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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
GM Recalls 1.3 Million Compacts For Failed Steering
March 2, 2010 3:23 am | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. is recalling 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac compact cars sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to fix power steering motors that can fail. The recall affects 2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts, 2007 to 2010 Pontiac G5s, 2005 and 2006 Pontiac Pursuits sold in Canada and 2005 and 2006 Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico.
Ind. Auto Parts Maker To Add 285 Jobs
March 2, 2010 3:12 am | News | CommentsHAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — Lear Operations Corp. plans to increase production at its northwestern Indiana factory and potentially add 285 jobs this year. The company announced Tuesday it would invest more than $2.2 million at the factory in Hammond to make seating for the Ford Explorer SUV. Southfield, Mich.
Gharda To Pay $8 Million For Texas Pesticide Fire
March 2, 2010 3:10 am | News | CommentsHOUSTON (AP) — A jury in Houston has ordered a chemical manufacturer to pay nearly $8.4 million in a negligence verdict over a 2004 industrial fire. The blaze at the Control Solutions Inc. pesticides warehouse forced some Pasadena and other nearby residents to take cover for hours.
Energy Meets Quality
March 1, 2010 11:23 am | Articles | CommentsPrestress of the glass panes requires extremely careful handling and a high level of precision in the transfer system. Stops with air nozzles installed on the belt sections and lift transverse units briefly raise the film on the top of the glass, making it possible to reliably and precisely position the fragile panes at any time.
The Last Time I Panicked
March 1, 2010 11:18 am | by Ed Halm, Owner, Backwater Paddle Company | Articles | CommentsHow could I ever forget the last time I panicked at work! September 29th, 2008. The day the stock market crashed. The fire that was forging a fledgling Backwater Paddle Company was doused. Fortunately, we persevered, relit that fire, redirected our resources, and rose again like the phoenix from the ashes.
Atlas Copco Completes Acquisition Of Quincy Compressor
March 1, 2010 10:50 am | News | CommentsStockholm , Sweden, March 1, 2010 — Atlas Copco today completed the acquisition of Quincy Compressor from EnPro Industries, with the exception of Quincy’s Chinese operations, where regulatory approvals from relevant local authorities are still pending. Quincy Compressor designs and manufactures reciprocating compressors, rotary screw compressors and vacuum pumps, primarily under the Quincy brand.
Whirlpool CEO Earns $10.8 Million As 1,100 Jobs Go Overseas
March 1, 2010 10:38 am | by Emily Fredrix, AP Retail Writer | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Whirlpool Corp. CEO Jeff M. Fettig's compensation soared more than 75 percent last year to $10.8 million as the appliance maker began to see shoppers making bigger purchases again, according to an Associated Press analysis of regulatory filings. Fettig, 53, received the pay hike largely in the form of a performance-based cash bonus worth $5.
Loading Docks, Made Easy
March 1, 2010 9:52 am | Product Releases | CommentsVestil Manufacturing Co. (Angola, IN) offers a trailer lock system that is designed for installation directly in front of the loading dock, with an electric hydraulic system that lifts the hook bar to capture the ICC bar on the back of semi-trailers. To ensure safety, the system comes standard with an accumulator that allows the dock to follow the trailer up and down as it is loaded or unloaded.
Light Up Safety Awareness
March 1, 2010 9:51 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe PSENopt safety light curtains and light barriers from Pilz Automation Safety (Canton, MI) are optoelectronic protection devices that safeguard danger zones whenever a production process requires active yet safe access. The PSENopt curtains offer a muting function — total or partial — that is directly integrated, as is monitoring of the muting lamps.
DC Motors For Any Application
March 1, 2010 9:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe IronHorse permanent magnet DC 56C-frame motor line from AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA) features enclosed non-vented and totally enclosed fan-cooled models. The motors are constructed of a rolled steel frame in sizes ranging from 0.33 to 2HP. The IronHorse DC motors are ideal for conveyors or turntables.
Start Up A Stir
March 1, 2010 9:49 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe UHVM and VGVM concrete vibrators from Cleveland Vibrator Company (Cleveland, OH) offer durability, portability, and adjustable frequency for forms, hoppers, bins, chutes, and more. The UH and UHVM air piston vibrators are available in 1-1/4” or 2” diameter piston versions, and both models have adjustable high frequency vibration for maximum efficiency.
Toyoda Apologizes To Chinese Consumers
March 1, 2010 5:39 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — Toyota President Akio Toyoda brought his damage-control campaign to the world's biggest auto market Monday, apologizing to Chinese customers for quality problems and stressing their importance to the Japanese automaker. Toyoda said he flew straight to Beijing from the United States to show his sincerity to Chinese customers after a string of vehicle recalls.
Chinese Manufacturing Growth Slows, U.S. Continues Climb
March 1, 2010 3:51 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — Growth in China's manufacturing slowed in February amid efforts to curb overcapacity in some industries and cool inflation by tightening control over bank lending, two surveys showed Monday. The state-affiliated China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said its purchasing managers index, or PMI, slipped to 52 in February from January's 55.
Toyota's Japan Sales Rise 53 Percent Despite Recall
March 1, 2010 3:42 am | News | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. saw its new car sales grow last month despite its massive global recalls, helping to buoy Japan's overall new vehicle sales from a year earlier, according to industry figures released Monday. Sales of Toyota passenger cars stood at 136,682 units in February, up 53 percent from a year earlier, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said.
Regent Aerospace Opening Alabama Plant
March 1, 2010 3:21 am | News | CommentsMOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Regent Aerospace says it will open a new plant in Mobile that will create as many as 90 jobs in two years and hopes to build a new facility that will raise employment to 180 in a second phase. The Valencia, Calif.-based company overhauls aircraft seats and interiors.
