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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Workers Lobby For Toyota's Reputation, Mourn Personal Failure
February 10, 2010 3:51 am | Commentsby Larry Margasak, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Jim Shuker, who tests vehicles for Toyota, says he feels so strongly about quality that he believes he personally failed by not finding the company's acceleration problem. Shuker was among 23 Toyota workers from across the country who were flown to Washington at company expense to fight Tuesday for their employer's reputation.
Toyota Turns Down Award For Prius, Cites Recalls
February 10, 2010 3:47 am | by Mari Yamaguchi,Associated Press Writer | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota has declined to accept a Japanese government energy efficiency award given to its hybrid Prius, saying Wednesday the honor is not appropriate for a car hit by massive recalls. The Prius was one of the three products that won the annual trade minister's grand prize for energy efficiency and ecological quality, said Hiroshi Tsuchiya, an official with the government's energy agency.
Toyota Turns Down Awards For Prius, Cites Recalls
February 10, 2010 3:47 am | by Mari Yamaguchi,Associated Press Writer | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota has declined to accept a Japanese government energy efficiency award given to its hybrid Prius, saying Wednesday the honor is not appropriate for a car hit by massive recalls. The Prius was one of the three products that won the annual trade minister's grand prize for energy efficiency and ecological quality, said Hiroshi Tsuchiya, an official with the government's energy agency.
Airgas Board Rejects 'Bargain Basement' Buyout
February 10, 2010 3:30 am | CommentsRADNOR, Pa. (AP) — Industrial gas supplier Airgas Inc. on Tuesday rejected the unsolicited $5 billion buyout bid from larger rival Air Products and Chemicals Inc., calling it a "bargain basement price." In a letter to Air Products CEO John McGlade, Airgas said the $60 per share offer, as well as an earlier bid of $62 per share, "grossly" undervalues the company.
Honda Expands 15-Month Air Bag Recall
February 10, 2010 3:30 am | Commentsby Malcolm Foster, Associated Press Writer TOKYO (AP) — Honda's expansion of its global recall for faulty air bags suggests automakers are turning cautious amid consumer scrutiny of Toyota's safety lapses, a trend that could see more recalls in the coming months. Honda Motor Co., Japan's No.
China Charges Rio Tinto Workers With Theft, Bribery
February 10, 2010 3:29 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — China will put an Australian national and three other detained employees of mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd. on trial on charges of stealing commercial secrets and taking bribes, a state news agency said Wednesday. The four Rio employees were detained in July during contentious iron ore price talks with China's steel industry group.
Mill Workers Agree To Cuts With A 'Gun To Their Heads'
February 9, 2010 4:02 am | CommentsMADAWASKA, Maine (AP) — Unionized workers at a Madawaska paper mill will see their paychecks cut by eight and a half percent as part of a new contract mill management says is needed to keep the facility from closing. Officials with the United Steel workers say about 65 percent of the 460 members from the Fraser Papers Inc.
Recalls Compound Dangers Of Panicked Drivers
February 9, 2010 3:51 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — You're driving down the highway and suddenly your car starts accelerating on its own. Knuckles white, going from 60 to 90 miles an hour in a couple of seconds, you do what comes naturally — hit the brakes. But what if the car keeps going? There are options: Put the car in neutral, or in park, or switch off the ignition.
Residents Awarded $117,000 Against Messy Smelter
February 9, 2010 3:45 am | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — A jury has awarded $117,000 in damages and $220,000 for legal and other fees to neighbors of a lead smelting company that once operated in northeast Detroit. The Detroit Free Press reports the Wayne County jury reached its decision Monday in a lawsuit against NL Industries, which ran Master Metals until 1974.
WTO: U.S.-China Protectionism Damaging Global Trade
February 9, 2010 3:43 am | by Rod McGuirk, Associated Press Writer | CommentsCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The global economic crisis has not led to a return to trade protectionism to the extent feared, but free trade remains under threat, the World Trade Organization's director general said Tuesday. "I still believe we're not out of the woods, but this notion that for the moment .
Criminal Probe Launched Into Deadly Power Plant Blast
February 9, 2010 3:30 am | by John Christoffersen, Associated Press Writers | CommentsMIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — Authorities launched a criminal investigation Monday into the cause of an explosion that killed five people at a power plant under construction, saying they could not rule out criminal negligence. "If everything went right, we wouldn't all be here right now," Middletown Mayor Sebastian Guiliano said.
Toyota Recalls 437,000 Priuses For Braking Software
February 9, 2010 3:29 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems — the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker. "I don't see Toyota as an infallible company that never makes mistakes," President Akio Toyoda said at a press conference Tuesday in Tokyo.
Conn. Governor Calls For Review Of Safety Codes
February 8, 2010 10:20 am | by John Christoffersen, Associated Press Writers | CommentsHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut's governor is calling for a review of state safety codes following a deadly explosion at a power plant in Middletown. Rell announced Monday that she is creating two panels — one to identify the cause and origin of Sunday's explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant and any contributing factors, such as construction problems, worker safety issues and licensing or permitting matters.
Caterpillar Backs Experimental Clean-Coal Plant
February 8, 2010 10:14 am | CommentsMATTOON, Ill. (AP) — Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest maker of mining and construction equipment, plans to join a coalition of companies planning to build an experimental clean-coal power plant known as FutureGen, key politicians announced Monday. Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin said the addition of Caterpillar comes on the heels of a decision by Chicago-based Exelon Corp.
GM Announces Heavy-Duty Biofuel Pickups
February 8, 2010 6:38 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — General Motors said Monday its new lineup of heavy-duty diesel pickups will be capable of running on a biodiesel blend fuel. The pickups will run on B20 fuel, which is a mix of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent conventional diesel. The new Duramax engine, which can run on the biodiesel blend, will power the redesigned 2011 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups, as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans.
