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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Pin The Integrity On The Upper Management
March 18, 2010 12:17 pm | by by Joel Hans, Associate Editor, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsLet’s talk about CEOs, all right? CEOs are important people, to say the least. They’re the figureheads of some of the world’s biggest entities, entire nations notwithstanding. They get to make the big decisions that either carry a company into our hearts and minds (not to mention wallets), or drive them into bankruptcy.
Biden: Manufacturing Is Essential To Middle Class
March 18, 2010 12:05 pm | by Emery P. Dalesio, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsDURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Manufacturing jobs are essential to support a vibrant middle class and the Obama Administration is working to boost U.S. manufacturing of growing technologies, Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday. "We're going to make sure that we don't just build the same old economy on top of the one that just collapsed," Biden said during a visit with Energy Secretary Steven Chu to Cree Inc.
Chemical Maker Violates U.S.-Cuba Embargo
March 18, 2010 12:04 pm | by Marcy Gordon, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Specialty chemicals maker Innospec Inc. pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of bribery, defrauding the United Nations and violating the U.S. embargo against Cuba, U.S. authorities said. The Justice Department said Innospec entered a guilty plea before a federal judge in Washington to charges of wire fraud in connection with kickbacks it paid to the former Iraqi government under the UN oil-for-food program and bribes to officials in the Iraqi Oil Ministry.
Strong-As-Steel Epoxy
March 18, 2010 7:20 am | Product Releases | CommentsIMSEAL-800, a high-strength epoxy resin from IMPCO, Inc. (East Providence, RI) seals gross (visible) porosity in castings and other metal parts. It completely fills blowholes, cracks, and other defects where welding or brazing would be impractical. Other features include: A leak-proof, pressure-tight seal that can be drilled, tapped, machined, and otherwise processed without worry.
Riding On Electricity
March 18, 2010 7:19 am | Product Releases | CommentsYale Materials Handling Corporation (Greenville, NC) has launched two new electric rider lift truck models — the 3-wheeled ERP030-040VT and the 4-wheeled ERP030-040VF — both of which provide lifting capacities of 3,000 to 4,000 lbs. Dual AC drive motors rotate the drive tires in opposite directions, which creates the zero turn radius.
A Decade Later, Still Burning Bright
March 18, 2010 7:19 am | Product Releases | CommentsDialight (Farmingdale, NJ) now offers the DuroSite High Bay fixture, which incorporates Cree’s Xlamp XP-G LEDs and delivers nearly 12,000 lumens while consuming only 150 watts. The DuroSite can sustain an 80 percent capacity after 60,000 operating hours and is virtually maintenance free, lasting upwards of 10 years.
Shock-Free Hot-Swapping
March 18, 2010 7:18 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe 770 Series WINSTA MIDI and 890 Series MINI Pluggable Connectors from WAGO Corporation (Germantown, WI) are now UL-recognized 600V devices for disconnection under load. This means the MIDI and MINI connectors can be used as a safe means of disconnecting hot-swappable components (small motors, LED drivers, pumps, or actuators), because its design prevents against hazardous shocks.
Ford Shares Reach Five-Year High
March 17, 2010 10:37 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — Shares of Ford Motor Co. surged to a five-year high Wednesday after a ratings agency upgraded the automaker's debt and said Ford has the potential to improve its finances even further. The Dearborn, Mich., automaker's stock hit $14.11 per share in afternoon trading, a 4 percent surge to levels not seen since January 2005.
Toyota: 'Runaway' Prius A Lie
March 17, 2010 9:56 am | Articles | CommentsWhile testing the Prius that took its driver for a high-speed ride last week, Toyota found no software or mechanical fault, and called into question the validity of the driver's statements. Engineers were unable to recreate the issue the driver allegedly experienced, and even claim that the wear on the car's brakes are inconsistent with his story.
Indonesia: We're A BRIC Too
March 17, 2010 7:45 am | Articles | CommentsIndonesia has long been considered a third-rate competitor in the new running for industrialization in the 21st century. But massive developments in the last decade have catapulted the 4th most populous country into the industrial limelight. Some have called for Indonesia’s inclusion into the BRIC group — an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China — as the most promising of industrial nations.
Manufacturing Invincible Black Boxes
March 17, 2010 7:43 am | Articles | CommentsAirline accidents are rare events, but when they do occur, investigators pore through every detail of the wreckage to determine if the crash was the result of human error or mechanical failure. The black box is one of the many keys to solving these massive puzzles, but they have to survive the perils of a crashed, burning plane.
The Ultimate Rube Goldberg Machine
March 17, 2010 7:42 am | Articles | CommentsOK Go, known for their low-budget and very-viral music videos, takes on the Rube Goldberg machine for their latest project. With the help of Synn Labs and director James Frost, the band designed and built what is arguably the most impressive Rube Goldberg machine to date. Any engineer or manufacturer can not only see the fun and whimsy in this creation, but also its incredible attention to detail and immaculate craftsmanship.
China's Communist Billionaires
March 17, 2010 7:41 am | Articles | CommentsSometimes it’s hard to remember that China is a Communist country. When the government used to condemn its richest citizens for greed, a newfound love for capitalism has sprouted among the more than 1 billion citizens, creating a new land of immense wealth. With all those people and all that productivity, China now has the world’s most billionaires except for the U.
Senators Rally To 'Confront' Chinese Currency Manipulation
March 17, 2010 4:58 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — A group of 14 U.S. senators unveiled legislation Tuesday that seeks to increase pressure on China to let its currency to rise in value against the dollar, saying Chinese "currency manipulation" is hurting the U.S. economy. The bill calls for stiff trade sanctions if China does not act.
China Set To Begin Rio Tinto Bribery Trials
March 17, 2010 4:47 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — A Shanghai court will Monday begin hearing China's case against four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto, including one Australian, on charges of stealing commercial secrets and bribe-taking. Stern Hu, the Australian national, will be among the four defendants appearing at the Shanghai No.


