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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Ill. Steel Company Fined For Dangerous Conditions
October 6, 2009 4:50 am | News | CommentsCHICAGO (AP) -- A suburban Chicago steel company has been fined more than $111,000 for alleged violations of federal worker safety law. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Quinco Steel Inc. of Chicago Heights with the proposed penalties. The citations follow an inspection of a bridge construction site in Chicago where the company was providing steel erection work.
Boeing Deliveries Up This Month, Whole Year
October 6, 2009 4:45 am | News | CommentsCHICAGO (AP) — Boeing Co. said Tuesday its delivery of commercial jets jumped by more than a third in the latest quarter, much improved over the same period last year when machinists walked off the job. The Chicago-based airplane manufacturer said it delivered 113 planes, up from 84 in the third quarter of 2008, when operations were disrupted by an eight-week strike by the International Association of Machinists.
Tenn. Unilever Plant Anything But 'Slim'
October 6, 2009 4:36 am | News | CommentsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Unilever plant in Covington, Tenn., will expand to add 275 new jobs, nearly doubling its work force. The current 163 employees at the plant now produce Slim-Fast and will add the manufacture of ice cream and frozen novelties to its production line. Unilever brands include Breyers, Klondike, Good Humor and Popsicle.
Miss. Hybrid Startup To Unveil Prototypes
October 6, 2009 4:28 am | News | CommentsTUNICA, Miss. (AP) — A startup car company was expected to unveil four prototype vehicles Tuesday that it has said would be built at a multibillion dollar car plant in Mississippi. Bill Brabec, an attorney with GreenTech Automotive, said the company hopes to break ground this year on a $6.
French Workers 'Bossnap' Manager Overnight
October 6, 2009 4:26 am | by Remy De La Mauvinere, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsSEMOY, France (AP) — Workers at a French chemical plant owned by the U.S. company Dow Chemical freed their boss Tuesday after holding him overnight to protest the closing of the factory in the Loire Valley. Christian Siest, the director of the Rohm and Hass chemical factory, was given access to the bathroom, water, telephones and the Internet while he was held, said Christophe Fillippi, a worker at the plant.
Emerson Buys Avocent For $1.2 Billion
October 6, 2009 4:21 am | News | CommentsST. LOUIS (AP) — Emerson Electric Co. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy Avocent Corp. for about $1.2 billion in cash, a move the company says will offer customers better management of their data centers. The manufacturing and technology services company said it will offer $25 per share for Avocent, a 22 percent premium over Monday's closing price.
Super Lathe
October 5, 2009 8:36 am | by Joyce Laird | Articles | CommentsDual ScrewRails and a linear actuator resulted in a series of semi-complex parts in the LA3200 XZ-Axes housing. Microabrasive blasting has been around for decades and is in use in a wide range of industries from metalworking to medical. Comco, headquartered in Burbank, CA has been focused on this technology since 1968.
Moderating The Death Panel
October 5, 2009 8:25 am | by by Carrie Ellis, Editor, Chem.Info | Blogs | CommentsAppropriately, I write this blog from the comfort of bed — pillows stacked up behind me, tissue on my right, orange juice on the left, laptop whirring on my arched legs in the beautiful Gaylord Hotel in Orlando, FL. Considering that I flew here specifically to be at the Emerson Global Users Exchange (in amazing Floridian weather whilst my native Wisconsin is getting pummeled by rain and even hail), I couldn’t help but think what a waste.
Ultra-Efficient UPS
October 5, 2009 7:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsTripp Lite (Chicago, IL) has developed its latest line of SmartOnline 3-Phase UPS systems incorporate an economy mode function, which yields an efficiency rating of up to 97 percent, according to the company. The economy mode reduces operating costs through lower heat output and lessens cooling requirements.
Go Tubeless For Reliability
October 5, 2009 7:44 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe new NF600 self-priming diaphragm pump from KNF (Trenton, NJ) has been designed for dosing or transferring liquids and incorporates a four-diaphragm technology to promote smoother and continuous flow, quiet-running performance, and maximized efficiency, according to the company.
Switch Up Your Pneumatics
October 5, 2009 7:36 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe NITRA line of pneumatics from AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA) now includes the CPS series of pneumatic position switches to offer a robust interface between acutators and electrical control systems. The solid-state switches are available in 3-wire DC PNP, NPN normally open, or PNP normally closed configurations.
LCD Heat Gun
October 5, 2009 7:34 am | Product Releases | CommentsMaster Appliance Corp. (Racine, WI) introduces its now UL-certified Model PH-1400 Proheat LCD Dial-In Heat Gun, featuring controls for digitally displayed temperatures from 130°F to 1000°F in 10°F increments. The heat gun is compact and ergonomically designed for balance and grip with top-mounted, dial-in controls for easy temperature and air flow adjustment.
GM Recalls 1,000 Workers At Ohio Plant
October 5, 2009 4:58 am | News | CommentsLORDSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Officials say the recall of 1,000 hourly General Motors Corp. workers should provide a lift to an economically depressed part of Ohio. GM on Monday is starting a second shift at its factory in Lordstown that now makes the Chevrolet Cobalt small car and will begin building the Chevy Cruze compact early next year.
Doing It For Detroit?
October 5, 2009 4:47 am | by by Anna Wells, Editor, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsSince my Milwaukee Brewers won’t be joining the high ranks in the playoffs this year, I’ve been cheating with other teams. Busted. One of the more interesting races to the pennant to watch this year has been the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers bid for the American League Central.
Site Of Nation's Deadliest Labor Strike Up For Auction
October 5, 2009 4:38 am | by Katrina A. Goggins, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsHONEA PATH, S.C. (AP) -- All that remains of the abandoned South Carolina textile mill that was the site of the nation's deadliest violence during a labor strike 75 years ago are crumbling brick walls, creaky wood floors and whispers of the tragedy. The fate of Chiquola Mills is unknown, the site slated for auction in November after the owner failed to pay $5,000 in taxes and stopped demolition amid tough economic times.
