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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Energy Dept. Seizes $21M From Electric Car Maker
April 23, 2013 10:30 am | by Matthew Daly, Associated Press | CommentsThe Obama administration has seized $21 million from troubled automaker Fisker Automotive Inc. just weeks after the company laid off three-fourths of its workers amid continuing financial and production problems. Fisker had received $192 million in federal loans before a series of problems led U.S. officials to freeze the loan in 2011.
NTSB Probes Safety Testing Of Boeing 787 Batteries
April 23, 2013 10:28 am | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | CommentsAs airlines prepare to resume flying Boeing's beleaguered 787 Dreamliners, federal investigators looked Tuesday at how regulators and the company tested and approved the plane's cutting-edge battery system, and whether the government cedes too much safety-testing authority to aircraft makers.
Survey: China Manufacturing Weakening
April 23, 2013 10:22 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | CommentsChina's manufacturing growth decelerated this month, a survey showed Monday, adding to questions about the strength of the recovery in the world's second largest economy. HSBC Corp. said Tuesday the preliminary version of its monthly purchasing managers index declined to 50.5 from March's 51.6 on a 100-point scale on which numbers above 50 represent an expansion.
FL Gov. Making Strong Push For Tax Break
April 23, 2013 10:20 am | by Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press | CommentsFlorida Gov. Rick Scott is making personal pitches to lawmakers in pushing for a late breakthrough to exempt manufacturers from paying sales taxes on equipment purchases, one of his legislative priorities this year. The governor is meeting with lawmakers to pitch his idea of boosting Florida's manufacturing sector by giving manufacturers a blanket exemption from paying a 6 percent sales tax on equipment purchases, allies said.
Kalamazoo's Bell's Brewery Plans MI Plant
April 23, 2013 10:18 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsBells Brewery Inc. is seeking the Escanaba City Council's approval Thursday to buy property and build a manufacturing plant in the Upper Peninsula city. MLive.com reports that the Kalamazoo-based beer-maker on Friday offered $35,000 for 3.15 acres in the Whitetail Industrial Park. Bell's offer says it will build the plant within 18 months and says it will employ five people.
Isuzu To Sell Remaining Stake In Poland Unit To GM
April 23, 2013 10:17 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsIsuzu Motors Ltd. said Tuesday it will sell the remaining 40 percent stake in its plant-operating affiliate in Poland to General Motors Co. by the end of April. The U.S. automobile giant will raise its stake in Isuzu Motors Polska Sp. z.o.o. (ISPOL) to 100 percent from the current 60 percent it acquired from the Japanese truck maker in 2002. Financial terms were not disclosed.
American Crane Completes Engineering Addition, Begins Construction Of Manufacturing Building
April 22, 2013 5:24 pm | by American Crane & Equipment Corporation | CommentsAmerican Crane & Equipment Corporation, a manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoists, has completed phase one of its two phase expansion, financed by PNC Bank with engineering provided by Boyer Engineering. The first phase of construction includes a 2,500 square foot engineering addition with 11 cubicles and 3 offices.
Clear Automation Received Sales Award From FANUC Robotics
April 22, 2013 4:37 pm | by Clear Automation | CommentsClear Automation, a leading engineering integrator of robotic and machine vision systems, today announced it has received FANUC Robotics' award for Outstanding Sales Growth for 2012.Clear Automation has been an Authorized System Integrator of FANUC robots for 5 years.
Automakers Target Chinese Buyers At Auto Show
April 22, 2013 2:21 pm | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | CommentsGlobal and Chinese automakers showcased family-friendly sedans and SUVs targeting coveted urban buyers at China's biggest auto show Saturday as competition intensifies in this huge but crowded market. China's vehicle sales rose 13 percent in March, blistering growth by Western standards but down from 45 percent in 2009.
Investors Who Stood By Boeing Reap Reward
April 22, 2013 2:17 pm | by Joshua Freed, AP Business Writer | CommentsInvestors who stood by Boeing during its 787 crisis have been rewarded. Some investors bailed out, spooked by the latest snag with a plane considered to be a key to Boeing's future. Others were confident that Boeing Co. would quickly fix the battery problem and raved about its long-term prospects.
MSC Completes Acquisition Of Barnes Group
April 22, 2013 2:15 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsMSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc. said Monday that it has completed its $550 million acquisition of the North American distribution business of Barnes Group Inc. MSC, which is based in Melville, N.Y., is a major distributor of metalworking and maintenance supplies to industrial customers. The company said the deal expands its service and product offerings for customers and establishes a significant presence in the Canadian market.
Court Denies Beechcraft Challenge Of Lost Contract
April 22, 2013 2:14 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsKansas airplane maker Beechcraft has lost a legal battle to halt work on a high-stakes Air Force contract awarded to rival Sierra Nevada Corp. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims on Friday denied Beechcraft's request for a temporary injunction. The contract for 20 planes for use in Afghanistan is worth more than $427 million. It could be worth as much as $1 billion, depending on future orders.
Haliburton Seeking Settlement Over Gulf Oil Spill
April 22, 2013 2:12 pm | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | CommentsBP's cement contractor on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 announced Monday that it is trying to negotiate a settlement over its role in the disaster, a focus of trial testimony that ended last week. Halliburton Chief Financial Officer Mark McCollum said during a conference call to discuss first-quarter earnings that talks were at an "advanced stage."
Canadian Company Plans SD Wind Tower Plant
April 22, 2013 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsA Canada-based company plans to manufacture wind towers in a building it purchased in the eastern South Dakota city of Brandon. The Argus Leader reports that Marmen Inc. promotes itself as the largest wind tower manufacturer in North America. The company has said it plans to hire 200 people at the new plant.
Survey: U.S. Budget Tightening Not Hurting Business
April 22, 2013 10:15 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsWashington's budget tightening is having a minimal effect on businesses, a survey of business economists released Monday shows. The National Association for Business Economics survey asks how higher taxes and lower government spending effected businesses in the first three months of 2013.
