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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
New Cars Key To GM Profit
May 3, 2013 9:54 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsNew cars were key for General Motors' in the first quarter. New trucks will be the key to the rest of this year. Two new Opels — the Mokka subcompact SUV and Adam small car — helped GM stanch its first-quarter losses in Europe, while the Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Malibu sedans took China by storm. GM's worldwide sales rose almost 4 percent in the first three months.
AL Honda Plant Celebrates Start Of MDX
May 3, 2013 9:52 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGov. Robert Bentley joined Honda officials in Lincoln on Thursday to celebrate the start of production for the 2014 Acura MDX sports utility vehicle. About 1,500 employees attended the ceremony Thursday. Honda officials said the automaker invested $400 million and hired more than 400 people to support the production of the MDX. The Honda plant now employs more than 4,000 people.
LA Gov: $340M More From BP For Gulf Restoration
May 3, 2013 9:50 am | by Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press | News | CommentsBP PLC has agreed to pay $340 million to restore four of the barrier islands that act as hurricane buffers for Louisiana's mainland and create two fish research hatcheries in the state, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday. The money is part of $1 billion the oil giant agreed two years ago to pay for early restoration work after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Kellogg's Goes Green, Stays Cool
May 3, 2013 8:05 am | by Coolerado | Articles | CommentsWith manufacturing plants across the globe, Kellogg’s has made its mark on the breakfast cereal industry. But, the company believes that mark doesn’t have to leave an over-sized carbon footprint. Kellogg’s is making great strides toward sustainability, which include choosing Coolerado’s energy-efficient air conditioners to cool its plant in Mexicali, Mexico.
Challenging Lighting Environments
May 3, 2013 8:00 am | by Rob Bresnahan, Larson Electronics LLC | Articles | CommentsNot all operating environments are the same and the differences in a location's environmental characteristics can have a significant impact on how lighting equipment performs. Differences in humidity, wetness, and temperature ranges, the presence of corrosives, and the presence of flammable or explosive gases and vapors can pose a serious challenge for electrical lighting.
Electric Car Maker CODA Files For Bankruptcy
May 2, 2013 2:17 pm | by Robert Jablon, Associated Press | News | CommentsElectric car maker CODA Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday after selling just 100 cars and said it plans to quit the auto business altogether. The Los Angeles-based parent of CODA Automotive filed for bankruptcy protection in federal court in Delaware. A consortium of debtors plans to acquire CODA for $25 million, according to a company statement.
Juror: EEOC Verdict In Iowa Sends A Message
May 2, 2013 2:14 pm | by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press | News | CommentsA juror says she wanted to send a message by supporting a historic $240 million verdict for 32 mentally disabled men who faced decades of abuse by a Texas company: Never again. Juror Robin Griebel outlined her rationale for awarding $7.5 million to each former employee of Henry's Turkey Service, while the men, their attorney and relatives celebrated Wednesday's verdict.
Judge Gives Major Break In GM Theft Case
May 2, 2013 2:13 pm | by Ed White, Associated Press | News | CommentsA former General Motors engineer convicted of stealing thousands of pages of hybrid technology was sentenced Wednesday to just a year and a day in prison, far below the punishment sought by the government in a case that involved her husband and an alleged scheme to take the trade secrets to China.
U.S. Trade Deficit Falls To $38.8B In March
May 2, 2013 2:11 pm | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsThe U.S. trade deficit narrowed in March for a second month as the daily flow of imported crude oil dropped to the lowest level in 17 years. The deficit with China hit a three-year low. The trade deficit decreased to $38.8 billion, an 11 percent drop from February's $43.6 billion, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
Ford Adding 2,000 Workers To MO Plant
May 2, 2013 2:10 pm | by Dee-Ann Durbin, Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writers | News | CommentsFord Motor Co. said Thursday that it's adding 2,000 workers to the Missouri plant that makes the F-150 pickup because of surging U.S. truck demand. The company plans to add a shift with 900 workers in the third quarter of this year to make pickups. That's in addition to the 1,100 workers Ford will hire to make the new Transit van. Those workers will start in the fourth quarter.
Steel Firm To Add Jobs To Supply CAT Plant
May 2, 2013 2:08 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA steel fabricator plans to add more than 150 jobs over the next three years at its Dawson County plant, company executives said, to supply parts for a new Caterpillar production facility near Athens. The Times of Gainesville reported that Impulse Manufacturing will produce parts for several small excavators that will be produced at the new Caterpillar plant.
If Cars Could Talk, Accidents Might be Avoidable
May 2, 2013 1:36 pm | by Ted | Videos | CommentsWhen we drive, we get into a glass bubble, lock the doors and press the accelerator, relying on our eyes to guide us -- even though we can only see the few cars ahead of and behind us. But what if cars could share data with each other about their position and velocity, and use predictive models to calculate the safest routes for everyone on the road? Jennifer Healey imagines a world without accidents.
Quincy Compressor Acquires Four National Pump & Compressor Midwest Branches
May 2, 2013 12:40 pm | by Quincy Compressor | News | CommentsQuincy Compressor has acquired the assets of four National Pump & Compressor’s (NPC) branches in the state of Illinois. Formerly operating as Cochrane Compressor and acquired by NPC in 2009, the acquired company has been a Quincy distributor for more than 60 years.
Care-O-Bot, The Future Of Home Help For Seniors
May 2, 2013 9:11 am | by Reuters | Videos | CommentsScientists at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute in Stuttgart have unveiled a third generation robot prototype, designed to assist the elderly in their homes. The 'Care-o-bot 3' is equipped to detect, grasp and carry ordinary household objects on command, and bring a measure of independence to the aged and infirm.
The Death Of Innovation, The End Of Growth
May 2, 2013 9:11 am | by Ted | Videos | CommentsThe U.S. economy has been expanding wildly for two centuries. Are we witnessing the end of growth? Economist Robert Gordon lays out 4 reasons U.S. growth may be slowing, detailing factors like epidemic debt and growing inequality, which could move the U.S. into a period of stasis we can't innovate our way out of. Be sure to watch the opposing viewpoint from Erik Brynjolfsson.


