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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
GE CEO Turns Down Bonus For Second Straight Year
March 5, 2010 9:36 am | News | CommentsSTEPHEN MANNING, AP Business Writer General Electric Co. said Friday that Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt did not receive 2009 bonus, the second straight year he gave up extra pay as the industrial and financial conglomerate struggled with one of its worst years on record. GE's board of directors agreed to Immelt's request not to grant him a bonus even though it concluded he had performed well during a brutal year for the company, according a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Turning Trash Into Cash
March 5, 2010 6:15 am | Articles | CommentsThe holiday season always proves to be a busy time for retailers and wholesalers alike. Alexandra Foods Co., makers of the finest pierogies and Polish dumplings in the Chicago area are no different. The year-end rush for their products places an undue burden on their factory, which is unable to keep up with the amount of cardboard and plastic shipping and packing materials.
All-Stainless Cylinders
March 5, 2010 6:06 am | Product Releases | CommentsFabco-Air (Gainsville, FL) now offers 3 new styles of cylinders with all exposed surfaces made of stainless steel. The new styles include: The Pancake, a round, compact cylinder that has a uni-body construction and a smooth outside surface that doesn't trap wash down solution or allow bacteria growth.
Be Kind To Your Ears
March 5, 2010 6:06 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe SZ Acoustic Curtain Walls from Zoneworks (Milwaukee, WI) can make reducing excessive noise within an industrial facility easy and affordable. The walls reduce noise levels inside buildings by up to 22-25 decibels, making a space approximately four times quieter than it would be without them.
Clean Up With Soy
March 5, 2010 6:05 am | Product Releases | CommentsSoy Technologies (Nicholasville, KY) introduces the SoyGreen MultiPack, a specially-packed case of cleaning products designed for cleaning the varied surfaces of industrial facilities. The soy-based products are environmentally-safe, VOC-compliant, and contain no alcohol or other petrochemicals.
Prevent Over-Torque, Over-Stress
March 5, 2010 6:04 am | Product Releases | CommentsStanley Proto (Conyers, GA) has expanded its lineup of Dial Electronic Wrenches with seven new SKU’s, bringing the total to nine sizes to choose from. The wrenches have torque ranges from 7.5 in-lbs. to 2000 ft-lbs., so there is a solution regardless of the maintenance issue.
Lawmaker: Investigate Deaths Linked To Chinese Drywall
March 5, 2010 3:48 am | by Cain Burdeau, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — U.S. Sen. David Vitter has called for federal officials to do a more thorough review of the deaths of several people who lived in homes that contained smelly, possibly toxic Chinese drywall. Federal officials at the Consumer Product Safety Commission said they have investigated and found no link between the drywall and the deaths of eight people.
Commercial Metals Closes Nev. Plant, Cuts 100 Jobs
March 5, 2010 3:36 am | News | CommentsFALLON, Nev. (AP) — Commercial Metals Co. is closing its Fallon plant, and scores of employees will lose their jobs. Officials for the Irving, Texas-based company are blaming the sluggish economy for the closure set for April 29. But they declined to release the number of affected employees.
Lawsuit Reveals Details In Deadly Refinery Blast
March 5, 2010 3:32 am | by Tim Korte, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsA survivor of a deadly explosion and fire at a southeastern New Mexico oil refinery has filed a lawsuit, saying the cause was a welding accident and that the plant operator failed to follow safety procedures. Juan Carlos Hermosillo, also known as Elias Aleman, remained hospitalized Thursday with injuries from Tuesday's explosion at Navajo Refinery in Artesia, N.
Pratt & Whitney Demands Quick Decision On Jobs Appeal
March 5, 2010 3:31 am | News | CommentsEAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Pratt & Whitney asked a federal appeals court Thursday to act quickly on the jet engine maker's request to overturn a judge's ruling that blocks the company from moving 1,000 jobs out of Connecticut. In a request to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Pratt & Whitney said a decision is needed soon to avoid financial harm because the company plans to shut two Connecticut plants immediately after its union contract expires in December.
Toyota President Ushers In 'New Beginning'
March 5, 2010 3:29 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsTOYOTA, Japan (AP) — Toyota President Akio Toyoda urged thousands of his employees Friday to work toward a new start and win back customer trust following safety lapses that have battered the world's biggest carmaker. "Let's go with high spirits, have fun and be confident while staying humble," Toyoda, choking up and wearing a gray workman's jacket, told 2,000 workers packed into the company's headquarters.
Wyoming Senate Kills Worker Safety Bill
March 4, 2010 9:11 am | by Ben Neary, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsCHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A bill that would have increased employer penalties for workplace safety violations has died in the Wyoming State Senate. House Bill 93 had come out of a worker safety task force Gov. Dave Freudenthal appointed last year to address the state's chronically high worker fatality rate, particularly in the energy industry.
I Have Seen Many Weird And Wonderful Things
March 4, 2010 8:31 am | by David Mantey, Editor, PD&D | Articles | CommentsIn early 2010, Rollon added more than twenty years of linear motion experience to its roster by bringing Rick Wood on board as managing director. In the latest PD&D Fireside Chat, Wood taps into those 20 years to discuss bearing jokes, one-piece flow, silly ways to make money and the further weakening of the dollar — among other things.
CSB Releases 7 Guidelines To Reduce Workplace Explosions
March 4, 2010 7:30 am | by Dinesh Ramde, Associated Press Write | News | Commentsr MILWAUKEE (AP) — There was no reason to think the storage tank was unsafe. All it contained was recycled water and organic waste. So when a damaged part needed repair, three workers approached the top of the 80-foot-tall tank on a catwalk and one worker began welding. Moments later an explosion tore through the massive tank.
Measure Your Facility In 1,500,000 Ways
March 4, 2010 6:18 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe HygroLog NL-HT data logger from Rotronic USA (Hauppauge, NY) uses HygroClip2 sensors and the AirChip3000 to record many different physical parameters while meeting all requirements for FDA, CFR Part 11, and GAMP compliance. The HydroLog is ideal for applications in which long-term recording of humidity and temperature is critical, according to the company, such as pharmaceutical, food, and electronics manufacturers.


