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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Boston Scientific Guilty Of Fraud, Hit With $296M Fine
April 6, 2010 4:52 am | News | CommentsST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Boston Scientific Corp.'s Guidant LLC division pleaded guilty Monday to two federal misdemeanor counts alleging it failed to properly disclose changes made to some implantable heart devices. The deal calls for Guidant to pay more than $296 million, which federal prosecutors called the largest criminal penalty ever assessed against a medical device company.
Green Ideas In Motion
April 6, 2010 4:46 am | Articles | CommentsIt started as a modest dream among three friends. Recently, the vision became reality with the opening of Green Planet Farms—a $40 million, 195,000 square-foot soy protein isolate (SPI) manufacturing facility in South Sioux City, Neb. As an ingredient manufacturer, Green Planet Farms’ main focus is to serve organic and non-genetically modified protein isolates to food and beverage producers worldwide.
Carbon Motors Hiring 1,500 In Eastern Indiana
April 6, 2010 4:44 am | News | CommentsCONNERSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Hundreds of people attended information sessions to learn about possible jobs at a startup company planning to build high-tech police cars in eastern Indiana. Carbon Motors is awaiting approval of a $310 million federal loan before it starts hiring potentially 1,500 workers for the Connersville factory.
25 Dead In W.Va. Coal Mine Explosion
April 6, 2010 4:43 am | by Lawrence Messina, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsMONTCOAL, W.Va. (AP) — Rescue teams planned to search again Tuesday for four workers missing in a coalmine where a massive explosion killed 25 in the worst U.S. mining disaster in more than two decades, though officials said the chances were slim that the miners survived, and the search may not be able to start again until evening.
First Steel Beam Placed At Boeing's S.C. Dreamliner Plant
April 6, 2010 4:42 am | News | CommentsNORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Crews have reached another milestone as they build Boeing Co.'s new South Carolina plant. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports company executives were on hand Monday to watch the first steel beam placed for the plant which will build Boeing's 787 jetliner.
Toyota Faces $16M Fine Over Recalls, Apparent Cover-up
April 5, 2010 11:44 am | by Ken Thomas, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. faces a maximum penalty of more than $16 million, a record civil penalty against an automaker, for failing to promptly notify the U.S. government about defective gas pedals among its vehicles. Toyota has recalled more than 6 million vehicles in the U.S.
Feed Your Parts Appetite
April 5, 2010 6:02 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe multi-lane parts feeder from the Arthur G. Russell Company (Bristol, CT) allows for high output within a limited floor space. The patented Vibro-Block electromagnetic vibrator sits at the heart of the multi-lane feeder to deliver a consistent product feed that achieves high output across multiple lanes.
Float Sensors, No Power
April 5, 2010 5:59 am | Product Releases | CommentsHermetic Switch, Inc. (Chickasha, OK) has released a new series of liquid level sensors — also known as float sensors — under the PRX+1660 brand. The sensors can be used for level sensing or monitoring of brake fluid, contained water, or oil, among others, and is limited only to the series’ material of construction.
A Compressor With 'Ultimate' Lubrication
April 5, 2010 5:59 am | Product Releases | CommentsJenny Products, Inc (Somerset, PA) introduces its J11HGA-30P single-stage, gas-powered compressor. The unit it portable by wheels and includes a 30-gallon air tank and a belt-driven “J” pump, which is a single-stage, four-cylinder pump. The unit delivers 21.
Ohio GM Plant Stays Strong By Thinking Small
April 5, 2010 4:24 am | News | CommentsPARMA, Ohio (AP) — A General Motors metal plant in Ohio has been able to stay strong by focusing on making small car parts that customers never see and are cheaper to ship, officials say. GM has spent $60 million installing new equipment and upgrading machines at the Parma Metal Center, which employs about 1,300.
La. Manufacturer Sues To Force Use Of Its Product
April 5, 2010 4:21 am | News | CommentsBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana company is suing city and parish officials to force them to use a road building material it manufactures. Bear Industries Inc. argues that its product, a calcium sulfate blend, would allow the city-parish to build roads more cheaply, saving taxpayers money.
Imperial Sugar Appeals $8.8M OSHA Fine, Denies Wrongdoing
April 5, 2010 4:17 am | News | CommentsSAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A hearing is scheduled for May 18 in Savannah on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's attempt to fine Imperial Sugar Co. $8.8 million. Explosions and a fire killed 14 people and injured many others at Imperial's Port Wentworth, Ga. refinery in 2008. OSHA issued 124 citations at Port Wentworth.
V-Vehicle Founder Ousted, Venture Capitalists Take Over
April 5, 2010 4:15 am | News | CommentsMONROE, La. (AP) — Founder Frank Varasano has been replaced as chief executive officer of V-Vehicle Co., the San Diego-based company created to build fuel-efficient cars, the company says. Ray Lane, a managing partner of V-Vehicle's largest investor — the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers LLP — is running the company while officials look for a full-time CEO, according to a brief statement released Friday.
OSHA, CSB: U.S. Refineries Marred By Safety Violations
April 5, 2010 4:12 am | by Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. oil refineries have an ongoing problem with accidents that turn deadly, losing four times as much money from such incidents than refineries in the rest of the world, according to an insurance company report obtained Friday by The Associated Press. The problem is highlighted by a deadly string of explosions, including one that killed four people Friday at a Tesoro Corp.
BMW Hiring 200 At Greer, S.C. Plant
April 5, 2010 4:10 am | News | CommentsGREER, S.C. (AP) — Automaker BMW Manufacturing Co. plans to hire about 200 temporary production and logistics workers at its South Carolina plant. The Greenville News reported last week that applicants need a stable work history, a high school diploma or GED and be capable of working 10-hour shifts.


