News
FREE Email Newsletter
Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Electrolux Building Vacuums Out Of Pacific Ocean Trash
October 27, 2010 4:46 am | by Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press Writer | CommentsHONOLULU (AP) — There's a story behind the blue, white and green plastic covering the surface of the Pacific Ocean vacuum cleaner. They're tiny bits of plastic collected from one of Hawaii's dirtiest beaches, Kahuku, where waves dump trash from the Pacific all day long. The machine made by Electrolux AB is fully functional and can suck up dirt from a rug like any other vacuum.
Tornado Tears Roof Off Wis. Manufacturing Plant
October 27, 2010 4:44 am | CommentsMOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (AP) — It's another day off for production workers at the Case plant in Racine County. A tornado tore a section of the roof off the plant in Mount Pleasant Tuesday, sending workers scrambling for cover. Two employees suffered minor injuries. Case spokesman Duane Nelson says the temporary shutdown includes all three plant functions; manufacturing, the North American parts operation and service training.
GlaxoSmithKline Pays $750 Million For Adulterated Drugs
October 27, 2010 4:41 am | by Denise Lavoie, AP Legal Affairs Writer | CommentsBOSTON (AP) — British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline PLC will pay $750 million to settle allegations that it knowingly manufactured and sold adulterated drugs, including the popular antidepressant Paxil, federal prosecutors in Massachusetts said. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz announced Tuesday that the London-based company will pay $150 million in criminal fines and $600 million in civil penalties related to faulty manufacturing processes at its plant in Cidra, Puerto Rico.
Wash. Bans 59 Chemicals In Children's Toys
October 27, 2010 4:41 am | by Phuong Le, Associated Press | CommentsSEATTLE (AP) — Johnson & Johnson, Mattel Inc. and other manufacturers of children's products would be required to report whether toys, cosmetics, jewelry, apparel and other items contain certain harmful chemicals, under new rules proposed by Washington state. Officials have come up with a list of 59 chemicals that would trigger reporting to the state.
Manufacturers See Increase In Orders During September
October 27, 2010 4:37 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — A surge in demand for commercial aircraft lifted orders for big-ticket manufacturedgoods in September, but business spending that signals expansion plans weakened. The Commerce Department says orders for durable goods rose 3.3 percent last month. Overall, it was the best showing since January.
U.S. Pushes China On Helping With Tainted Drywall
October 26, 2010 4:44 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — The U.S. is hoping China will help persuade its manufacturers of tainted drywall to cooperate in helping homeowners fix their homes, the chairman of the Consumer Products Safety Commission said Tuesday. Inez Tenenbaum, in Shanghai for meetings with her Chinese and European counterparts, said she was encouraged by the response of product safety officials in China but needs help from the country's trade ministry in convincing makers of the drywall to meet with the U.
Semis And Pickups Get Strict Emission Standards
October 26, 2010 4:31 am | by Ken Thomas, Associated Press Writer | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Future generations of semi-trucks, school buses and large pickups will need to cut fuel consumption and emissions by 10 to 20 percent under first-ever fuel efficiency rules for trucks announced Monday by the Obama administration. For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department released proposed fuel economy requirements and reductions in tailpipe emissions for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, beginning with those sold in the 2014 model year and into the 2018 model year.
OSHA Fines Ammo Manufacturer $1.2M For Deadly Explosion
October 26, 2010 4:10 am | by Holly Ramer, Associated Press Writer | CommentsCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Federal labor officials on Monday proposed fining a gun and ammunition manufacturer $1.2 million, saying that two men who died in an explosion at its northern New Hampshire plant weren't properly trained and had been feeding explosive powder into equipment by hand.
Ford Beats Expectations, Ready To Hire And Invest
October 26, 2010 4:08 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writers | CommentsDEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co.'s third-quarter net income rose 68 percent as it grabbed a bigger share of the U.S. auto market and buyers paid more for its highly-rated cars and trucks. It was Ford's sixth straight quarterly profit and the company's best third-quarter performance since at least 1990.
Feds Raid Home Of Ex-Raytheon Missile Systems Expert
October 26, 2010 4:07 am | by Bob Salsberg, Associated Press Writer | CommentsBOSTON (AP) — Federal agents on Monday searched and removed materials from a suburban Boston home owned by a missile systems expert who worked for the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon. The home is owned by Richard M. Lloyd, the former Raytheon Co. employee, and Lori Lloyd, public records show.
U.S. Steel Posts $51 Million Loss On Slow Demand
October 26, 2010 4:05 am | CommentsPITTSBURGH (AP) — U.S. Steel said Tuesday it continues to lose money because demand for its products remains weak due to the uneven global economic recovery. The Pittsburgh manufacturing giant reported a third-quarter loss of $51 million. In late July the company was predicting a profit for the quarter, but it tempered that outlook as the period progressed.
Fiat: We'd Be Better Off Without Italy's Unions
October 25, 2010 5:16 am | by Alessandra Rizzo, Associated Press Writer | CommentsROME (AP) — Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne says the tradition-laden Italian automaker would be better off without Italy and its balky unions, provoking an angry reaction Monday from some labor and government officials. Fiat has been in tense negotiations with unions over its plan to shut down a factory in Sicily next year.
Japan, India Sign Agreement To Boost Trade
October 25, 2010 5:00 am | by Malcolm Foster, Associated Press | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — The leaders of India and Japan signed a sweeping agreement Monday to boost trade and agreed to speed up talks toward a civilian nuclear energy deal — despite sensitivity in Japan over India's past atomic test blasts. Prime Minister Naoto Kan called the conclusion of nearly 4-year negotiations on the economic partnership agreement a "historic achievement.
Toyota Only Japanese Automaker To See Production Drops
October 25, 2010 4:55 am | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota's global production fell in September for the first time in a year, while rivals Honda and Nissan increased output thanks to strong demand in China. Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday its worldwide production dropped 1.3 percent to 672,604 vehicles, marking the first year-on-year decrease in 12 months.
Ford's 3Q Profits Might Slip On Higher Costs
October 25, 2010 4:48 am | CommentsDEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is set to report its third-quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ford is expected to report its sixth straight quarterly profit. The Dearborn, Mich., automaker has made the biggest U.S. market share gains of any automaker this year.
