News

Chinese Plastics Factory Explodes, Kills 12

July 28, 2010 4:17 am | Comments

BEIJING (AP) — A powerful blast caused by a suspected gas leak rocked a plastics factory in eastern China on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people and seriously injuring more than a dozen others. An initial investigation showed the explosion occurred after workers accidentally breached a propylene pipeline beneath the factory in downtown Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Applied Industrial Technologies Announces 2010/2011 Catalog

July 27, 2010 11:03 am | Comments

CLEVELAND, OH (July 27, 2010) — Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) has announced the publication of its 2010 / 2011 Applied® Product Catalog with more than 3,000 new products. The full-line catalog, with 38,000 products overall, includes the industry’s best selection of bearings, motors, drives, belts, fluid power products, tools, welding supplies, safety items and more.

Doubling Exports in Five Years: How We Do It

July 27, 2010 6:06 am | Comments

Fundamental Changes Are Necessary to Meet Goal of National Export Initiative WASHINGTON, D.C., July 26, 2010 — The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) put forth a comprehensive approach today to double U.

BP Replaces Hayward, Posts $17 Billion 2Q Loss

July 27, 2010 5:08 am | by Jane Wardell, AP Business Writer | Comments

LONDON (AP) — BP's much-criticized CEO Tony Hayward will be replaced by American Robert Dudley on Oct. 1, the company said Tuesday as it reported a record quarterly loss and set aside $32.2 billion to cover costs of the devastating Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP said the decision to replace Hayward, 53, with the company's first ever non-British chief executive was made by mutual agreement.

DuPont's Income Triples, Revenue Surges

July 27, 2010 4:57 am | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — Chemical maker DuPont Co. said Tuesday its net income nearly tripled in the second quarter as revenue surged in most of its businesses and it raised prices. The Wilmington, Del., company also raised its earnings forecast for the year, saying it expects to continue to benefit from higher prices, growing sales and better efficiency.

U.S. Steel Posts 2Q Loss, But Sales Double

July 27, 2010 4:46 am | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — United States Steel Corp. on Tuesday posted a second-quarter loss, although it was far smaller than a year ago as sales more than doubled. The company said the results indicate "a sharp turnaround" from last year, but it sees some hurdles ahead. US Steel expects to post a third-quarter profit, but the Pittsburgh company said operating results will fall from the second quarter because of declines in orders from spot market customers.

Foxconn Closes Indian Plant For Widespread Illness

July 27, 2010 4:44 am | Comments

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Foxconn Technology Group temporarily shut down a plant in India on Monday after some 250 workers became sick, possibly from a pesticide sprayed at the facility. The Chennai, India, plant could end up suspending operations for about a week to address whatever caused the sickness, the company said in a statement.

Case Against Body Armor Fraudsters Nears Close

July 27, 2010 4:43 am | by Frank Eltman, Associated Press Writer | Comments

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Two former top executives of the nation's leading supplier of body armor to the U.S. military shared a limitless appetite to steal from the company and cover up their wrongdoing, a federal prosecutor said Monday in closing arguments at the pair's fraud and insider trading trial.

Joint-Venture To Build EVs In Iowa, Create 300 Jobs

July 27, 2010 4:42 am | Comments

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — A manufacturing company said Monday it plans to build electric cars in Webster City, a project that officials said will create up to 300 new jobs in the north-central Iowa community. Webster City and AMS Inc., a new division of Eagle Manufacturing, jointly announced the signing of a contract with Envision Motor Company, of Ames.

GE Paying Dearly For PCB Dumping In 1930's

July 26, 2010 4:56 am | by Bob Salsberg, Associated Press Writer | Comments

LENOX, Mass. (AP) — Once a dumping ground for chemicals, a stretch of the Housatonic River that winds near this Berkshires hamlet is being scoured in a lengthy, expensive cleanup. Now, dredging other parts of the riverbed is under consideration, but the fishers, bird watchers and swimmers who would benefit are wondering how much effort is too much.

21st Century 'Chicken-And-Egg': EVs And Chargers

July 26, 2010 4:53 am | by Joel Schectman, AP Business Writer | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — The auto industry calls it range anxiety: Drivers want electric cars but worry they won't have enough juice to make long trips. After all, what good is going green if you get stranded with a dead battery? It's a fear that automakers must overcome as they push to sell more battery-powered cars.

Manufacturing Best Practices? Take Up Yoga

July 26, 2010 4:51 am | by Diane Mastrull, AP Writer | Comments

CONSHOHOKEN, Pa. (AP) — As the region stumbles around in a recession hangover, Dean Jerrehian is an odd assemblage of calm, cheerfulness, and optimism for a guy making a living in one of the economy's hardest-hit sectors — manufacturing. He credits yoga. No, not his practice of it, though he does an impressive downward dog.

Minn. Town Looks Forward To Explosions

July 26, 2010 4:51 am | by Bob Kelleher, AP Writer | Comments

NASHWAUK, Minn. (AP) — For the first time in nearly 25 years, the Itasca County town of Nashwauk has been rattled by explosions this summer. That's not unusual in northeast Minnesota's iron mining country, but in Nashwauk, the sound has been a long time in coming. After more than a decade of planning, blasting is a first step toward Essar Steel's huge project that will combine an iron mine, taconite pellet plant and steel mill.

Is Your Smartphone A Killer?

July 26, 2010 4:50 am | by Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — Does that smart phone in your pocket contribute to rape and murder in the depths of Africa? Soon, you'll know: A new U.S. law requires companies to certify whether their products contain minerals from rebel-controlled mines in Congo and surrounding countries. It's a move aimed at starving the rebels of funds and encouraging them to lay down their arms.

Ford Announces Car-Based Explorer, No More V-8

July 26, 2010 4:49 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | Comments

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — The Ford Explorer, the hulking family-hauler that helped launch the SUV boom in the early 1990s, is back. And it hopes to define a new generation of more streamlined, fuel-efficient sport utility vehicles. Ford begins a marketing campaign Monday for the 2011 Ford Explorer, which will be in dealerships this winter.