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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Toyota Recalls 2.3 Million Cars For Sticky Accelerators
January 22, 2010 2:58 am | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Toyota is recalling 2.3 million U.S. vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals, the latest in a string of quality problems that have bedeviled the Japanese automaker. The recall includes the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequioia.
IT — A Love & Hate Story
January 20, 2010 5:10 am | by by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsFirst, for those familiar with the work of Stephen King, the IT I mention here is not the terrifying Pennywise the clown, who haunted my dreams for about a week after seeing the movie IT that was based on the famous horror author’s novel. Rather, I’m talking about that equally wonderful and frustrating art of information technology — and the only time its impact ever seems to be really appreciated.
How To Move A Super Duty
January 20, 2010 4:37 am | Articles | CommentsHave you ever needed to move your huge truck around the garage, but couldn’t do it yourself? Maybe your two small daughters are there to help out. Well, with the AeroGo Air Casters, your kids can put themselves to good use, moving that couple thousand pound Super Duty around like it’s a hockey puck.
The Irradiated Truth
January 20, 2010 4:36 am | Articles | CommentsWhen people hear their food is often “irradiated,” they think of nuclear fallout, or something equally unappetizing. The debate over the mertis of irradiation, including its safety, has raged on for years. Listen to one side of the story, from Sadex Corporation, out of Sioux City, Iowa.
Sheep + LEDs = Art?
January 20, 2010 4:36 am | Articles | CommentsThe Mythbusters aren’t the only ones who can recreate the “Mona Lisa” with unconventional means. A group of shepherds from Wales got together (with a little help from Samsung… shh!) to outfit their herd with coats of LED lights, and set them loose, relatively speaking, at nightfall.
Extreme Maintenance: Methane Reactor Repair
January 20, 2010 4:35 am | Articles | CommentsDoing maintenance work on a methane tank is no simple task. Add to that a wet suit, some oxygen tanks, and a disturbing, 35°C sludge. If there was ever a video on why not to become a commercial diver, this is it. If you're having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
The 80 Millisecond Mona Lisa
January 20, 2010 4:35 am | Articles | CommentsAdam and Jamie (of Mythbusters fame) were asked by Nvidia, manufacturer of graphics processing units (GPUs), to build a machine that demonstrates the power of parallel processing found in their chips. To prove this power, they built the Leonardo 2.0 the only way the Mythbusters know—far, far over the top—and sought to remake the “Mona Lisa” with modern technology.
InBev Worker-Exec Standoff Causes Massive Beer Shortage
January 20, 2010 3:54 am | News | CommentsLEUVEN, Belgium (AP) — The world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, shut down production in its home country Wednesday in an escalation of a standoff with workers at its Belgian breweries over job cuts. Workers began blockading three AB InBev breweries two weeks ago to protest against cutting up to 263 jobs in Belgium as part of plan to reduce the company's European work force by 10 percent.
Miss. Plant Explosion Injures Three
January 20, 2010 3:42 am | News | CommentsGUNTOWN, Miss. (AP) — Authorities say a plant explosion in Lee County has injured three workers. Lee County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Hall says the explosion happened about 2:26 p.m. Tuesday as workers were cleaning a machine at Columbian Rope Co. in Guntown. Hall says one person was airlifted from the scene to the North Mississippi Medical Center, and another had extensive injuries.
Chinese Exec Escapes To U.S., Plans 4,000-Job Hybrid Plant
January 20, 2010 3:39 am | by Phillip Rawls, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A former Chinese carmaker planning a hybrid car assembly plant in Alabama has lined up a veteran engineering and design firm while still trying to put together $1.5 billion in financing for the project. Benjamin Yeung, chairman of Hybrid Kinetic Motors Corp.
Sioux City Meatpacker To Close, Sheds 1,500 Jobs
January 20, 2010 3:33 am | News | CommentsSIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City officials say the John Morrell & Co. meatpacking plant, one of the city's largest employers, will close this spring. The plant has about 1,500 workers. Sioux City Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty says Mayor Mike Hobart received the news on Tuesday from plant manager Dan Pacquin, who said the plant would close April 20.
Food Maker Boosts N.C. Community With 500 New Jobs
January 20, 2010 3:27 am | News | CommentsHALIFAX, N.C. (AP) — A national producer of prepared foods is expanding a North Carolina plant and plans to create 500 jobs, providing a boost to an Interstate 95 corridor that has for years struggled to lower its jobless rate. Reser's Fine Foods Inc. will create the jobs over the next five years at the Halifax Industrial Center in Halifax County.
Chrysler Recalls 2010 Models For Faulty Brakes
January 20, 2010 3:26 am | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — Chrysler Group LLC is recalling 24,177 vehicles because of a defect that could result in brake failure. the recall includes 2010 models of the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty and 2009 and 2010 models of the Dodge Ram pickup.
Finnish Shipbuilder Wartsila To Lay Off 1,400 Worldwide
January 19, 2010 6:44 am | News | CommentsHELSINKI (AP) — Wartsila Corp., a leading maker of ship turbines, said Tuesday it would lay off 1,400 workers worldwide and cut production to save costs and increase competitiveness. The Finnish company said it plans to slash 570 jobs at its propellor and components manufacturing units in Netherlands, where it employs more than 1,500 people.
Know Where You're Hurt
January 19, 2010 5:01 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe HurtSpot magnetic body-diagram whiteboard from Magnatag (Macedon, NY) shows the places of common injuries and provides a visual representation of the number of injuries better than regular reports, according to the company. By identifying the parts of the body where injuries occur, along with the number of occurrences, the HurtSpot can call attention to accident patterns, making workers more aware and careful.
