The Leading Source for Industrial Maintenance News
FREE Email Newsletter
Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Ind. Truck Part-Maker Shuttered, 225 Jobs Cut
February 19, 2010 3:35 am | News | CommentsELKHART, Ind. (AP) — A northern Indiana factory that makes truck parts is being shut down, with about 225 people to lose their jobs. Accuride Corp. spokeswoman Eva Schmitz says its Gunite Corp. factory in Elkhart will be closed by May 1. Its production will be moved to factories in Rockford, Ill.
Toyoda To Testify Before Congress Over Recalls
February 19, 2010 3:34 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, ,AP Business Writer | News | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota's president Akio Toyoda, under fire for his handling of sweeping recalls, will testify before a congressional hearing next week, appealing to U.S. lawmakers and aggrieved customers for understanding while the company fixes its safety problems. Japanese officials praised the decision by Toyoda, grandson of the company's founder, to accept a formal invitation to explain the recalls and outline plans by the world's largest automaker to ensure safety and satisfy worried car buyers.
Exec Indicted In Price-Fixing, Bribery-Based Food Cartel
February 19, 2010 3:33 am | by Robin Hindery, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The former owner of a California food company was indicted Thursday in an alleged price-fixing plot that involved buyers for some of the nation's biggest food chains. A federal grand jury in Sacramento charged Frederick Scott Salyer with racketeering, wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
Eaton Suspends Production After Death
February 19, 2010 3:29 am | News | CommentsBELMOND, Iowa (AP) — The Eaton Corp. has suspended production at its plant in Belmond after a worker died on the job. Company officials say 51-year-old Doug Barkema, of Belmond, died in an accident at the plant Wednesday afternoon. Jason Smith, director of North American Automotives for Eaton, says production will not be restarted until officials determine what happened.
Finding The Right Manufacturer For Your RFID Hardware
February 18, 2010 10:07 am | by Tamara Harri s, RFID Wizards | Articles | CommentsAs in any consideration when trying to produce a product, there are a number of factors that need to be considered in selecting a manufacturer. Cost, quality, reliability and deliverability are just a few. When looking at manufacturing RFID hardware, however, all of the above factors and more should come into consideration.
I'm Suing You, And You, And You
February 18, 2010 8:40 am | by by Joel Hans, Associate Editor, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsWe’ve all heard enough talk about Toyota’s recalls and quality control troubles of late, and I’ll do my best to not repeat what’s already been said about the company. Frankly, I’ve grown tired of it, and I’m sure some of you have as well.
Pickin' Up Bad Vibrations
February 18, 2010 8:14 am | Product Releases | CommentsBalmac Inc. (Plain City, OH) offers the Model 4216 Vibration Analyzer with an LED Strobe Light for vibration analysis and dynamic balancing applications. The analyzer is a portable solution for vibration and balancing work with a highly efficient, high-brightness light source.
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.
