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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lowest To Date
May 29, 2013 2:14 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsThe EU's environmental agency says the 27-nation bloc's greenhouse emissions in 2011 were the lowest since it began monitoring them in 1990. The European Environment Agency says greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3.3 percent compared to 2010, and were 18.4 percent below 1990 levels. It cited a milder winter in 2011 as the main reason for the drop.
Wind Tower Company To Employ 250 In SD
May 29, 2013 2:12 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsA Canada-based wind tower manufacturer that is setting up shop in the southeastern South Dakota city of Brandon says it hopes to start production this summer. Marmen Inc. is moving into a facility built by a U.S.-based wind tower company that never used it, and also expanding the plant.
Hitachi Automotive To Expand GA Operations
May 29, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsHitachi Automotive Systems Americas Inc. is set to expand its operations in Georgia's Walton County, creating 250 new jobs and investing $80 million, state officials announced Tuesday. The expansion will require an additional 290,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its current two buildings, Gov. Nathan Deal said in a written statement.
Wal-Mart To Pay $81.6M For Illegal Waste Disposal
May 29, 2013 10:07 am | by Greg Risling, Paul Elias, Associated Press | CommentsEnding an environmental investigation that lasted nearly a decade, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has pleaded guilty to improperly disposing of pesticides, fertilizer and other hazardous products and will pay a fine of $81.6 million. The company entered the guilty plea in federal court in San Francisco Tuesday to misdemeanor counts of violating the Clean Water Act and a law regulating pesticides.
Kobe Steel To Close Kobe Blast Furnace
May 29, 2013 10:05 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsKobe Steel Ltd. said Wednesday it will close a blast furnace at its iron mill in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, and increase utilization ratios at two other blast furnaces in the same prefecture. The company said it will consider building a thermal power generation plant at the premises of the furnace to be closed in order to expand its power supply business.
Lenovo Ramping Up Jobs At PC Manufacturing In NC
May 29, 2013 10:04 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsLenovo Group is ramping up its first American manufacturing operation for personal computers. The No. 2 computer maker said Tuesday its new production line near Greensboro is on track to meet its hiring target of about 115 jobs by the end of June.
Omron To Sell Power-Saving Know-How
May 29, 2013 10:02 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsOmron Corp., an industrial automation equipment maker, said Tuesday it will start selling in June power-saving solutions for precision machinery factories challenged by airborne dust and other problems, based on techniques employed at one of its factories.
Toyota Starts Traffic Data Service For Businesses
May 29, 2013 10:00 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsToyota is using live-time traffic information from 700,000 Toyota vehicles on Japanese roads to offer what it calls a "big data" service to local governments and businesses that helps drivers during disasters. Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday the 200,000 yen ($2,000) a month service will start June 3 in Japan.
Tesla Shares Hit New All-Time High
May 29, 2013 9:59 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | CommentsShares of electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. spiked Tuesday on momentum from last week's stock-and-note offering that raised nearly $1 billion, general market increases, and the prospect of the company announcing a wider network of car charging stations.
EU Looks To Small Business To Help Unemployment
May 28, 2013 1:29 pm | by Sarah DiLorenzo, AP Business Writer | CommentsEuropean leaders sounded the alarm on youth unemployment Tuesday and called for more help for businesses to help solve the problem that has left nearly one in four young people in Europe without a job. At a conference in Paris Tuesday, French, Italian and German ministers warned that if high youth unemployment is not addressed, young people will lose faith in their governments and the European Union.
Odor Complaints Persist At WI Plant
May 28, 2013 1:27 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsNew complaints about the odor coming from a Green Bay area plant that processes animal fats and food waste has some Brown County supervisors pushing harder to punish the owners if the matter isn't addressed soon. Supervisor Patrick Evans says the county has provided plenty of time for Sanimax to fix the odor problems.
N. Korea Relaxes Controls On Salaries
May 28, 2013 1:25 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsNorth Korea relaxed state control of salaries last month, a government economist said, outlining a change in policy intended to boost production by giving companies latitude to provide workers with financial incentives. Ri Ki Song, a professor at the Institute of Economics at North Korea's Academy of Social Sciences in Pyongyang, said enterprises are now allowed to use some of their earnings to pay workers more.
Germany: Merkel Vows To Avoid Trade War With China
May 28, 2013 1:22 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday she would use her country's economic clout to prevent the European Union from imposing punitive tariffs on some Chinese products to avoid a trade war. Germany will push for "very intense talks" between the EU and China to seek a negotiated solution as swiftly as possible, the leader of Europe's biggest economy told visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Businesses Uncertain Of Future Without Plant
May 28, 2013 1:20 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsBusinesses in Paducah are bracing for uncertainty in the wake of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant's expected closure at the end of the month. The shutdown will put more than 1,100 workers out of high-paying jobs with benefits. Kele Sports Depot shop owner Stephen Kelly said the plant has a trickle-down effect economically and the loss of jobs will be felt.
Auto Parts Maker To Expand IL Plant
May 28, 2013 1:19 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsA Japan-based maker of auto components says its roughly $15 million planned expansion of a southern Illinois plant will add 80 jobs. Aisin Electronics Illinois joined regional officials in breaking ground this week on the 108-square-foot Marion project the company expects to be completed early next year.
