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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Police: 1 Dead, 7 Hurt In 2nd LA Plant Blast
June 17, 2013 10:15 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsA second blast in two days has killed a worker at a south Louisiana chemical plant, just miles from the site where two workers were killed a day earlier. The latest explosion also injured seven people, some severely, State Police Trooper Jared Sandifer said late Friday.
Chrysler Freezes Pension Plan For 8,000 Employees
June 17, 2013 10:09 am | by Sarah Skidmore, Associated Press | CommentsChrysler Group LLC said Friday that it is freezing the pensions of roughly 8,000 U.S. salaried employees at the end of the year. The U.S. automaker said it is making the move to stay in line with industry trends and to comply with IRS regulations. The Auburn Hills, Mich.-based company declined to detail the specifics of the IRS issue, but said it is currently in compliance.
Caterpillar To Begin WI Layoffs
June 17, 2013 10:08 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsCaterpillar Inc. says it is placing about 260 production employees at its South Milwaukee plant on indefinite layoff because of weaker demand for mining equipment. The layoffs represent about a third of the more than 800 workers represented by the Steelworkers union at the plant. The layoffs go into effect June 24.
GM Recalling 193,652 SUVs For Fire Risk
June 17, 2013 10:07 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsGeneral Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver's door could short and cause a fire. The vehicles involved are the Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Ruick Rainier, Saab 9-7x and Isuzu Ascender from the 2006 and 2007 model years. The 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL are also included.
Long-Haul Jets Get Boost At Paris Air Show
June 17, 2013 10:05 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | CommentsAirbus and Boeing both won pledges for big purchases of long-haul, wide-body jets Monday, as the Paris Air Show got off to a robust if rainy start. The global aviation event at Le Bourget airfield north of Paris is once again showcasing the rivalry between U.S.-based Boeing and French-based Airbus.
Pope Blesses Hundreds Of Harley-Davidsons
June 17, 2013 10:03 am | by Nicole Winfield, Associated Press | CommentsBiker culture came to the Vatican on Sunday as Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley-Davidsons and their riders celebrating the manufacturer's 110th anniversary with a loud parade and plenty of leather. Standing in his open-top jeep, Francis drove up the main boulevard leading to St. Peter's Square, blessing the thousands of people in what was a giant Harley parking lot.
2 PA Plants Close, Affecting Almost 150
June 14, 2013 5:23 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsTwo central Pennsylvania factories have abruptly closed down, leaving almost 150 workers without jobs, a local official confirmed. Fenco Automotive Products is filing for bankruptcy, said Mike Flanagan, president and CEO of Clinton County Economic Partnership, and its local plants include the former Champion Parts building in Lock Haven and Fenco-related Lock Haven Distribution.
European Growth Still On U.S. Agenda, Not As Loudly
June 14, 2013 5:23 pm | by Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press | CommentsA year after President Barack Obama made an emphatic pitch to Europe's economic powers to focus more on economic growth than austerity, much of the eurozone remains mired in or near recession. Obama's appeals have had mixed results in softening the demands on some of the most debt-ridden European nations to cut their spending.
AP: More Bangladesh Factories Dangerous
June 14, 2013 5:23 pm | by Ravi Nessman, Associated Press | CommentsBangladeshi garment factories are routinely built without consulting engineers. Many are located in commercial or residential buildings not designed to withstand the stress of heavy manufacturing. Some add illegal extra floors atop support columns too weak to hold them, according to a survey of scores of factories by an engineering university that was shown to The Associated Press.
U.S. Factory Output Rises 0.1 Percent In May
June 14, 2013 5:23 pm | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | CommentsU.S. factories barely increased their output in May after two months of declines, a sign that manufacturing is providing little support for the economy. The Federal Reserve said Friday that factory production rose just 0.1 percent in May from April. Output fell 0.4 percent in April and 0.3 percent in March.
U.S. Prosecutors Want Smartphone 'Kill Switch'
June 14, 2013 5:23 pm | by Meghan Barr, Associated Press | CommentsU.S. law enforcement officials are demanding the creation of a "kill switch" that would render smartphones inoperable after they are stolen, New York's top prosecutor said in a clear warning to the world's smartphone manufacturers. The New York Attorney General said the formation of a coalition of law enforcement agencies devoted to stamping out what he called an "epidemic" of robberies.
First Airbus A350 Flight Reopens Wide-Body Race
June 14, 2013 5:22 pm | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | CommentsThe Airbus A350's maiden flight ended with a safe landing on Friday, setting the stage for intensifying competition with U.S. rival Boeing in the long-haul wide-body aircraft market. The four-hour flight marks a key step on the path to full certification for the jet, which can carry between 250 and 400 passengers and is the European aircraft maker's best hope for catching up in a long-haul market dominated by Boeing's 787 and 777.
Blast At LA Plant Kills 1, More Than 70 Hurt
June 14, 2013 10:02 am | by Stacey Plaisance, Associated Press | CommentsThe blast sent workers on a mad scramble to escape the plant, said a worker, some of them by clambering over gates. Outside the plant, witnesses saw towering flames and felt the ground shudder. A body was found by hazardous materials crews moving through the site after the blast, state police Capt. Doug Cain said.
New Hostess Owner Prepares To Re-Start GA Plant
June 14, 2013 10:00 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsThe smell of snack cakes could soon return to the Dolly Madison plant in Columbus as Hostess Brands LLC prepares to relaunch production. Hostess Brands LLC spokesman Michael Cramer said workers will be resuming production by July. He said crews are now getting the facility ready to bake goods again, including testing equipment that's been idle since November.
Nissan Hopes To Grab Share Of Japan Minicar Market
June 14, 2013 9:58 am | by Azusa Uchikura, Associated Press | CommentsJapanese automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi are joining forces to grab a bigger share of the country's lucrative market for tiny cars, now dominated by their three rivals. The new model, sold as Dayz for Nissan Motor Co. and eK Wagon for Mitsubishi Motors Corp., marks the first time Nissan has been involved from start to finish in the development of a minicar, or "kei," which means "light" in Japanese.
