob McDonnell said Wednesday that the company is expected to invest more than $7 million for the expansion. The facility makes folding cartons and packaging for food, pharmaceutical and beverage manufacturers.
Tire Chain Maker Pewag To Open Plant In Pueblo
September 11, 2012 2:06 pm | News | CommentsEconomic officials say the Austrian tire chain manufacturer pewag plans to open its first North American manufacturing center in the Colorado city. The Pueblo Chieftain newspaper reports the company will provide 55 new jobs when the facility reaches full operation.
Mazda Sets Up Joint Venture In Malaysia
September 11, 2012 2:03 pm | News | CommentsMazda Motor Corp. said Tuesday it has set up a joint venture in Malaysia with Bermaz Motor Sdn. Bhd. in an attempt to expand vehicle sales. The new company, Mazda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., is capitalized at 2.1 billion yen and owned 70 percent by Mazda and the rest by Bermaz, which is the Japanese automaker's sole distributor in Malaysia.
Company To Bring Nearly 135 Jobs To Alabama
September 11, 2012 1:46 pm | News | CommentsA Japan-based company is expected to announce plans to open a manufacturing facility in Alabama. The TimesDaily reports that TASUS Corp. produces plastic automotive parts and has clients that include most major North American automobile manufacturers.
Ford To Add 1,200 Workers At Flat Rock Plant
September 10, 2012 3:23 pm | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsFord is adding 1,200 workers to a suburban Detroit factory to build the Fusion, a sign of confidence that the revamped sedan will be a big hit when it goes on sale this fall. The Fusion is already Ford's best-selling vehicle after the F-Series pickup. Ford hopes to grab even more buyers with the 2013 Fusion, which has improved fuel economy and a sharper, more chiseled design.
Ohio Food Company Plans To Reopen E. Indiana Plant
September 10, 2012 2:10 pm | News | CommentsSugar Creek Packing Co. said it would spend about $15 million to expand and refurbish the former Really Cool Foods plant near Cambridge City and expected to have it back in operation late next year. The company expects to potentially have 400 workers by 2016.
Pulse Systems Completes Major Facility Expansion
September 10, 2012 11:53 am | News | CommentsPulse Systems has recently completed a major expansion of its production facilities to house its growing capabilities in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, and to provide added space to its core contract manufacturing services for the medical device industry.
Premier Farnell Brings Raspberry Pi Manufacturing Back To UK
September 7, 2012 1:37 pm | News | CommentsThis deal is a major coup for the UK manufacturing industry and represents a return home for the innovative British-designed Raspberry Pi, which to date has only been manufactured in China. Utilising Sony UK Technology Centre’s state of the art lean manufacturing techniques, the site will be initially produce over 300,000 units for customers across the world and is expected to create up to 30 additional jobs.
