The Leading Source for Industrial Maintenance News
FREE Email Newsletter
Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Worker Dies At Eaton's Belmond, Iowa Plant
February 18, 2010 3:33 am | News | CommentsBELMOND, Iowa (AP) — The Eaton Corp. says a worker has died on the job at its plant in Belmond in northern Iowa. Company spokeswoman Julie Habbouche says 51-year-old Doug Barkema, of Belmond, died in the accident on Wednesday. She says Barkema was a machine operator and had worked at the plant for 24 years.
CPSC Warns Of 'Creative' Punishments For Sloppy Manufacturers
February 17, 2010 11:03 am | by Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — One of the nation's top safety officials is delivering a stern warning to the makers of toys, cribs and other children's products, telling them to put safety first — or face potential fines, lawsuits or other actions. "If you resist our efforts to recall children's products, be forewarned: This commission stands ready to be creative in the use of our enforcement authorities," Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum said Wednesday.
Baby Bracelets and Pacifier Clips Recalled For Lead
February 17, 2010 10:13 am | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — A Utah company is recalling 900 bracelets for babies and pacifier clips because they contain high levels of lead. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday that a 10-month-old girl received medical treatment for elevated lead levels after being exposed to one of the baby bracelets.
Honda's 'Southern Belle': The ATV
February 17, 2010 7:08 am | Articles | CommentsHonda of South Carolina in Timmonsville, South Carolina, builds a variety of ATVs for their flagship brand, and we take a look at how they’re built, from design to piecing together their single-cylinder, four-stroke engines. If you're having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
Writing E-mails With Your Mind
February 17, 2010 7:07 am | Articles | CommentsBack in 1997, Kathy Wolfe was given a painful diagnosis: she has Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS. In the time since her diagnosis, Kathy has lost her ability to move, speak, and even breathe. But thanks to some new technology that translates electrical signals in the brain into text on her computer, she can still write e-mails, and, most importantly, communicate with her husband of 41 years.
Price Wars: China vs. Japan
February 17, 2010 7:06 am | Articles | CommentsCNN’s Kyung Lah (Tokyo) and John Vause (Beijing) compare prices on popular products in their respective countries, such as cars and TVs. The differences can be staggering, at times. If you're having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
Reviving Manufacturing, One Guitar At A Time
February 17, 2010 7:04 am | Articles | CommentsEvery summer, professors at the College of Technology at Purdue bring students in for the High School Guitar Workshop, which allows the youngsters to build a fully-functioning guitar in little more than a few days. Using their own designs, students go through the entire process, and get to take home their custom guitar at the end.
Manufacturing Olympic Gold
February 17, 2010 7:03 am | Articles | CommentsWith the Olympics at full-steam right now, we take a look with VBS.TV into where the gold, silver, and bronze medals came from. Visit Omer Studio in Vancouver, where designers were asked to create a medal that incorporates recycled metal from electronic components. It’s a great combination of industrial design, manufacturing, and sustainability.
Mueller Appeals $683K OSHA Fine After Blast Kills 1
February 17, 2010 3:48 am | News | CommentsFULTON, Miss. (AP) — Mueller Industries has appealed a $683,000 fine levied by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration for alleged safety violations. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports John Hansen, Mueller's vice president of manufacturing, confirmed the appeal was filed but declined to discuss specifics.
Mueller Appeals OSHA Fine After Blast Kills 1
February 17, 2010 3:48 am | News | CommentsFULTON, Miss. (AP) — Mueller Industries has appealed a $683,000 fine levied by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration for alleged safety violations. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports John Hansen, Mueller's vice president of manufacturing, confirmed the appeal was filed but declined to discuss specifics.
Dems Seek Tax Breaks For Rehired Workers
February 17, 2010 3:40 am | by Colleen Slevin, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsDENVER (AP) — Democratic lawmakers want to give a tax break to businesses that rehire workers they laid off last year, a move that analysts estimate could speed up the return of some 10,000 people to work. However, no business groups turned out to testify for the proposal during its first hearing at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Officials Investigating Orange Cloud Over Houston-Area
February 17, 2010 3:31 am | News | CommentsPASADENA, Texas (AP) — Plant officials are investigating what caused a chemical release at a Houston-areaplant that forced neighbors to stay indoors for a couple of hours. An orange cloud was seen above Pasadena after Tuesday night's release, prompting emergency personnel to order a shelter-in-place.
The RV Is Back, Says Earthbound
February 17, 2010 3:19 am | News | CommentsMARION, Ind. (AP) — A startup company plans to open a factory in central Indiana making recreational vehicles and potentially hire 300 workers in the next few years. Officials of Earthbound RV say they'll hire 60 people this year for the Marion factory and expect to start production of its towable trailers in March.
Navistar Nabs $752 Million Military Vehicle Contract
February 17, 2010 3:18 am | News | CommentsWARRENVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Navistar Defense LLC, a unit of Navistar International LLC, said Tuesday that it received a $752 million contract to supply the U.S. military with 1,050 of its International MaxxPro Dash Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. The company said that vehicles under the contract from the U.
Texas Energy Company Protests $18 Million Mercury Fine
February 17, 2010 3:17 am | by Eric Tucker, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Texas energy company convicted of illegally storing hazardous mercury in a rundown Rhode Island building asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to throw out an $18 million penalty, calling the punishment "grossly excessive." The mercury, stored by the Southern Union gas company in a building in Pawtucket, was exposed to the public in 2004 after vandals broke in and dumped a container of the hazardous liquid at a nearby apartment complex.
