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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
U.S. Factory Output Grows For Fifth Straight Month
December 15, 2010 3:36 am | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factory output grew for the fifth straight month, adding to evidence thatmanufacturing remains an engine of economic growth. The Federal Reserve says output by the nation's factories, utilities and mines increased 0.4 percent in November, after falling 0.2 percent in October.
GE Expects 'Substantially' Higher Profits In 2011
December 15, 2010 3:34 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — General Electric Chief Executive Officer Jeff Immelt said Tuesday he expects the company to deliver "substantially" higher profits in 2011, driven by growth in its industrial division and in China. Revenue in GE's industrial division, which makes everything from windmill turbines to ventilation fans, is expected to grow after being flat in 2010, Immelt said.
Chinese Authorities Nab Bosses Who Enslaved Workers
December 15, 2010 3:33 am | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — Authorities have rescued a group of mentally ill workers enslaved in a factory after being sold by a man who purportedly ran a beggars' shelter, state media reported Wednesday. Police on Tuesday nabbed Li Xinglin, the boss of the building materials factory in the far-western Xinjiang region who had fled Sunday after Chinese media reports exposed the plant's working conditions, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
GM's Flint Plant Shut Down Due To Crippling Blizzard
December 15, 2010 3:32 am | CommentsFLINT, Mich. (AP) — The winter storm pushing through the Midwest forced General Motors Co. to temporarily halt production at its Flint Truck Assembly plant. GM says it sent workers home at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday because of a parts shortage. Hazardous roads in Ontario have closed the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron, Mich.
China Won't Restrict Rare Earths, But They Will Tax Them
December 15, 2010 3:31 am | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — China plans to raise tariffs on some rare earth exports starting next year in a move to limit shipments of the precious metals out of the country, state media said Wednesday. The Ministry of Finance issued a statement saying some rare earth products will have export duties increased beginning Jan.
Chinese Factory Bought, Enslaved Mentally Ill Workers
December 14, 2010 3:54 am | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — A Chinese official said Tuesday that authorities were on their way to rescue a group of mentally ill workers who state media reports said were enslaved in a factory and given dog food to eat. The official with the civil affairs bureau in Qu county in the southwestern province of Sichuan said authorities took a flight early Tuesday to the western region of Xinjiang.
Toyota Recalls 100,000 Siennas For Broken Brake Lights
December 14, 2010 3:50 am | by Ken Thomas, Associated Press | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday it will recall nearly 100,000 Sienna minivans from the 2011 model year to replace a switch bracket on the brake lamp that could cause the brake lights to stay on. The Japanese automaker, which has grappled with several safety recalls during the past year, said a driver's foot could hit the switch bracket and deform it while applying the parking brake pedal.
Fire Rages Through Bangladesh Factory, Killing 25
December 14, 2010 3:47 am | by Julhas Alam, Associated Press | CommentsDHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A devastating blaze raced through a multistory garment factory near Bangladesh's capital on Tuesday, killing as many as 25 people and injuring more than 100, witnesses and news reports said. Fire official Golam Mostafa said the fire started in a 10-story factory owned by local business giant Hameem Group in the Ashulia industrial zone, just outside Dhaka.
Frozen Crops? Just Use A Few Dozen Helicopters
December 14, 2010 3:42 am | CommentsST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) — Dozens of helicopters are whirring above Florida's valuable and sensitive veggie crops, an unusual approach by farmers worried that an uncommon freeze could wipe out their harvests. The choppers hover low over green bean and sweet corn fields, moving back and forth in the early morning hours to push warmer air closer to the plants — and, the farmers hope, save the plants from a deadly frost.
Stinky Factory Goes To Court For Being Public Nuisance
December 14, 2010 3:38 am | CommentsCARTHAGE, Mo. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a lawsuit against the owners of a southwest Missouri plant that caused odor complaints will be allowed to proceed. The lawsuit filed in 2007 by Carthage residents against Renewable Environmental Solutions had been stayed since 2009, when the parent company of RES declared bankruptcy, closed the plant and laid off its employees.
Nissan, Mitsubishi Put Aside Differences For OEM Partnership
December 14, 2010 3:37 am | by Tomoko A. Hosaka, Associated Press | CommentsTOKYO (AP) — Nissan Motor Co. and smaller rival Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will deepen business ties to get ahead in the fiercely competitive global car industry, including establishing a minicar joint venture in Japan that could eventually expand to other countries. In the agreement announced Tuesday, the two Japanese automakers will also make more cars for each other under what is known as an "original equipment manufacture" or OEM partnership.
GM Offers Buyouts To 2,000 Skilled Tradesmen
December 14, 2010 3:35 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. is offering buyouts to several thousand skilled trades workers at 14plants around the U.S. The company estimates it has 2,000 more skilled trades workers than it needs right now. Skilled trades workers do jobs that need special training, like electrical work and welding.
Manufacturer Defies Odds, 4 Billion Straws At A Time
December 13, 2010 4:16 am | by John Reid Blackwell, Associated Press | CommentsRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Among the many modern comforts we all enjoy, the humble drinking straw perhaps gets too little attention. Few people — when they pop a straw into a carton of juice or milk — think about the source of that deceptively simple piece of plastic, or what it takes to make one.
Airbus: Aircraft Industry Will Recover Faster Than Expected
December 13, 2010 4:02 am | by Angela Doland, Associated Press | CommentsCOLOMIERS, France (AP) — The global aircraft industry will recover faster than expected, according to European manufacturer Airbus, which on Monday predicted about $3.2 trillion (euro2.4 trillion) in new passenger and freighter planes will be needed over the next 20 years. The figure translates to nearly 26,000 aircraft, up from its earlier forecast for 25,000.
Toyota To Add 250 Jobs At Huntsville Plant
December 13, 2010 3:55 am | CommentsHUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Toyota says its on track to add 250 jobs at its Huntsville plant next summer, when the automaker plans to expand its production of engines. Mark Brazeal, general manager of administration for Toyota Manufacturing Alabama, says the plant received more than 10,000 applications for the new jobs and is in the process of hiring workers.
