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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
VW Dropping Third Shift At Chattanooga Plant
April 18, 2013 2:07 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsVolkswagen is dropping the third assembly shift at its Chattanooga plant. As first reported by WRCB-TV, the move will eliminate 500 temporary jobs. Volkswagen spokesman Guenther Scherelis said strong domestic demand for the Passat drove adding the third shift.
SC House Approves $120M For Boeing Expansion
April 18, 2013 2:05 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsLegislation giving the Boeing Co. $120 million in incentives for their expansion plans in South Carolina is one vote away from reaching the governor's desk. The House voted 115-2 Wednesday to approve the bill. Another vote would send it to Gov. Nikki Haley, who is sure to sign it. The Senate approved the measure last week.
Opel: German Plant To End Production
April 17, 2013 2:07 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsGeneral Motors' loss-making Opel division has confirmed it plans to end production at a plant in Germany by the end of 2014. Adam Opel AG said Wednesday in a statement that the Bochum plant would wind down production as part of its plan to reduce costs and turn the division around. The plant's 3,200 workers make the Zafira compact.
White House Threatens Veto On Cybersecurity Bill
April 17, 2013 2:05 pm | by Anne Flaherty, Josh Lederman, Associated Press | CommentsThe White House on Tuesday threatened a veto against a House bill intended to improve cybersecurity through information-sharing, warning lawmakers that the president won't sign the measure unless changes are made to protect privacy and civil liberties.
Judge Approves Fisker Supplier Claims Settlement
April 17, 2013 2:03 pm | by Randall Chase, AP Business Writer | CommentsA Delaware bankruptcy judge is approving a settlement between electric car maker Fisker Automotive Inc. and its former battery supplier. The settlement approved Wednesday reduces Fisker's claims against the company formerly known as A123 Systems Inc., now called B456 Systems Inc., by almost 90 percent.
Ozark Manufacturer Announces $26M Expansion
April 17, 2013 2:01 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsState officials say SGL Carbon will invest $26 million in the company's manufacturing plant in Ozark, where it will add a new workshop. SGL Carbon now employs 90 workers at its plant, which makes graphite electrodes that are used in a process to recycle steel scrap.
PA Governor Winds Up South America Trade Mission
April 17, 2013 1:58 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsPennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett was headed home Tuesday from a 10-day trade mission to South America with high hopes for the future but few concrete accomplishments to talk about. In a teleconference with Pennsylvania reporters, Corbett described a whirlwind schedule of meetings and events in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile.
Apple Stock Falls On Supplier News
April 17, 2013 1:56 pm | by Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer | CommentsShares of Apple Inc. fell below $400 for the first time in a year and half on Wednesday, after a supplier hinted at a slowdown in iPhone and iPad production. The stock was down $21.89, or 5.1 percent, at $404.35 in early afternoon trading. Earlier in the day, it hit $398.11, the lowest level since Dec. 2011.
Daimler Selling Rest Of EADS Stake
April 17, 2013 10:23 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsAutomaker Daimler AG says it is selling its remaining 7.5 percent stake in EADS, the parent company of aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Daimler helped found EADS but now is cashing out to focus on its core business of making cars. It sold a 7.5 percent stake last year. The Daimler stake of 61.1 million shares would be worth about 2.3 billion euros at Tuesday's price of 37.20 euros a share.
Toyota's Hybrid Vehicle Sales Pass 5 Million
April 17, 2013 10:11 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | CommentsToyota's global sales of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles have surpassed 5 million in a milestone for a technology that was initially greeted with skepticism. The Japanese automaker, which said Wednesday it had sold 5.125 million hybrid vehicles as of the end of March, started selling the Prius, the world's first mass produced hybrid passenger car, in 1997.
No Helmets Required For Elio Vehicle Under Bill
April 17, 2013 10:09 am | by Littice Bacon-Blood, Associated Press | CommentsThe House Transportation Committee backed a proposal Tuesday that would pave the way for the production of a three-wheeled vehicle called the Elio by removing the requirement that occupants wear helmets. Officials with Elio Motors, located in the former General Motors plant in Shreveport, said the helmet requirement could harm sales by sending a signal to consumers that the vehicle was unsafe.
Taiwan Tech Industry Faces Up To Samsung
April 17, 2013 10:04 am | by Annie Huang, Associated Press | CommentsTaiwanese companies have long viewed tech giant Samsung as a major threat and the battle has recently appeared to tilt in favor of the South Korean rival as Taiwan's smartphone, memory chip and display panel makers suffered sagging exports.
China's LDK Solar Misses $23.8M Bond Payment
April 17, 2013 10:02 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsLDK Solar Co. said Tuesday that it failed to make a $23.8 million bond payment this week because of a "temporary cash-flow shortage" but negotiated to delay some of the obligation. Payment on the 4.75 percent convertible notes was due Monday. LDK said it agreed with two bondholders to delay $16.6 million in payments.
Coca-Cola's Independent Bottlers See Shifting Role
April 17, 2013 10:01 am | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | CommentsCoca-Cola has struck preliminary deals to begin handing back more of its U.S. distribution network to independent bottlers, a move that's expected to improve profit margins in its flagship market. The world's biggest beverage maker had purchased its biggest North American bottler in 2010 to make it easier to introduce new products and clean up a messy patchwork of factories.
GM To Roll Out New Line Of Smaller Pickups
April 16, 2013 2:20 pm | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | CommentsGeneral Motors plans to roll out a line of completely revamped midsize pickup trucks, with gas mileage and features designed to take sales from Toyota's market-leading Tacoma. The trucks will replace the aging Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Mark Reuss, GM's North American president, said Tuesday that the trucks will be able to do 95 percent of the work that a big truck can do.
