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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
U.S.-China Relations Improving, Could Solve Currency Debate
April 9, 2010 4:32 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | CommentsSHANGHAI, China (AP) — For months, economists have expected Beijing to start boosting the value of its currency about now to ease strains in its fast-growing economy. The big question: Would Chinese leaders put off changes to avoid looking weak in the face of mounting U.S. pressure for action? Washington has helped to defuse that conflict with conciliatory gestures including Thursday's impromptu visit to Beijing by U.
OSHA Proposes Fine For 2,000-Pound Ammonia Leak
April 9, 2010 4:14 am | CommentsPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Federal work safety officials want to fine the company that owns a commercial Maine freezer that had an ammonia leak, which may have contaminated millions of pounds of food. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing fines of up to $9,000 for Americold Logistics because of a January leak in Portland caused when a refrigeration unit fell from the ceiling.
Hugo Boss, Union Discuss Alternatives To Closure
April 9, 2010 4:12 am | CommentsBROOKLYN, Ohio (AP) — Hugo Boss and union leaders have met with a federal mediator without reaching an immediate agreement on the planned closure of a men's suit factory near Cleveland, which could cost 375 jobs. The union wants to prevent the scheduled April 27 shutdown of the Brooklyn, Ohio, plant and avoid big pay cuts.
Slim Jim Workers Sue Firms, Town Over Deadly Explosion
April 9, 2010 4:11 am | CommentsRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — About two dozen factory workers are accusing more than a dozen design, manufacturing and installation firms of negligence in a deadly explosion that ripped through a Slim Jim production plant in North Carolina last year. Their lawsuit also accuses inspectors for the town of Garner of failing to properly oversee the installation of a commercial water heater.
Australian Rio Tinto Exec Will Not Appeal 10-Year Sentence
April 9, 2010 4:09 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — An Australian former Rio Tinto executive decided voluntarily not to appeal a 10-year prison sentence in a high-profile bribery and commercial spying case and is "peaceful and relaxed," his lawyer said Friday. Stern Hu's decision, announced Thursday, prompted suggestions he was concerned an appeal might lead to an even more severe sentence in a case that rattled foreign businesses in China.
Boeing: 787 Wing And Fuselage Stress Tests Complete
April 8, 2010 4:55 am | CommentsEVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Boeing Co. says the stress tests for its new 787 jetliner's wing and fuselage went as planned. On March 28, workers at Boeing's Everett, Wash., plant bent the wing of a special test 787 by 150 percent of the most extreme forces it would experience in flight — about 25 feet upward at the wing tip.
Toyota Official: 'We Need To Come Clean'
April 8, 2010 4:09 am | by Ken Thomas and Larry Margasak, Associated Press Writers | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Five days before Toyota announced a massive recall, a U.S. public relations executive at the automaker warned colleagues in an internal e-mail: "We need to come clean" about accelerator problems, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. "We are not protecting our customers by keeping this quiet," wrote Irv Miller, group vice president for environment and public affairs.
GM Loses $4.3 Billion In Latter Half Of 2009
April 7, 2010 5:32 am | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. says it lost $4.3 billion in the last half of 2009 as it struggled to emerge from bankruptcy protection, repay government loans and cope with a severe downturn in U.S. sales. However, the automaker says it still sees a chance of achieving profitability in 2010.
Geithner To Visit China Over Currency Control Debate
April 7, 2010 4:56 am | by Aijaz Ansari, Associated Press Writer | CommentsMUMBAI, India (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will visit Beijing for talks with a Chinese vice premier for economic affairs on Thursday, Geithner's spokesman said, in a sign the two sides are moving toward settling a dispute over China's currency controls. Geithner will meet with Vice Premier Wang Qishan, spokesman Andrew Williams said Wednesday, as the Treasury secretary ended a two-day visit to India.
China Threatens Shutdowns For Cadmium-Laced Products
April 7, 2010 4:42 am | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — Product safety officials in China are investigating jewelry makers and warning them against using cadmium after high levels of the cancer-causing metal were found in Chinese-made children's trinkets sold in the United States. Product safety watchdogs in several Chinese cities have told jewelry manufacturers they will be shut down if their products are found to contain cadmium, though none reached Wednesday would say whether they had found any cadmium products or closed any factories.
Firefighters Save Iowa Manufacturing Plant
April 7, 2010 4:28 am | CommentsFORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say quick action by firefighters prevented a disaster at a Fort Madison company. Crews managed to contain the fire to the room where it started early Tuesday at the Gregory Design and Manufacturing plant. The company designs and produces flat and automotive glass racks.
Toyota Warned EU Regulators Of Defects Before U.S.
April 7, 2010 4:27 am | by Ken Thomas and Larry Margasak, Associated Press Writers | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Long before Toyota told U.S. regulators about sticking accelerator pedals, the Japanese automaker warned its distributors throughout Europe about similar problems, documents obtained by The Associated Press show. Concerns about sticking gas pedals and complaints from Toyota owners in the U.
Mitsubishi Plans Arkansas Wind Turbine Plant
April 7, 2010 4:26 am | by Chuck Bartels, AP Business Writer | CommentsFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — Mitsubishi said Tuesday it is aiming to produce wind turbines in Arkansas by next year at a new $100 million plant, a facility that signals the company is seeking to regain its U.S. customers. Company executives gathered with state and local officials to mark Mitsubishi's decision to build the plant, which will employ at least 400 people and help stem the tide of manufacturing jobs that have left the Fort Smith area.
Officials: Upper Big Branch Mine Took Safety Second
April 7, 2010 4:18 am | by Tim Huber, AP Business Writer | CommentsJULIAN, W.Va. (AP) — The coal mine rocked by an explosion that killed at least 25 workers in the nation's deadliest mining disaster since 1984 had been cited for 600 violations in less than a year and a half, some of them for not properly ventilating methane — the highly combustible gas suspected in the blast.
V-Vehicle Plans Second Bid At $320 Million Loan
April 6, 2010 10:26 am | by Alan Sayre, AP Business Writer | CommentsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — V-Vehicle Co., a startup automaker planning to build its vehicle in northeastern Louisiana, will apply again for $321.1 million in government loans, but must come up with another $100 million in private investment and credit to satisfy federal concerns, the acting company head said Tuesday.
