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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Bubble Wrap Now 'Over The Hill,' Still Fun As Ever
January 25, 2010 3:42 am | by David Porter, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsSADDLE BROOK, N.J. (AP) — People have walked to the altar dressed in it, protected their garden plants with it, even put it on display at highbrow art museums. Mostly, they like the sound it makes when they destroy it, piece by piece, which largely explains the appeal of Bubble Wrap, the stress reducer disguised as package cushioning that maintains an inexplicable hold on pop culture.
More Melamine-Tainted Milk In China's QA Nightmare
January 25, 2010 3:38 am | News | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — Melamine-tainted dairy products were pulled from convenience store shelves in southern China more than a year after hundreds of thousands of children had been sickened in a massive milk safety scandal, a government spokeswoman said Monday. The announcement calls into question the effectiveness of a crackdown launched by Chinese officials to improve product safety after a number of scandals, including the contamination of baby formula in 2008 and the recent discovery of the toxic metal cadmium in cheap jewelry.
Chrysler's Ohio Stamping Plant Stays Alive 3 More Months
January 25, 2010 3:31 am | News | CommentsTWINSBURG, Ohio (AP) — Union leaders say Chrysler's stamping plant in Ohio will stay open until June 26, three months longer than the company had planned. Doug Rice, president of the United Auto Workers Local 122, said Friday that Chrysler wanted to build up a bank of parts and then close the plant in March, but rising steel prices delayed those plans.
Military Body Armor Execs Charged With Fraud
January 25, 2010 3:30 am | News | CommentsCENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) -- A federal jury is hearing the case of two former top executives of the nation's leading supplier of body armor to the U.S. military. They're charged with insider trading, fraud and tax evasion in an alleged $185 million scheme. Opening statements were scheduled Monday in Central Islip (EYE'-slihp), N.
RI Meatpacker Recalls 1.24 Million Pounds Of Salami
January 25, 2010 3:19 am | News | CommentsBURRILLVILLE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island meat company recalled 1.24 million pounds of pepper-coated salami on Saturday, after officials conducting a months-long, multistate investigation of a salmonella outbreak compared shopping receipts of those who got sick. The recall by Daniele International Inc.
Oil Refineries Desperate For Boomer Replacements
January 25, 2010 3:18 am | by Peter Johnson | News | CommentsGREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — Concerned about the graying of its work force, three Billings area oil refineries persuaded MSU-Billings College of Technology to create a two-year program in process-plant technology. Almost 50 students are starting the concentrated, two-year program this semester, hoping to take advantage of median Montana wages of $51,200 in the industry.
Safety, Especially At Low Speeds
January 25, 2010 3:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsOmron (Fremont, CA) introduces the G9SX-LM Low-speed Safety Monitoring Unit, which consists of two proximity sensors and a G9SX safety controller with fault diagnostics, to monitor motor rotation speed and facilitate safe machine maintenance. The G9SX-LM allows an operator to access the machine for maintenance work while it is running at a safe, maximum threshold of 10 Hz.
The New 'Super' Power: Air
January 25, 2010 3:08 am | Product Releases | CommentsEXAIR’s (Cincinnati, OH) new Large Super Air Nozzle has been engineered to maximize entrained airflow and force while reducing compressed air use and noise. The design directs air to a single point of convergence, delivering 23 pounds of blowing force when mounted 12” from the target.
Get A Hybrid... Workspace
January 25, 2010 3:07 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Hybrid Systems from Shure (Washington, MO) can be customized to numerous configurations according to customer specification, with increased under-bench storage, making them ideal for an existing facility in need of remodeling. The workbench systems are offered in 4’, 5’, 6’, 8’, and 10’ lengths to accommodate different configurations.
Pumps That Handle Particles
January 25, 2010 3:06 am | Product Releases | CommentsBlackmer (Grand Rapids, MI) announces that its XLW Series of sliding vane pumps have been designed to handle liquids with suspended particles up to 250 microns and 25 percent concentrations, such as oxide primers, inks, paints, and adhesives. With hardened ductile iron materials, the XLW pumps can easily handle a variety of abrasive fluids when outfitted with O-rings, mechanical seals, relief valves, springs, and rotors.
Smith & Wesson VP Charged With Multimillion-Dollar Bribe
January 22, 2010 3:34 am | News | CommentsSPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A top Smith & Wesson executive is among 22 people accused of trying to bribe an African government to get part of a multimillion-dollar deal to outfit its presidential guard. Amaro Goncalves, 49, vice president of sales for the Springfield-based gunmaker, and the other defendants were arrested Monday in Las Vegas while attending a trade show.
Harley-Davidson Posts 4Q Loss, First In 16 Years
January 22, 2010 3:15 am | News | CommentsMILWAUKEE (AP) — Harley-Davidson Inc. on Friday reported a fourth-quarter loss, its first quarterly deficit in 16 years, as restructuring costs and the sluggish economy wore on the motorcycle maker. Harley-Davidson has spent the last year reorganizing its business to cope with falling demand of its high-end bikes.
Union: Opel Closure, Job Cuts A 'Declaration Of War'
January 22, 2010 3:09 am | News | CommentsBERLIN (AP) — Employee representatives at General Motors Co.'s Opel unit on Friday slammed the automaker's announcement it would cut 8,300 jobs and close its plant in Belgium as a "declaration of war" on European workers. Armin Schild, head of the IG Metall union in Frankfurt and a member of Opel's board, criticized GM for lacking a clear and thoroughly financed restructuring concept, the DAPD news agency reported.
EnerDel To Bring 500 Jobs To Indianapolis Region
January 22, 2010 3:06 am | News | CommentsNOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Lithium battery maker EnerDel says it will locate its newest manufacturing operation in Hancock County, bringing 500 jobs to the area. Gov. Mitch Daniels joined EnerDel executives Thursday to announce the new operation near Mount Comfort just east of Indianapolis. He says he hopes EnerDel can help make Indiana the capital of the electric vehicle industry.
Obama Pushes Populist Message For Clean-Energy Jobs
January 22, 2010 3:03 am | by Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is telling voters in Ohio, already wracked by high unemployment, that investments in clean-energy technologies will help boost the nation's economy. Obama planned to use his visit Friday to test-drive an aggressive populist push on jobs, a top concern for voters across the country as the White House begins a message shift heading into fall elections expected to be difficult for Democrats.
