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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
NY GM Plant To End 'Big Block' V-8 Production
December 18, 2009 3:23 am | CommentsTONAWANDA, N.Y. (AP) — General Motors' Buffalo-area engine plant is marking the end of the line for a class of V-8 engine that's been produced there for 50 years. On Friday, the Tonawanda (ton-uh-WAN-duh) plant will stop production of the latest variation of the "big block" V-8 engines.
GM Shuts Down Saab After Sale Collapses
December 18, 2009 3:10 am | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. will wind down Saab after talks to sell the brand to Dutch carmaker Spyker Cars collapsed. GM says issues arose during the sale talks that could not be resolved. GM says it will continue to honor Saabcustomer warranties. GM previously tried to sell the brand to Koenigsegg Group AB, but the Swedish carmaker withdrew from the talks last month.
PMMI's 'Powerful Show' Of Processing And Packaging
December 17, 2009 4:45 am | CommentsArlington, Va. — Several new features at next October’s PACK EXPO International 2010 (October 31-November 3; McCormick Place, Chicago, IL) will make it easy for packagers and processors from around the globe to enhance operational excellence across the production line, speed new product commercialization and grow brand sales.
PACK's 'Powerful Show' Of Processing And Packaging
December 17, 2009 4:45 am | CommentsArlington, Va. — Several new features at next October’s PACK EXPO International 2010 (October 31-November 3; McCormick Place, Chicago, IL) will make it easy for packagers and processors from around the globe to enhance operational excellence across the production line, speed new product commercialization and grow brand sales.
Whirlpool Recalls 400 For Production Demands
December 16, 2009 3:49 am | CommentsFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — The Whirlpool Corp. says 400 laid-off workers at its Fort Smith refrigerator plant are being called back to work. The company said Tuesday that production demands prompted the call-backs. The plant now employs between 900 and 1,000 people, far fewer than the 4,600 it had in 2006 before the company moved part of its production to Mexico.
Senate Nixes Prescription Imports To Appease Drug Makers
December 16, 2009 3:44 am | by Alan Fram, Associated Press Writer | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate rejected a plan Tuesday to allow Americans to import low-cost prescriptions from abroad, handing drug makers a victory that may help secure passage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The vote on the amendment by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was 51-48 in favor, but 60 votes were needed to prevail under a special rule.
Korean Car Part Builder Hiring 200 In Coffee County, Ala.
December 16, 2009 3:36 am | CommentsELBA, Ala. (AP) — A Korean automotive parts manufacturer says it will operate in Coffee County, bringing 200 new jobs to Elba. The Dothan Eagle reports that Koo-Ryong Jung, chairman of the company, which has 22 plants in Korea, India, China and Malaysia that employ 44,000 workers, made the announcement on Tuesday.
FTC Files Antitrust Suit Against Intel
December 16, 2009 3:23 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is suing Intel Corp., accusing the world's biggest chip maker of using its size to snuff out competition. The FTC says Intel, which makes the microprocessors that run personal computers, has shut rivals out of the marketplace. In the process, the FTC says Intel has deprived consumers of choice and stifled innovation in the chip industry.
Copenhagen Debate Stall As U.S. Balks On Climate Change
December 16, 2009 3:18 am | by Charles J. Hanley, AP Special Correspondent | CommentsCOPENHAGEN (AP) — Danish police fired pepper spray and beat protesters with batons outside the U.N. climate conference on Wednesday, as disputes inside left major issues unresolved just two days before world leaders hope to sign a historic agreement to fight global warming. With the talks clearly deadlocked, Connie Hedegaard, former Danish climate minister, resigned from the conference presidency to allow her boss, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen to preside as world leaders from 115 nations streamed into Copenhagen.
Boeing's 787 A 'Joy To Fly'
December 16, 2009 3:12 am | by George Tibbits, Associated Press Writer | CommentsEVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The first flight of Boeing's new 787 jetliner brought no surprises — exactly what pilots, engineers and company officials had anxiously sought for the long-delayed aircraft. "The airplane responded just as we expected," Randy Neville, one of the two pilots, said after touchdown Tuesday at Seattle's Boeing Field.
Whitacre: GM Will Repay Federal Loans By June
December 15, 2009 4:39 am | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. plans to pay all of its $6.7 billion in government loans by the end of June, Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre Jr. said Tuesday. The automaker plans to make quarterly installments starting this month with a $1.2 billion payment, Whitacre said. He said GM could repay the loan sooner but that hasn't been decided.
GE Aviation Expands Mississippi Operations By 350
December 15, 2009 3:54 am | CommentsBATESVILLE, Miss. (AP) — GE Aviation is expanding its operation in the northern Mississippi city of Batesville. Gov. Haley Barbour said Monday that the company will add 350 jobs over the next several years. The plantalready has more than 100 workers. The plant makes composite components for the GEnx jet engine, which will power Boeing's new 787 and 747-8 aircraft.
Man With 'Popcorn Lung' Settles Explosive Lawsuit
December 15, 2009 3:40 am | CommentsDENVER (AP) — A suburban Denver man believed to be the only consumer to develop "popcorn lung" from regularly eating microwave popcorn and its artificial butter flavoring has settled his claims against a flavor developer. Documents filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Denver say Wayne Watson has settled claims against FONA International Inc.
Poll: Climate Bills Help, Not Hurt, Jobs And Economy
December 15, 2009 3:33 am | by Dina Cappiello, Associated Press Writer | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans believe steps taken to reduce global warming pollution will help the U.S. economy than say such measures will hurt it. It's a sign the public is showing more faith in President Barack Obama's economic arguments for limiting heat-trapping gases than in Republican claims that the actions would kill jobs.
CPSC Recalls 50 Million Window Blinds
December 15, 2009 3:28 am | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — The government and the window covering industry on Tuesday recalled more than 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds because of the risk children may be strangled by the cords. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said five deaths and 16 near-strangulations from Roman shades have been reported since 2006, while three deaths connected to roll-up blinds have been reported since 2001.
