Included in IMPO's top five news stories: Gunmaker Beretta celebrates the new manufacturing and research facility in Tennessee and a Goodyear plant is temporarily closed after its third death in eight months.
Take a look at this week's top stories:
Goodyear Plant To Be Closed Until Friday After 3rd Death: A Goodyear plant in southern Virginia was set to reopen Friday in the wake of a third death there in eight months. Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Southwest Region Safety Director Lee Willis tells the Danville Register & Bee that an investigation into the death of Greg Cooper could take six months. Goodyear said in a news release that Cooper, an 18-year employee with the company died in a workplace accident early Tuesday morning.
Four Abducted Cement Factory Workers Killed By Islamic State: The Islamic State group reportedly killed four cement factory workers in Syria after abducting some 300 from the plant. The IS-linked Aamaq group posted a video showing the vacant Al-Badia Cement Company facility in Dumeir, nearly 30 miles northeast of Damascus, last week. Initial reports said that although some workers were able to get away, at least 170 remained under IS control as of April 8.
Gunmaker Beretta To Celebrate Opening Of Tennessee Plant: Gov. Bill Haslam and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker are scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for gunmaker Beretta's new manufacturing and research facility in suburban Nashville. Tennessee prevailed in luring the Italian gunmaker from Maryland after the company raised objections to a wide-ranging gun control measure enacted there in the aftermath of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings that left 26 dead in Connecticut. Beretta officials cited strong Second Amendment support in Tennessee in the decision to invest in the state.
Why Welding Is An Incredibly Important Industry: April is National Welding Month, so now is the time — more than ever — to learn about and appreciate the trade. With ubiquitous conversation on the skills gap in the manufacturing industry, and especially with the growing demand to fill welding positions, spreading knowledge and awareness is a key factor in creating interest among younger generations.
Tesla Recalling 2,700 Model X SUVs: Tesla Motors said that it is voluntarily recalling Model X SUVs over concerns that the third row of seating could unexpectedly fold forward during an accident. The electric vehicle maker wrote that during an internal seat strength test, the hinge that allows the third row to fold forward unexpectedly slipped. The test was conducted prior to the start of Model X deliveries in Europe. Similar tests conducted ahead of North American deliveries did not present similar problems and no customers reported that their seats had slipped. Tesla officials, however, wrote that they decided to recall the 2,700 vehicles produced prior to March 26"as a precautionary measure."