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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Sweater Factory Fire Kills 21 In Bangladesh
February 26, 2010 3:26 am | by Julhas Alam, Associated Press Writer | CommentsDHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A fire raced through a sweater factory near the Bangladeshi capital overnight, killing at least 21 people and injuring dozens more, police said Friday. All of the victims of Thursday night's fire, including 14 women, died of suffocation after they were pulled from the Garib & Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur, district police Chief Moahammad Abdur Rashid said.
Toyota Likely To Miss Output Target By 20 Percent
February 26, 2010 3:22 am | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. is likely to miss its output target in North America by 20 percent due to slumping sales amid massive recalls, Japan's top business daily said Friday. Toyota's production in North America is now seen at 350,000 units from February to April, down by 20 percent from its original target, the Nikkei business daily said, citing no sources.
Ford Invests $155 Million In Fuel-Efficient V-6
February 26, 2010 3:21 am | CommentsBROOK PARK, Ohio (AP) — The Ford Motor Co. announced Friday that it is investing $155 million and adding 60 jobs at an engine plant in suburban Cleveland to build a fuel-efficient V-6 engine for the 2011 Mustang. The engine built at Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1, is expected to help the Mustang lead its class in fuel efficiency with 30 miles per gallon on the highway and 305 horsepower, the Dearborn, Mich.
Wal-Mart Pushes Suppliers To Drop Greenhouse Emissions
February 26, 2010 3:18 am | by Anne D'Innocenzio, AP Retail Writer | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wants its suppliers to reduce 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2015. The world's largest retailer's push goes beyond its efforts to date to reduce its own emissions by designing more energy-efficient stores and pursuing alternative fuels for its fleet of trucks.
Dangerous 'Gas Blow' Caused 6 Deaths At Middletown Plant
February 26, 2010 3:17 am | by Stephanie Reitz, Associated Press Writer | CommentsMIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — An industrial practice that involved the widespread release of natural gas at a Connecticut power plant shortly before it exploded is "inherently unsafe," and should be curbed to prevent similar incidents, a federal safety investigator said Thursday. Six people were killed in the Feb.
Recalls Won't Derail Toyota's New Texas Plant
February 24, 2010 3:55 am | CommentsTEMPLE, Texas (AP) — Toyota's troubles will not keep a vehicle processing plant planned for Temple from being built. City and company officials say the project has been put on hold but that Toyota still intends to build the plantdespite its ongoing recall of more than 6 million vehicles.
Boeing To Reduce C-17 Production, Cut Jobs
February 24, 2010 3:52 am | CommentsLONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Boeing says it will reduce production of its C-17 military cargo planes by a third at its Long Beach plant. The Chicago-based company said Tuesday it does not know exactly how many jobs will be lost. The plant employs about 5,000 people, and produces 15 aircraft per year.
Pratt Lays Off Workers In Retaliation For Outsourcing Block
February 24, 2010 3:39 am | by Stephen Singer, AP Business Writer | CommentsHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney delivered a blow to its unionized work force Tuesday, announcing it will lay off 163 employees and appeal a judge's decision blocking it from moving 1,000 jobs out of Connecticut. Just hours after announcing the planned layoffs at its Cheshire and East Hartford facilities, company president David Hess said Pratt & Whitney strongly disagreed with the federal court's ruling earlier this month and planned to file an appeal.
Jury Finds DuPont Liable For 2004 Leak
February 24, 2010 3:36 am | CommentsCOVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A federal jury has found DuPont liable for a chemical leak that sickened and injured three people in northeastern Kentucky. The Daily Independent in Ashland reports that the jury awarded damages totaling just over $9,000 to Arthellia Bates, Phillip Justice and Janet Senters in the second trial stemming from the October 2004 leak at the company's Wurtland plant.
OSHA Clears GE Transportation In Crane Death
February 24, 2010 3:31 am | CommentsERIE, Pa. (AP) — The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cleared GE Transportation of any wrongdoing in the death of a crane operator at the company's Erie plant last month. Theresa Naim, OSHA's area director, says the company's equipment, workplace safety, training and emergency response were all fine.
Oshkosh Corp. Gets $640 Million Army Contract
February 24, 2010 3:25 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Oshkosh Corp. said Tuesday the U.S. Army has paid it $640 million for all-terrain vehicles designed for the harsh mountains of Afghanistan. The Oshkosh, Wis., vehicle maker said the payment will help the company deliver 1,460 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles. The vehicles use an independent suspension system to navigate unimproved roads.
Cummins Settles Pollution Spat For $2.1 Million
February 23, 2010 4:09 am | CommentsCOLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) — The Justice Department says diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. has agreed to pay a $2.1 million penalty and recall 405 heavy-duty engines for alleged Clean Air Act violations. Federal court documents filed Monday allege that Columbus, Ind.-based Cummins shipped 570,000 engines without pollution control equipment to vehicle manufacturers between 1998 and 2006.
Laid-Off Kansas Workers Get $7.5m Aid Grant
February 23, 2010 3:57 am | CommentsWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — More than 1,100 laid-off workers in south-central Kansas may soon be getting some added help from a $7.5 million grant funded by federal stimulus money. The grant was announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Labor. It's aimed at workers laid off from jobs in aviation, construction, health care, manufacturing and retail.
S.C. Company Wins $16m Contract For Mine Disposal Vehicles
February 23, 2010 3:49 am | CommentsLADSON, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina company that makes armored vehicles has received a $16 million contract to build mine disposal vehicles for the armed services of the United Kingdom. Force Protection Inc. of Ladson said Tuesday the contract calls for building 23 of its Cougar Mastiff vehicles.
More Tritium Leaks Uncovered At Yankee Nuclear
February 23, 2010 3:40 am | by Dave Gram, Associated Press Writer | CommentsMONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Federal officials said Monday that the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant had a radioactive leak years before the one found last month, confirming a Legislature consultant's disclosure last week that aplant employee told him of a previous leak at the reactor. Donald Jackson, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission section chief, confirmed in a conference call between NRC officials and reporters that the 2005 leak occurred in the same pipe system that is the focus of the search for the source of the current leak.
