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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Survey: China Manufacturing Weakening
April 23, 2013 10:22 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsChina's manufacturing growth decelerated this month, a survey showed Monday, adding to questions about the strength of the recovery in the world's second largest economy. HSBC Corp. said Tuesday the preliminary version of its monthly purchasing managers index declined to 50.5 from March's 51.6 on a 100-point scale on which numbers above 50 represent an expansion.
FL Gov. Making Strong Push For Tax Break
April 23, 2013 10:20 am | by Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press | News | CommentsFlorida Gov. Rick Scott is making personal pitches to lawmakers in pushing for a late breakthrough to exempt manufacturers from paying sales taxes on equipment purchases, one of his legislative priorities this year. The governor is meeting with lawmakers to pitch his idea of boosting Florida's manufacturing sector by giving manufacturers a blanket exemption from paying a 6 percent sales tax on equipment purchases, allies said.
Kalamazoo's Bell's Brewery Plans MI Plant
April 23, 2013 10:18 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsBells Brewery Inc. is seeking the Escanaba City Council's approval Thursday to buy property and build a manufacturing plant in the Upper Peninsula city. MLive.com reports that the Kalamazoo-based beer-maker on Friday offered $35,000 for 3.15 acres in the Whitetail Industrial Park. Bell's offer says it will build the plant within 18 months and says it will employ five people.
Isuzu To Sell Remaining Stake In Poland Unit To GM
April 23, 2013 10:17 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsIsuzu Motors Ltd. said Tuesday it will sell the remaining 40 percent stake in its plant-operating affiliate in Poland to General Motors Co. by the end of April. The U.S. automobile giant will raise its stake in Isuzu Motors Polska Sp. z.o.o. (ISPOL) to 100 percent from the current 60 percent it acquired from the Japanese truck maker in 2002. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Practical Advice For Virtualizing Your Manufacturing Applications
April 23, 2013 8:05 am | by Frank Hill, Director of Manufacturing Business Development, Stratus Technologies | Articles | CommentsAs manufacturers continue to increase plant automation, virtualization is gaining traction as a way to control costs, increase efficiencies, and drive better long-term planning. Virtualization, the practice of using a software layer to let one physical computing server run multiple applications on virtual machines, enables manufacturers to maximize their return on hardware investments while conserving real estate on the plant floor.
How Wearable Technology Is Transforming Facilities
April 23, 2013 8:00 am | by Mark Wheeler, Director of Supply Chain Solutions - North America, Motorola Solutions | Articles | CommentsMobile devices are necessary tools to increase the efficiency and productivity of workers across many industries and markets, including the warehouse. But wearable, voice-directed and multimodal mobile technologies are helping to transform the warehouse environment at an even faster pace than standard mobile tools in other markets.
American Crane Completes Engineering Addition, Begins Construction Of Manufacturing Building
April 22, 2013 5:24 pm | by American Crane & Equipment Corporation | News | CommentsAmerican Crane & Equipment Corporation, a manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoists, has completed phase one of its two phase expansion, financed by PNC Bank with engineering provided by Boyer Engineering. The first phase of construction includes a 2,500 square foot engineering addition with 11 cubicles and 3 offices.
Clear Automation Received Sales Award From FANUC Robotics
April 22, 2013 4:37 pm | by Clear Automation | News | CommentsClear Automation, a leading engineering integrator of robotic and machine vision systems, today announced it has received FANUC Robotics' award for Outstanding Sales Growth for 2012.Clear Automation has been an Authorized System Integrator of FANUC robots for 5 years.
High Flow Safety Coupling
April 22, 2013 3:27 pm | by CEJN | Product Releases | CommentseSafe is an innovative and patented safety coupling offering the highest flow combined with a low pressure drop, says the company.
Automakers Target Chinese Buyers At Auto Show
April 22, 2013 2:21 pm | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsGlobal and Chinese automakers showcased family-friendly sedans and SUVs targeting coveted urban buyers at China's biggest auto show Saturday as competition intensifies in this huge but crowded market. China's vehicle sales rose 13 percent in March, blistering growth by Western standards but down from 45 percent in 2009.
Investors Who Stood By Boeing Reap Reward
April 22, 2013 2:17 pm | by Joshua Freed, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsInvestors who stood by Boeing during its 787 crisis have been rewarded. Some investors bailed out, spooked by the latest snag with a plane considered to be a key to Boeing's future. Others were confident that Boeing Co. would quickly fix the battery problem and raved about its long-term prospects.
MSC Completes Acquisition Of Barnes Group
April 22, 2013 2:15 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsMSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. said Monday that it has completed its $550 million acquisition of the North American distribution business of Barnes Group Inc. MSC, which is based in Melville, N.Y., is a major distributor of metalworking and maintenance supplies to industrial customers. The company said the deal expands its service and product offerings for customers and establishes a significant presence in the Canadian market.
Court Denies Beechcraft Challenge Of Lost Contract
April 22, 2013 2:14 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsKansas airplane maker Beechcraft has lost a legal battle to halt work on a high-stakes Air Force contract awarded to rival Sierra Nevada Corp. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims on Friday denied Beechcraft's request for a temporary injunction. The contract for 20 planes for use in Afghanistan is worth more than $427 million. It could be worth as much as $1 billion, depending on future orders.
Haliburton Seeking Settlement Over Gulf Oil Spill
April 22, 2013 2:12 pm | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsBP's cement contractor on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 announced Monday that it is trying to negotiate a settlement over its role in the disaster, a focus of trial testimony that ended last week. Halliburton Chief Financial Officer Mark McCollum said during a conference call to discuss first-quarter earnings that talks were at an "advanced stage."
Canadian Company Plans SD Wind Tower Plant
April 22, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA Canada-based company plans to manufacture wind towers in a building it purchased in the eastern South Dakota city of Brandon. The Argus Leader reports that Marmen Inc. promotes itself as the largest wind tower manufacturer in North America. The company has said it plans to hire 200 people at the new plant.
