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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Shop Safe: Zhu Zhu Pets Non-Toxic, Says CPSC
December 8, 2009 3:35 am | News | Commentsby Justin Pritchard, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Zhu Zhu Pets robotic hamsters — one of the holiday season's hottest toy crazes — do not violate safety standards, federal toy regulators said Monday after a consumer group raised concerns over the presence of a heavy metal on one model.
Nissan To Sell Electric LEAF In San Francisco
December 8, 2009 3:24 am | News | CommentsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nissan Motors says it will sell its new electric car in the San Francisco Bay area as part of a limited rollout, citing the region's commitment to building electric car infrastructure. Company spokeswoman Katherine Zachary says the Nissan LEAF, a zero-emission, all-electric vehicle, will be on sale in the Bay area in December 2010.
Plant Gas Explosion Kills Truck Driver At Highway Rest Stop
December 8, 2009 3:16 am | by Karen Hawkins, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsBELVIDERE, Ill. (AP) — A gas line exploded Monday at a technology plant in northern Illinois, sending aloft debris that killed a man at a nearby highway rest area. The explosion rocked the NDK America Inc. plant in Belvidere, about 70 miles northwest of Chicago, sending trembles through buildings as far as a mile away and echoing throughout the community of about 20,000 people.
Going Under The Knife
December 7, 2009 11:45 am | by Anna Wells, Editor and Joel Hans, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsPerhaps it’s a dramatic interpretation, but we are talking about life and death here. Based in Cambridge, MA, OmniGuide Inc. designs and manufactures the world’s most precise optical laser scalpels. Dedicated to expanding the reach of minimally invasive surgery, OmniGuide brings to surgeons the precision of CO2 laser surgery, enabling precision surgery around intricate anatomy and near critical structures.
The Death of 'American-Made'
December 7, 2009 6:34 am | by by Joel Hans, Associate Editor, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsWe live in a time of a globalized economy—no one knows this better than those in manufacturing. With competition literally rising from the smoke stacks in China and India, among a bevy of other countries, there is no doubt that most of what’s sold in America is longer made here.
Reduce Hand Injuries With Beefy Gloves
December 7, 2009 6:05 am | Product Releases | CommentsWest Chester Holdings, Inc. (Monroe, OH) introduces the New ProSeries R3 heavy-duty gloves for demanding industrial applications, designed with safety in mind in order to reduce recordable hand injuries. The R-series reduce hand fatigue while providing critical protection through a synthetic leather palm, which provides oil resistance, breathability, and comfort.
Access Doors, Toughened Up
December 7, 2009 6:04 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Type J-AL aluminum access doors from The Bilco Company (New Haven, CT) are now available with stainless steel hardware, enhancing the corrosion-resistance of the product, according to the company. The Type J-AL doors provide access to underground areas, including water treatment facilities, with a single- or double-leaf design with reinforcement for 300 PSF or H-20 loading conditions.
Automate Anything, Even Productivity
December 7, 2009 6:04 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Productivity3000 Programmable Automation Controller is the newest generation of industrial controllers from AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA), and consists of a modular, rack-based system of up to 116,000 I/O points with local, expansion, and remote I/O bases, along with a full lineup of discrete, analog, and specialty I/O modules.
Heavy-Duty Die Grinders
December 7, 2009 6:03 am | Product Releases | CommentsDynabrade, Inc. (Clarence, NY) has introduced a new series of air-powered Die Grinders, which feature high-quality steel housings ideal for heavy-duty applications. The grinders are available with either 0.5 or 0.7 hp air motors, and each tool features a rubber grip housing to insulate the operator from vibration and cold air transmission.
Preserve, Protect, Prosper: Packaging Sustainability
December 7, 2009 5:42 am | by Rush LaSelle, director of worldwide sales and marketing for Adept Technology, Inc. | Articles | CommentsOur world’s need to preserve resources for the future means the packaging industry’s ultimate goal is achieving packaging sustainability. Packaging sustainability balances economic prosperity with social responsibility, and packagers must find ways to preserve resources by minimizing environmental impact, energy consumption, and scrap by adopting new environmentally-friendly packaging.
Arizona Lands $42 Million In Combat Body Armor Contracts
December 7, 2009 3:48 am | News | CommentsPHOENIX (AP) — Two Phoenix-area manufacturers could pick up as much as $42 million in new military body-armor plate orders from the U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon announced this week it will buy hard-armor plates that fit inside soldiers' vests from Chandler-based ArmorWorks Enterprises and Rockville, Md.
Drugmakers To Cough Up More For Health Care Overhaul
December 7, 2009 3:43 am | by Alan Fram, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — The pharmaceutical industry may have to cough up more than the $80 billion it agreed to contribute to President Barack Obama's health overhaul effort, reflecting pressure from Democrats and their supporters for more money to cover older and low-income people. Obama and congressional Democrats want the drug industry to remain a crucial ally in the health care fight because of its deep pockets and influence in states where it is a large employer, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Indiana.
Salmonella: It's What's For Dinner
December 7, 2009 3:38 am | News | CommentsFRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A company based in California is recalling some of its beef products because of concerns about possible salmonella contamination. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service says Fresno-based Beef Packers Inc. is pulling about 22,723 pounds of ground beef that may be linked to salmonellosis.
Tata Group Releases 'Clean,' Cheap Water Purifier
December 7, 2009 3:33 am | by Erika Kinetz, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsMUMBAI, India (AP) — At about two feet tall, it may turn out to be the world's most compact revolution: The Tata Swach, launched Monday, is a water purifier priced for the masses, which India's Tata Group hopes will help save the lives of millions of people who die each year of waterborne diseases.
Celgene Buys Gloucester Pharma For Cancer Drugs
December 7, 2009 3:28 am | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Biotechnology company Celgene Corp. said Monday it will buy privately held Gloucester Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $640 million, getting access to key cancer drugs. The deal includes $340 million in cash upfront and $300 million in future regulatory milestone payments. Gloucester, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass.
