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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Feds Want Dow To Fess Up To Dioxin Spill
October 19, 2009 5:19 am | News | CommentsMIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Federal and state officials say they're seeking public comment on a proposed deal with Dow Chemical Co. on designing a cleanup of dioxin contamination near a plant in Midland. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Quality say the comment period begins Monday and runs through Nov.
What If Your Automation Is Anything But?
October 19, 2009 5:16 am | Articles | CommentsWhat is the most important thing on the mind of a manufacturing professional? Well, from most articles we read, there are two areas — improving manufacturing performance and reducing downtime with a wide array of solutions available to assist you with both. You can focus on integration with your business systems to improve the real-time aspects of production management and you can focus on better production analytics to squeeze additional performance out of the equipment you are monitoring.
Whirlpool Considers Recalling Workers At AR Plant
October 19, 2009 4:50 am | News | CommentsFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — The Whirlpool Corp. refrigerator factory in Fort Smith is preparing to add production and may call back 150 employees who were laid off. The plant now employs between 900 and 1,000 people, far fewer than the 4,600 it had in 2006 before moving part of its production to Mexico.
Spanish Unions Reject Magna Offer
October 19, 2009 4:49 am | News | CommentsMADRID (AP) — Spanish unions have rejected Magna's latest offer concerning the future of an Opel plant targeted for job cuts and will vote on calling a strike, a labor representative said Monday. Jose Juan Arceiz, leader of a committee representing workers at the Opel auto plant near Zaragoza, told AP that talks last week with Magna had yielded some progress but unions still deemed Magna's offer as not enough.
One Worker Dead After Explosion At WI Plant
October 19, 2009 4:48 am | News | CommentsCOLUMBUS, Wis. (AP) — One person has died in an explosion and fire at a manufacturing plant in Columbus. Fire officials say the maintenance employee was killed while using a hand-held grinder on some floor bolts at American Packaging Corp. Sunday about 6 p.m. Fire Chief Randy Koehn (KEEN) says sparks ignited some vapors, causing the explosion and fire.
ABB Expects $1 Billion Q3 Profit
October 19, 2009 4:47 am | News | CommentsZURICH (AP) — Swiss-based electrical engineering company ABB Group said Monday it expected third-quarter net profit of around $1 billion after booking charges for an alleged price fixing fine, higher taxes and restructuring costs. ABB officially announces its quarterly results on Oct.
Boeing's Rotorcraft Union Ratifies Raises
October 19, 2009 4:46 am | News | CommentsRIDLEY PARK, Pa. (AP) — Union workers at Boeing Co.'s Rotorcraft plant near Philadelphia have ratified a new five-year contract with the aircraft maker that will give them raises of 2 percent to 4 percent a year and a lump-sum payment of $3,500 in the first year, the company and the union said Sunday.
Getting Through The Recession v. 1.3
October 16, 2009 11:58 am | by David Duncan, president of IDWS.ca, helping companies develop Form with Function | Articles | CommentsBusinesses that are struggling from the financial problems in the current economic slow down are under pressure to evaluate daily operations for new cost efficiencies. Particularly in the manufacturing sectors were profitability has been hit hard, companies that produce consumer products, commercial products, vehicle products, and even capital equipment have had to cut jobs and cut unnecessary costs to stay alive let alone competitive.
Vinyl Is Better
October 16, 2009 11:36 am | Product Releases | CommentsHi-Tec announces the release of the Sidewinderbarrier, which adds a vinyl wall of protection at sensitive points in the factory or other strategic locations. The 6” x 6” Sidewinderbarrier tower is bolted to the floor, and when needed, one can pull the vinyl panel to a distance of 12 to 18 feet.
5-In-1 Industrial Marking
October 16, 2009 11:35 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe EasyMark 5-in-1 Tooling Kit from Mate Precision Tooling (Anoka, MN) is a thick turret application tooling system for machines with a bottom stroke forming feature. The system can be set up to automatically perform any of the following five marking applications: Write numbers, dates, and other important information — no penetration or metal removal is involved.
Buck Tradition, Go Flange-Mount
October 16, 2009 11:35 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe TS8 Disconnect Module from the Rittal Corporation (Urbana, OH) turns any single door TS8 modular freestanding industrial enclosure into a flange-mount disconnect enclosure. The module installs in place of a standard TS8 sidewall and interlocks with the enclosure door to function as any conventional disconnect door would.
Indestructible Keyboards
October 16, 2009 11:34 am | Product Releases | CommentsiKey (Austin, TX) introduces the DT-102-SS industrial keyboard, a rugged touchpad keyboard manufactured from stainless steel. The keyboard has been designed to meet NEMA 4X and IP68 specifications, allowing it to withstand rain, snow, splashing water, hose-directed water, and even dogs .
Tyson To Reopen Independence, Iowa Plant
October 16, 2009 4:41 am | News | CommentsINDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods has announced plans to reopen its plant in Independence in 2010 to produce pet treats. The plant was closed in 2006 by the poultry and meat processor, costing about 400 workers their jobs. The Iowa Economic Development Board approved incentives, including a $400,000 forgivable loan, intended to get the Independence plant up and running.
AMD Sales Rise For Laptop Demand
October 16, 2009 4:39 am | by Jessica Mintz, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsSEATTLE (AP) — Advanced Micro Devices Inc. lost money in the third quarter but said Thursday that sales were stronger than expected, adding to mounting evidence that consumer spending is fueling a turnaround in the personal computer market. AMD sells about 20 percent of the world's computer microprocessors, which are the brains inside PCs.
Ex-Ford Engineer Stole Secrets, Ran To China
October 16, 2009 4:08 am | by Ed White, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — An engineer copied thousands of electronic documents and stole trade secrets before quitting Ford Motor Co. for a new job in China, authorities said Thursday in announcing criminal charges.> Xiang Dong Yu, also known as Mike Yu, was arrested Wednesday in Chicago after traveling from China, the U.
