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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Flexible Safety
November 2, 2009 3:15 am | Product Releases | CommentsGamewell-FCI (Northford, CT), a subsidiary of Honeywell, has expanded its Flex Series with two fire alarm releasing panels designed to offer flexible control of single- and dual-hazard agent-based suppression or deluge systems. Both panels are listed to Ul/ANSI-864 Ninth Edition standards for supplemental fire protection.
Getting A Fix On Conveyors
November 2, 2009 3:11 am | Articles | CommentsTraditionally, conveyors are sensitive pieces of equipment needed frequent alignment, belt replacement, and lubrication. Because reconfigurable modular conveyors are maintenance-free, engineering departments are free to hang the systems without worry about taking down conveyors to work on them.
United We Stand — Divided We ... Run?
November 2, 2009 3:07 am | by by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsIt’s not a new problem, per se. The need to improve energy usage trends and implement more efficient approaches has been a relevant topic long before Al Gore invented Power Point presentations or President Obama campaigned on a pledge to overhaul our national grid. What is new is the debate surrounding the slew of potential solutions.
Look Cool While Welding
November 2, 2009 3:02 am | Product Releases | CommentsKimberly-Clark Professional (Roswell, GA) has added four new graphic designs to its Jackson-brand Halo X welding helmets. Welders can select the helmet design, auto darkening filter, and graphics to meet their specific needs and preferences. According to the company, individualized choices can help improve compliance, helping to ensure worker safety, maximizing performance, and enabling workers to exhibit a personal style on the job.
GM Idles Delta Township Plant Due To Indian Strike
October 30, 2009 5:02 am | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — General Motors Co. will temporarily shutdown a plant that builds two of its crossover vehicles and reduce production at a transmission plant as a result of a parts shortage stemming from a strike at a supplier in India, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Merck And Schering-Plough Clear FTC Approval
October 30, 2009 4:58 am | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. said Thursday they have won merger approval from the Federal Trade Commission and antitrust regulators in Switzerland and Canada. Merck hopes to close its $41.1 billion acquisition of Schering-Plough Corp. before the end of the year.
Egyptian Sues URS Corp. For 'Terrorist' Discrimination
October 30, 2009 4:53 am | News | CommentsAIKEN, S.C. (AP) — A former South Carolina worker at the Savannah River Site has filed a federal lawsuit, claiming racial and religious discrimination by co-workers. The Aiken Standard reported Friday that 41-year-old Al Zeiny sued his former employer in U.S. District Court in Aiken.
Machinists Union To Reevaluate Boeing Relationship
October 30, 2009 4:45 am | by Gene Johnson, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsEVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Matt Gettmann began working in finance at Boeing Co. last year, and it wasn't long before he found himself watching, stunned, as union members prepared for what became an eight-week strike. The work stoppage cost the company billions in deferred revenue and caused some of the delays in production of its new 787 at a time when Boeing was growing increasingly frustrated with labor squabbles.
More UAW Locals Reject Ford Contract
October 30, 2009 4:29 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writers | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — Workers at two more United Auto Workers locals overwhelmingly rejected changes to their contract with Ford Motor Co. on Thursday, casting further doubt on whether the deal will be approved. Workers at a parts-making plant in Saline, Mich., west of Detroit, voted 75 percent against the deal, while research and engineering employees in Dearborn, Mich.
BP Fined $87 Million By OSHA For Texas Explosion
October 30, 2009 4:21 am | News | CommentsLONDON (AP) — British oil company BP PLC said Friday it is disappointed to receive a fine — expected to be a record $87 million — from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration over a 2005 explosion that killed 15 people at its Texas City refinery.
Manufacturing Footprint Optimization
October 29, 2009 12:31 pm | by Raj G. Konanahalli and Russ Dillion, AlixPartners LLP | Articles | CommentsChances are, your competitors are quickly rightsizing their manufacturing footprint in response to today’s deteriorating global market conditions. Improving operations within facilities is likely not enough. In order for companies to be competitive in this economic environment as well as going forward, manufacturing footprint optimization (MFO) will need to be a strategic priority.
Banging My Head Against The Wall
October 29, 2009 9:14 am | by by Anna Wells, Editor, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsAlthough it’s an instance that is becoming more and more rare as we grow older and our responsibilities increase, my friends and I like to get together on the occasional weekend night and spend hours at a long, lavish dinner out. We give ourselves time for wine and coffee and dessert, and do our best to catch up.
Keeping An Eye On Things
October 29, 2009 7:52 am | Product Releases | CommentsInvensys Operations Management (Plano, TX) announces the availability of its Avantis PRO 5.0 enterprise asset management (EAM) software that allows users to organize, track, and manage maintenance activity and costs over time. The new version of the EAM solution includes customizable screen views and improvements in data-type awareness, multi-column list controls, and maintenance entity value optimization.
Get A Networkout
October 29, 2009 7:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsOpto 22 (Temecula, CA) has partnered with N-TRON Corporation to sell the company’s line of industrial Ethernet switches and wireless access points. The N-TRON switches can operate in temperatures from -40 to 85°C, in addition to increased shock and vibration resistance.
Designed To Be Struck
October 29, 2009 7:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsSnap-On Industrial (Kenosha, WI) has expanded its lines of heavy-duty striking wrenches and 1” Drive Flank Drive impact sockets. The striking wrenches range from 13/16” to 4-5/8” and feature the company’s Flank Drive design. A dense, rectangular beam helps maintain rigidity and transfers more power.
