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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Mill Workers Agree To Cuts With A 'Gun To Their Heads'
February 9, 2010 4:02 am | News | CommentsMADAWASKA, Maine (AP) — Unionized workers at a Madawaska paper mill will see their paychecks cut by eight and a half percent as part of a new contract mill management says is needed to keep the facility from closing. Officials with the United Steel workers say about 65 percent of the 460 members from the Fraser Papers Inc.
Recalls Compound Dangers Of Panicked Drivers
February 9, 2010 3:51 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — You're driving down the highway and suddenly your car starts accelerating on its own. Knuckles white, going from 60 to 90 miles an hour in a couple of seconds, you do what comes naturally — hit the brakes. But what if the car keeps going? There are options: Put the car in neutral, or in park, or switch off the ignition.
Residents Awarded $117,000 Against Messy Smelter
February 9, 2010 3:45 am | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — A jury has awarded $117,000 in damages and $220,000 for legal and other fees to neighbors of a lead smelting company that once operated in northeast Detroit. The Detroit Free Press reports the Wayne County jury reached its decision Monday in a lawsuit against NL Industries, which ran Master Metals until 1974.
WTO: U.S.-China Protectionism Damaging Global Trade
February 9, 2010 3:43 am | by Rod McGuirk, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The global economic crisis has not led to a return to trade protectionism to the extent feared, but free trade remains under threat, the World Trade Organization's director general said Tuesday. "I still believe we're not out of the woods, but this notion that for the moment .
Criminal Probe Launched Into Deadly Power Plant Blast
February 9, 2010 3:30 am | by John Christoffersen, Associated Press Writers | News | CommentsMIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — Authorities launched a criminal investigation Monday into the cause of an explosion that killed five people at a power plant under construction, saying they could not rule out criminal negligence. "If everything went right, we wouldn't all be here right now," Middletown Mayor Sebastian Guiliano said.
Toyota Recalls 437,000 Priuses For Braking Software
February 9, 2010 3:29 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems — the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker. "I don't see Toyota as an infallible company that never makes mistakes," President Akio Toyoda said at a press conference Tuesday in Tokyo.
Conn. Governor Calls For Review Of Safety Codes
February 8, 2010 10:20 am | by John Christoffersen, Associated Press Writers | News | CommentsHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut's governor is calling for a review of state safety codes following a deadly explosion at a power plant in Middletown. Rell announced Monday that she is creating two panels — one to identify the cause and origin of Sunday's explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant and any contributing factors, such as construction problems, worker safety issues and licensing or permitting matters.
Caterpillar Backs Experimental Clean-Coal Plant
February 8, 2010 10:14 am | News | CommentsMATTOON, Ill. (AP) — Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest maker of mining and construction equipment, plans to join a coalition of companies planning to build an experimental clean-coal power plant known as FutureGen, key politicians announced Monday. Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin said the addition of Caterpillar comes on the heels of a decision by Chicago-based Exelon Corp.
Driving Biofuels Into The Future
February 8, 2010 10:06 am | Articles | CommentsNovozymes North America president Adam Monroe talks about how his company could produce more than 9 billion tons of biofuel from municipal and agriculture feedstock, like cardboard or paper. With new vehicles that can run on a biofuel/gasoline or diesel mix, this technology seems to be on the verge of becoming mainstream.
Nothing Says Love Like Chocolate
February 8, 2010 10:05 am | Articles | CommentsWith Valentine’s Day coming up this Sunday, we’re doing our part at IMPO to remind the guys out there (and the gals, too) that the day just isn’t complete without some chocolate for your special someone. What better way to get motivated than to learn how all those little candies are made? How sweet.
The Nexus One Manufacturing Story
February 8, 2010 10:01 am | Articles | CommentsInnovators and engineers from Google and HTC got together to make the Nexus One, the embodiment of Google’s ideal smartphone. And while the consumer electronics world has been buzzing about both the hardware and software that went into the phone, little attention has been focused on how it was made.
Designing The Stop Sign By Committee
February 8, 2010 10:01 am | Articles | CommentsThis video asks the simple, yet horrifying question: What if there were no stop signs … and a major corporation was charged with inventing one? If you're having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
'Groove' With Vinyl Manufacturing
February 8, 2010 9:59 am | Articles | CommentsFor some music fanatics out there, vinyl never went out of style. That said, the decades-old analogue form of music is making its very loud comeback, and that progression can be seen no better than in the success of Gotta Groove Records , who specialize in 7" and 12" vinyl creation/manufacturing using PVC molding.
Painting Upside-Down
February 8, 2010 7:56 am | Product Releases | CommentsGasoila Chemicals (Cleveland, OH) has released a new line of FAS-MARK Cap and Cover Paint, an acrylic, upside-down spray paint, which can be used to mark and identify manholes or tank cover valves. The specially-designed cap enables fast, upside-down application with little or no over spray, and the paint can be applied directly to metal and other clean, dry surfaces.
Transporting Electronics, Safely
February 8, 2010 7:54 am | Product Releases | CommentsA new transit rack case, the E-TR, for the safe and reliable transport of electronic systems, is now available from Optima EPS (Fremont, CA). The E-TR cases are available in 4U and 12U heights. Optima’s transit rack cases are compliant to MIL-STD 810F and rated to IP65, along with being stable in temperatures from -40°F to +158°F.
