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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Keep An Eye On Logistics
February 18, 2010 8:14 am | Product Releases | CommentsTECSYS, Inc. (Montreal, Canada) announces the EliteSeries 8 Visual Logistics, which enables customers to streamline putaway, picking and packing, and achieve a high order accuracy. The new version is founded on web-based technology that communicates the “what, when, where, why, and how” of plant logistics.
Tubing Doesn't Stand A Chance
February 18, 2010 8:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsHan-Kwang USA (Lombard, IL) announces its Model TL 6015, a tube cutting laser system capable of handling 24’ long, 6.5” diameter workpieces. The maximum wall thicknesses are up to ¼” in mild steel and 1/5” in stainless steel. A 2.5KW Panasonic laser and a versatile Siemens 840D CNC controls all function of the machine, alongside Han-Kwangs proprietary “Flex 3D” tube cutting software.
Hit The Right Harmonies
February 18, 2010 8:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsDanfoss Drives (Milwaukee, WI) introduces the VLT Low Harmonic Drive, which performs real-time analysis and actively imposes currents, as needed, to ensure the highest quality sine waves from the power supply grid. All VLT drives are individually-configured according to the customer’s specific needs.
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.


