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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
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.
Renault, Nissan Unveil Research Alliance With Daimler AG
April 6, 2010 5:33 am | by Greg Keller, AP Business Writer | CommentsPARIS (AP) — Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. will unveil a parts-sharing and research alliance with German automaker Daimler AG on Wednesday, officials said. The carmakers will hold a joint news conference in Brussels to present the partnership, which will also see the companies exchange small stakes of around 3 percent, two officials close to Renault told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Metals USA Hopes To Raise $200 Million In IPO
April 6, 2010 5:09 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Metal processor Metals USA Holdings Corp. wants to raise about $200 million in an initial public offering this week. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., company is being taken public by private equity firm Apollo Management LP, which owns more than 90 percent of the company. After the IPO, Apollo would own more than 60 percent of Metals USA.
Boston Scientific Guilty Of Fraud, Hit With $296M Fine
April 6, 2010 4:52 am | CommentsST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Boston Scientific Corp.'s Guidant LLC division pleaded guilty Monday to two federal misdemeanor counts alleging it failed to properly disclose changes made to some implantable heart devices. The deal calls for Guidant to pay more than $296 million, which federal prosecutors called the largest criminal penalty ever assessed against a medical device company.
Carbon Motors Hiring 1,500 In Eastern Indiana
April 6, 2010 4:44 am | CommentsCONNERSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Hundreds of people attended information sessions to learn about possible jobs at a startup company planning to build high-tech police cars in eastern Indiana. Carbon Motors is awaiting approval of a $310 million federal loan before it starts hiring potentially 1,500 workers for the Connersville factory.
25 Dead In W.Va. Coal Mine Explosion
April 6, 2010 4:43 am | by Lawrence Messina, Associated Press Writer | CommentsMONTCOAL, W.Va. (AP) — Rescue teams planned to search again Tuesday for four workers missing in a coalmine where a massive explosion killed 25 in the worst U.S. mining disaster in more than two decades, though officials said the chances were slim that the miners survived, and the search may not be able to start again until evening.
First Steel Beam Placed At Boeing's S.C. Dreamliner Plant
April 6, 2010 4:42 am | CommentsNORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Crews have reached another milestone as they build Boeing Co.'s new South Carolina plant. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports company executives were on hand Monday to watch the first steel beam placed for the plant which will build Boeing's 787 jetliner.
