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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Fiat Mulls IPO After Buying Chrysler
April 25, 2013 2:11 pm | by Colleen Barry, Tom Krisher, AP Business Writers | CommentsItalian automaker Fiat is considering a plan to hold a public stock offering after the company buys 100 percent of Chrysler, according to a person briefed on the matter. The plan to sell shares of a combined company is among several options being evaluated by Sergio Marchionne, who serves as CEO of both automakers, said the person, who requested anonymity because no decision has been made.
OSHA: OH Plant 'Could Have Prevented' Worker Death
April 25, 2013 2:09 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsA federal agency has cited an Ohio aluminum plant with eight safety violations following the death of a worker who was crushed by a hot metal rack stacked with heavy aluminum. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, said Thursday that Extrudex Aluminum acted with knowing disregard or plain indifference to hazards at the company's plant in North Jackson in northeastern Ohio.
MS Special Session Friday For Auto Parts Maker
April 25, 2013 2:07 pm | by Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press | CommentsMississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol this Friday for what many hope will be a quick a special session to lure an auto parts maker to the state. Bryant has released few details about the project, beyond saying it's for Mississippi's "automobile corridor."
DMV Denies Tesla Request To Run Its Own Dealership
April 24, 2013 2:03 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsVirginia officials have rejected a request from electric car maker Tesla Motors to operate its own dealership at a Tysons Corner mall. State law requires manufacturers to sell cars through a dealer, unless the manufacturer can show that no dealer is available.
Boeing Sees Early-May Restart Of 787 Deliveries
April 24, 2013 2:02 pm | by Joshua Freed, AP Business Writer | CommentsBoeing is aiming to begin delivering 787s again in early May. The 787 has been grounded since mid-January because of smoldering batteries. Federal authorities have approved Boeing's redesigned battery system. The new battery setup has been installed on 10 787s that belong to airlines, and on nine more that have been built but not delivered, said Boeing Co. Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney.
European Recession Hits Major Car Makers
April 24, 2013 2:00 pm | by David McHugh, AP Business Writer | CommentsEurope's stubborn recession cut deeply into profits at major automakers Ford, Volkswagen and Daimler, first-quarter results showed Wednesday as the industry began reporting earnings. Germany's Volkswagen AG said its first-quarter net profit fell 38 percent to 1.95 billion euros ($2.5 billion), while Daimler AG's was down 60 percent at 564 million euros.
Mitsubishi Motors IDs Cause Of Battery Problem
April 24, 2013 1:58 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsMitsubishi Motors Corp. said Wednesday it has identified the cause of a battery malfunction of its Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and will take recall procedures as soon as the effectiveness of preventive measures is confirmed.
TX Plant Blast Loss Likely Exceeds $100M
April 24, 2013 1:56 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsAn insurance industry trade group estimates losses from a deadly fertilizer plant explosion in a tiny Texas town will likely exceed $100 million. Insurance Council of Texas spokesman Mark Hanna said Wednesday that insured losses after the explosion in West, Texas, included dozens of damaged homes, businesses and cars — as well as the costs of resettling displaced residents.
Orders For U.S. Durable Goods Fall In March
April 24, 2013 1:54 pm | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | CommentsOrders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods fell in March by the most in seven months. The drop reflected a steep decline in commercial aircraft demand and little growth in orders that signal future business investment. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for durable goods declined 5.7 percent in March. That followed a 4.3 percent gain in February, which was revised lower.
Administration Had Advance Warning On Fisker
April 24, 2013 10:15 am | by Matthew Daly, Associated Press | CommentsNewly released documents show that the Obama administration was warned as early as 2010 that electric car maker Fisker Automotive Inc. was not meeting milestones set up for a half-billion dollar government loan, nearly a year before U.S. officials froze the loan after questions were raised about the company's statements.
Ford's 1Q Profit Reaches $1.6B
April 24, 2013 10:13 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | CommentsFord Motor Co. reported a better-than-expected $1.6 billion profit in the first quarter as growing demand in the U.S. and China for its new vehicles helped overcome steep losses in Europe and South America. Ford said Wednesday that first-quarter net income rose 15 percent from a year ago. Worldwide sales rose 10 percent to nearly 1.5 million.
Toyota: Top Selling Automaker Despite China Fall
April 24, 2013 10:11 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | CommentsToyota held onto its status as the world's top-selling automaker in the first quarter of this year, although the three-way race with General Motors and Volkswagen is proving tight, as its sales fall in China and Japan. Toyota Motor Corp. reported Wednesday it sold 2.43 million vehicles during the January-March period.
SC Governor Signs Boeing Incentives Bill
April 24, 2013 10:10 am | by Seanna Adcox, Associated Press | CommentsSouth Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Tuesday signed legislation to provide $120 million in incentives to the Boeing Co. for its expansion plans in the state. "Boeing is a part of the fabric of South Carolina, and this solidifies our relationship with Boeing going forward," Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey said.
Hostess Plans To Reopen GA Baking Facility
April 24, 2013 10:08 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsHostess Brands, LLC has announced plans to re-launch its bakery in Columbus and plans to add about 300 jobs in the area over the next several years. The Georgia Department of Economic Development Tuesday announced the company plans to resume operations this summer and will produce a full assortment of iconic Hostess snack products — including Twinkies.
Apple To Dole Out $100B To Shareholders
April 24, 2013 10:06 am | by Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer | CommentsApple is opening the doors to its bank vault, saying it will distribute $100 billion in cash to its shareholders by the end of 2015. At the same time, the company said revenue for the current quarter could fall from the year before, which would be the first decline in many years.
