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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Umm ... That Edible Food-Like Substance Really Hits The Spot
February 1, 2010 3:47 am | by by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director | Blogs | CommentsSome of you might have heard about Michael Pollan, author and "food activitst," and his book, Food Rules . First, I'm going to admit that I haven't read the book, so I'm solely going off his remarks in a recent interview, which can be found in this video . Overall, I thought he made some very interesting points, and I’d agree with many of them in terms of further examining one’s diet, making a greater effort to really think about what we’re eating and even the points he touched upon relating to getting more animals back on the farms from where so much of our food supply stems.
Obama Encourages Privatization Of Space, 'Space Taxis'
February 1, 2010 3:37 am | by Alicia Chang and Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writers | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Getting to space is about to be outsourced. The Obama administration on Monday will propose in its new budget spending billions of dollars to encourage private companies to build, launch and operate spacecraft for NASA and others. Uncle Sam would buy its astronauts a ride into space just like hopping in a taxi.
China Threatens Sanctions Against Boeing For Arms Sale
February 1, 2010 3:32 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — China blasted Washington's approval of an arms sale to Taiwan again Monday, but industry experts say Beijing's reliance on foreign technology may limit its ability to make good on threats to impose sanctions on the companies involved. State media commentaries and editorials attacked U.
Tesla Planning IPO To Raise $100 Million
February 1, 2010 3:29 am | by Dan Strumpf, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc. said Friday it plans to sell stock to the public. The company, based in Palo Alto, Calif., did not disclose in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission specifically how much it plans to raise though it listed $100 million as a placeholder figure.
Despite Growth, High Jobless To Remain Until Mid-Decade
February 1, 2010 3:23 am | by Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — The economy's 5.7 percent growth last quarter — the fastest pace since 2003 — was a step toward shrinking the nation's 10 percent unemployment rate. There's just one problem: Growth would have to equal 5 percent for all of 2010 just to lower the average jobless rate for the year by 1 percentage point.
Toyota Begins Fixing Accelerators On Recalled Vehicles
February 1, 2010 3:13 am | by Ken Thomas and Tom Krisher, Associated Press Writers | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday its dealers should get parts to fix a sticky gas pedal problem by the end of this week as the automaker apologized to customers and tried to bring an end to a recall that has affected 4.2 million vehicles worldwide. The company said in a statement that it has begun shipping parts and is training dealers on the repairs.
How Modular Conveyors Can Reduce Costs
January 29, 2010 10:30 am | Articles | CommentsFrom the smallest manufacturing plant that employs manual methods to create their product to the most elaborately automated plant where conveyors dominate floor space, the majority of manufacturers have at least one conveyor in their plant. Whether it’s a single conveyor employed to take away product from a packaging machine, or the transportation system that connects all areas of a plant, conveyors, like the tires on a vehicle, are often the least thought about component in a processing line.
Slow Down, Man
January 29, 2010 10:01 am | Product Releases | CommentsDeschner (Santa Ana, CA) is now offering the Super-K Kinechek speed regulator, designed for a wide variety of motion control solutions, including robotics, food processing equipment, and packaging machines. The Super-K now comes in a 4” or 6” stroke within a short overall length, and can handle loads up to 1,200 lbs.
Leak-Free With Blue LEDs
January 29, 2010 10:00 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe OPK-341 Industrial Leak Detection Kit from Spectronics Corporation (Westbury, NY) is an efficient way to pinpoint the source of fluid leaks in hydraulic equipment, compressors, engines, gearboxes, fuel, and other synthetic industrial systems. The core of the kit is the OPTIMAX 3000, a cordless, rechargeable, blue-light LED inspection flashlight.
Building Muscle
January 29, 2010 9:59 am | Product Releases | CommentsZebra Skimmers Corporation (Chagrin Falls, OH) has expanded its Muscle Coalescer line to include new model for servicing air compressor condensate. According to the company, the Muscle Coalescer line has been solid for many years for separation and removal of contaminate oil from water-based fluids.
Effortless Deburring
January 29, 2010 9:58 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Abtex Corporation (Victor, NY) has introduced a compact, wet Tri-Ten planetary head deburring system in a return-to-operator (RTO) configuration. The system deburrs both sides of flat parts, up to 4.5” in diameter, in a single pass while drenching the workpiece in coolant to keep parts clean and extend brush life.
Honeywell Hobbs Phases Out Springfield Plant
January 29, 2010 3:59 am | News | CommentsSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A corporate spokesman says Honeywell Hobbs expects to complete the phase-out of its Springfield manufacturing plant and eliminate approximately 120 jobs by the end of the year. The closing would end the company's more than 70-year run in Springfield. A second plant in Spring Valley, about 60 miles northeast of Peoria, will be shut down by midyear.
ArcelorMittal To Revive Ind. Blast Furance
January 29, 2010 3:55 am | News | CommentsEAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP) — Company and union officials say steel maker ArcelorMittal is planning to restart a blast furnace at a northwestern Indiana mill in a move that could put hundreds of workers back on the job. The company says it is increasing production at the East Chicago plant in response to improving market demand.
U.S. Wages, Benefits Rise Slightly In 4Q
January 29, 2010 3:47 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Wages and benefits paid to U.S. workers posted a modest gain in the fourth quarter, ending a year in which recession-battered workers saw their compensation rise by the smallest amount on records going back more than a quarter-century. The anemic gains have raised concerns about the durability of the economic recovery.
Obama Offers Tax Credits To Hiring Companies
January 29, 2010 3:45 am | by Charles Babington and Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press Writers | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — A key House Republican leader said the GOP expects President Barack Obama to do more listening than talking when he huddles privately with lawmakers Friday at a retreat in Baltimore. Obama wants to offer tax credits to companies that hire new workers, a plan that drew a cool reception from Congress last month despite the nation's double-digit unemployment rate.
