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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Chinese Auto Sales Dip From March, Still Show Big Growth
May 10, 2010 4:34 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — The surge in China's auto sales has begun to falter with growth in passenger car sales for April easing to just over half the previous month's increase. There were 1.11 million passenger cars sold in April, up 34 percent from a year earlier, the state-affiliated China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said Monday.
Automakers Unleash Electric Experiments On Oregon
May 10, 2010 4:26 am | by Richard Read | News | CommentsPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Automakers are racing to unleash electric vehicles in Oregon, one of the nation's first significant test markets for plug-in cars. The Nissan Leaf, a four-door hatchback with 100-mile range, leads the pack of zero-emission sedans, with a suggested retail price of $23,780 after tax credits.
LaHood: More Fines Possible For Toyota
May 10, 2010 4:25 am | by Jay Alabaster, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsTOYOTA, Japan (AP) — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Monday that Washington wants to see results from Toyota's efforts to improve safety, and more fines would be imposed if needed. "If a fine is required, I think everyone recognizes now that safety is our number one priority, and we will do all that we can to uphold the laws in our country," he said.
When The Utilities Cut You Off
May 7, 2010 8:58 am | Articles | CommentsAmerican Crystal Sugar Company (ACS) is an agricultural cooperative involved in the growing and processing of sugar beets. It operates five sugar factories in the Red River Valley (northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota) and one plant in Montana under the name Sidney Sugars, Inc.
Wal-Mart Garbage, Phony Warranties & Diabolical Enablers
May 7, 2010 8:50 am | by by David Mantey, Editor, PD&D | Blogs | CommentsTo say that I’m going to move forward with an unbiased opinion would be a flat lie. As the recent victim of techno-junk profiteering, I have bone-picking on the mind and a slew of conspirators who profited, however minimally, from a recent purchase of a bottom-shelf DVD player from a corporate punching bag.
Better Than HVAC
May 7, 2010 6:34 am | Product Releases | CommentsTrane (Chicago, IL) has developed the Performance Climate Changer air handler, with capacities up to 60,000 cfm. The air handler features energy recovery, airflow monitoring, and advanced humidity control options that improve the building environment and better control temperature and humidity.
Breathe Easy
May 7, 2010 6:33 am | Product Releases | Comments3M (St. Paul, MN) has expanded its reusable facepiece respirator line with the 3M Ultimate FX Full Facepiece Reusable Respirator FF-400 Series, designed for flexibility in extreme environments. The new facepiece enables a wide peripheral view, along with a quick assembly and disassembly.
Keep Your Hands Cut-Free
May 7, 2010 6:33 am | Product Releases | CommentsKimberly-Clark Professional (Roswell, GA) has redeveloped its Jackson Safety G60 Purple Nitrile Cut Resistant Gloves, which now provide a higher level of cut resistance with more dexterity and comfort features. The gloves are ideal for use in metal fabrication, glass handling, automotive assembly, and other applications involving the handling of sharp parts.
Hydrogen Powers The 21st Century
May 7, 2010 6:32 am | Product Releases | CommentsPlug Power (Latham, NY) has developed the GenDrive GD-160 and GD-170, which are fuel cell power units for a variety of material handling operations, including forklifts. The GenDrive holds enough fuel to sustain a counterbalanced truck at full-speed throughout an entire shift, without any reduction of power, unlike batteries.
Toyota Expected To Find Profits Despite Recalls
May 7, 2010 5:22 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp., the world's top automaker, reports earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter on Tuesday. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Toyota is fighting a serious quality crisis, having recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide since October for gas pedal defects, a faulty floor mat and a braking software glitch.
Private Employers Add 231,000 Jobs In April
May 7, 2010 4:46 am | by Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — More confident employers stepped up job creation in April, expanding payrolls by 290,000, the most in four years. The jobless rate rose to 9.9 percent as people streamed back into the market looking for work. The hiring of 66,000 temporary government workers to conduct the census helped overall payroll growth last month.
Lettuce Recalled For E.coli, Three In Critical Condition
May 7, 2010 4:33 am | by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — A food company is recalling lettuce sold in 23 states and the District of Columbia because of an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 19 people, three of them with life-threatening symptoms. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that 12 people had been hospitalized and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was looking at 10 other cases probably linked to the outbreak.
Consumer Reports Lifts 'Don't Buy' Lexus Rating
May 7, 2010 4:31 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — Consumer Reports magazine is lifting a "Don't Buy" recommendation for a Lexus sport utility vehicle that failed an emergency handling test. The magazine said Friday that the 2010 Lexus GX 460 luxury SUV passed the test after a dealership updated software that runs its electronic stability control system.
S. Korean Electric Automaker Plans $50M Hawaii Plant
May 7, 2010 4:28 am | by Mark Niesse, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsHONOLULU (AP) — South Korean electric car manufacturer CT&T announced plans Thursday to build an assembly plant in Hawaii that will eventually produce up to 10,000 vehicles a year and employ as many as 400 people. The plant would make small two-seaters that reach speeds up to 40 mph and be deployed onto Hawaii's city and neighborhood roads.
Doctors Reattach Arm Lost In BMW Industrial Accident
May 7, 2010 4:27 am | News | CommentsGREER, S.C. (AP) — Doctors have reattached the arm of a worker at the BMW plant in South Carolina who had the limb severed in a workplace accident. Multiple media outlets reported the employee had his arm severed between the elbow and wrist Wednesday morning at the plant in Greer. BMW spokesman Bobby Hitt says the man was driving a device similar to a forklift when he went through a doorway and his arm struck a beam and was severed.


