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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
DOE Rejects Federal Loan For V-Vehicle
March 25, 2010 5:35 am | by Alan Sayre, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A startup automaker that planned to build a fuel-efficient vehicle in Louisiana and employ 1,400 workers lost its bid Wednesday for $321.1 million in federal loans considered vital in getting the company running. V-Vehicle Co. said the federal Energy Department turned aside two loan applications — $241.
Stay Away From The Toxic Sprite
March 25, 2010 4:47 am | Articles | CommentsCoca-Cola has recently come under fire for an incident in China, where a large batch of Sprite was found to be contaminated with high levels of mercury. After consuming a can of the contaminated product, one man vomited up the small pieces of mercury, and others were hospitalized for poisoning. While some accuse Coca-Cola of bad manufacturing practices, others claim the product was intentionally poisoned to affect Sprite’s reputation.
Man On Moped vs. Pressure Washer
March 24, 2010 11:32 am | Articles | CommentsHotsy has hired once-retired stuntman Courageous Carl Payne to demonstrate the power of their pressure washers. Check out the video to see the result of the man-and-moped vs. machine showdown. As if you needed any reminder, industrial pressure washers are extremely dangerous if not used correctly, or if shot at stuntmen, however willing they may be.
India's Electrified Automotive Industry
March 24, 2010 11:24 am | Articles | CommentsIn India, sometimes smaller is better. Especially when it’s electric, too. That’s why the manufacturer of the Reva, the newest competitor in the burgeoning marketplace, is hoping India’s traffic woes will become easier, quieter, and more environmentally-friendly. If you're having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
China Scares, Alienates Foreign Companies
March 24, 2010 11:10 am | Articles | CommentsCompanies doing business in China are experiencing a growing uneasiness, including feeling as though they are unwelcome among local brands. A recent survey found that 38 percent of companies are concerned about their Chinese-based business, a 12-point increase since December of last year, a mere three months ago.
Running Cars On Old Beer
March 24, 2010 11:07 am | Articles | CommentsThe E-Fuel MicroFueler consists of a simple idea: bring ethanol production to the residential level. The MicroFueler is a 250-gallon tank, with an attached fuel pump just like the ones you would find at the local Shell station, which converts organic feedstock into pure ethanol. Chances are you have some old, skunky beer or a bottle of red wine that’s aged a little past its prime.
Cover Your Bases When Combating Combustible Dust
March 24, 2010 10:31 am | by Jon A. Barrett, Business Development Specialist, Interior Maintenance Company, Inc. and Paul R. Miller, General Manager, Nilfisk CFM | Articles | CommentsCombustible dust is fine particulate generated from products such as wood, metals, grains, chemicals, plastics, paper, and more. Manufacturers often pulverize, mill, grind, crush, macerate, and cut this bulk product, which in turn generates dust that settles on equipment and facility structure surfaces.
A SCHOTT In The Arm
March 24, 2010 10:13 am | by Luke Simpson, Associate Editor, Chem.Info | Articles | CommentsSchott built its pharmaceutical packaging facility with twice the footprint necessary for existing operations. When advances in biotechnology created a demand for syringes, the company had room to install a state-of-the-art production line. Extra space is a luxury not afforded by most plants.
Are You Overlooking A Prime Source Of Cost Reductions?
March 24, 2010 10:06 am | by Bob Zak, President, Powerit Solutions | Articles | CommentsWith the economy still weak and competitive pressures continuing to rise, reducing expenses is imperative for industrial businesses. Yet many underestimate or neglect a key source of savings: the electricity bill. That’s because we have a tendency to see energy as a largely uncontrollable cost—we need the energy we need when we need it, and often are dealing with a monopoly provider.
Smucker Cutting 700 Jobs, Closing Four Plants
March 24, 2010 8:50 am | News | CommentsORRVILLE, Ohio (AP) — The J.M. Smucker Co. is closing four plants and cutting 700 jobs, about 15 percent of its workforce, the food maker said Wednesday. The company, which makes Folgers Coffee, Smucker's jams and other products, said it is closing its fruit-spread plants in Memphis, Tenn.
Purchase Power
March 24, 2010 6:15 am | by Anna Wells, Editor, IMPO | Articles | CommentsIf you took a stroll through the aisles of Columbia Tech, the turnkey contract manufacturing division of Coghlin Companies, Inc. in Worcester, MA, you’d stumble across a bevy of items in various stages of production: one might be a subsystem for an Ion implanter, another a cellulite reduction tool, and steps away, an explosion sniffing device used for security and detection.
Diversification As A Primary Strategy
March 24, 2010 6:04 am | by Mike Collins | Articles | CommentsA more hopeful scenario comes courtesy of SRC Holdings in Springfield, MO. When the company first started (following the recession of 1983), it was doing engine remanufacturing and had taken on $8.9 million of debt. “When we were starting out in the 1980s, more than 75 percent of our labor hours were in the truck market,” says CEO Jack Slack.
Hazardous Chemical Control Is Turning Green
March 24, 2010 5:57 am | by Art Stevens for Justrite Mfg. | Articles | CommentsA recent Google search revealed 290 million hits on “economy,” compared to 405 million on “environment.” Even a cursory review of the annual reports of publicly traded companies reveals goal after goal related to the environment. Why? Not only do both federal and state legislation incentivize these efforts, but also regulatory statements mandate compliance.
Tube Bending Cell Changes Production Of Heat Exchanger Elements
March 24, 2010 5:46 am | Articles | CommentsRathGibson is a leading provider of precision engineered stainless steel, nickel, and titanium welded, welded and drawn, and seamless straight lengths, coil, and U-bend tubing to a wide variety of markets such as chemical, petrochemical, power generation, oil and gas, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical, biotechnology, and general commercial.
Australia, China Sign Agreement With Rio Tinto Case In Limbo
March 24, 2010 4:50 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — Australia and China signed a multibillion dollar energy deal Wednesday, pushing ahead with business as the trial of four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto ended in Shanghai with a verdict still to be announced. The latest deal suggests that Australia and China's commercial ties have been largely unaffected by tensions over the detention and trial of Australian citizen Stern Hu — who was head of Rio Tinto's iron ore business in China — and three Chinese co-workers on charges of taking bribes and stealing business secrets.
