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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
GM-Rooted Flint Manufacturing Plant On Auction Block
December 14, 2009 10:25 am | by David Runk, Associated Press Writer | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — A Flint manufacturing and office complex that includes a building constructed in the 1920s by the founder of General Motors and that still houses his one-time office will be auctioned off Tuesday. The Great Lakes Technology Centre, as it's now known, will be auctioned off in four parts.
Cadbury Battles 'Derisory' Offer From 'Unattractive' Kraft
December 14, 2009 4:10 am | by Jane Wardell, AP Business Writer | CommentsLONDON (AP) -- Cadbury PLC revealed Monday it has received approaches from The Hershey Co. and Italy's Ferrero International SA as it launched a robust defense against a hostile 9.8 billion pound ($16.3 billion) from Kraft Foods Inc. Cadbury Chairman Roger Carr said the statements of intent from Hershey and Ferrero were too preliminary to start proper talks as he warned shareholders not to let Kraft "steal your company with its derisory offer.
Oregon RV Makers Hit The Road After Economic 'Tsunami'
December 14, 2009 4:00 am | by Tim Christie, AP Writer | CommentsEUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The fall of the recreational vehicle industry in Lane County was swift, relentless and brutal. A year ago at this time, local RV makers sent workers home for their customary holiday furloughs. Most workers never came back. Within months, two companies, Monaco Coach Corp.
Toyota To Sell Plug-In 'Affordable' Hybrids In 2011
December 14, 2009 3:43 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Toyota showed its new plug-in hybrid Monday, available for leasing this month in Japan, the U.S. and Europe, and promised the green vehicle for sale to regular consumers in 2011 at an "affordable" price. The plug-in Prius is the first from Toyota Motor Corp. packed with a more powerful battery called lithium-ion that's different from the batteries used in Prius hybrids on roads today.
From Poultry Fat To Jet Fuel
December 14, 2009 3:40 am | by Amy Lorentzen | CommentsDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa plant could soon begin producing jet fuel from poultry fat. Bolingbrook, Ill.-based Elevance Renewable Sciences plans to build a $15 million plant in Newton, adding onto an existing biodiesel operation. The experimental operation plans to use plant oils and poultry fat as building blocks to replace petroleum-based chemicals used to make myriad products, including jet fuel, lubricants, adhesives and even cosmetics and candles.
GE-FANUC Finalize Dissolution Of Joint Venture
December 14, 2009 3:36 am | CommentsCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — GE (NYSE: GE) and FANUC LTD announced today that the two companies have completed their agreement to dissolve the GE Fanuc Automation Corporation Joint Venture. This agreement reverts the respective portions of the joint venture back to the parent company and allows each company to focus on its existing businesses and pursue growth in its respective core industry of expertise.
CAT Begins Chinese Joint Venture
December 14, 2009 3:35 am | CommentsPEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, said Monday that it signed a joint venture deal with a Chinese company to create a remanufacturing business. Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd. and China Yuchai International Ltd.'s Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co.
Life After Bobcat's Dec. 23rd Shutdown
December 14, 2009 3:30 am | by Christopher Bjorke | CommentsBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Twenty years on a job allows for some time to think. But for Scott Langemo, the past few weeks have been a time to reflect on his years as a tool and die machinist for Bobcat Co. and what comes next. "There's been a lot of reflecting on what I want to do with my life," he said.
Yaskawa Expands Milwaukee-Based U.S. Operations
December 11, 2009 6:41 am | CommentsWaukegan, Ill. — Even during these difficult economic times, Yaskawa Electric America, Inc. has continued to increase its business in the Americas. To accommodate this growth with a continuing high level of customer service, Yaskawa recently expanded its U.S.-based operations. Earlier this year, Yaskawa moved into a new facility near Milwaukee, Wis.
Boeing 787 Through 'Final Gauntlet,' Ready For Test Flight
December 11, 2009 3:39 am | CommentsSEATTLE (AP) — Boeing Co. says the long-anticipated first flight of its new 787 jetliner could come as early as Tuesday. Boeing announced Thursday that its window for a first flight would open on Dec. 15 with the actual flight timing dependent on final internal reviews, taxi testing and Federal Aviation Administration documentation.
India Factory Output Continues Upward Momentum
December 11, 2009 3:31 am | by Erika Kinetz, AP Business Writer | CommentsMUMBAI, India (AP) — India's factory output rose 10.3 percent in October from a year earlier as stimulus measures and domestic demand pushed Asia's third-largest economy into its 10th straight month of industrial expansion. Manufacturing output grew 11.1 percent, rebounding from a 0.
Greenhouse Cutting Bill Gets Revisions To Court Republicans
December 11, 2009 3:28 am | by Dina Cappiello and H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press Writers | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Senators trying to craft bipartisan climate legislation offered a revised proposal Thursday that would add incentives for building nuclear power plants and open the way for expanded oil and gas drilling off the nation's coastlines in hopes of attracting wider support.
Hulking Airbus A400M Takes Graceful Maiden Flight
December 11, 2009 3:21 am | by Emma Vandore, AP Business Writer | CommentsSEVILLE, Spain (AP) — The A400M military transport plane that has been causing Airbus and European defense ministers budgetary and logistical headaches finally took to the skies for its maiden flight on Friday. But even as the hulking gray airlifter took off from the Spanish city of Seville, defense officials are meeting on the sidelines of the event to decide how to continue with the much delayed and over budget project.
Government Food Safety System 'Appalling'
December 11, 2009 3:14 am | by Garance Burke, Associated Press Writer | CommentsFRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A crucial part of the nation's rapid-reponse plan — the ability to trace food through the supply chain during an illness outbreak or bioterrorism attack — is seriously flawed, an independent watchdog agency has found. Federal auditors found that nearly half the food manufacturers they surveyed that are supposed to register with the Food and Drug Administration failed to give the agency accurate contact information, according to a report to be released Friday by the U.
Lawmaker Wants Meatpacker Closed After Recall
December 10, 2009 10:36 am | CommentsFRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro wants to temporarily shut down a California beef processor that has recalled nearly 850,000 pounds of hamburger meat due to salmonella fears. The Connecticut Democrat says Fresno-based Beef Packers Inc. should be closed until investigators probe conditions that prompted the recalls, the most recent of which happened last Friday.
