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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
GM To Announce 14 Plant Closures Monday
May 28, 2009 4:53 am | by KIMBERLY S. JOHNSON, AP Auto Writers | Articles | CommentsA person briefed on General Motors Corp.'s plans says the company on Monday will identify the 14 factories it will close as it heads toward a likely Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing. The person says United Auto Workers officials in Detroit have told plant-level union leaders that the company will make the announcement, not the union.
German Officials Still Seeking Opel Rescue Plan
May 28, 2009 4:49 am | by GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press Writer | Articles | CommentsGerman officials readied for another try at a rescue deal for General Motors Corp.'s Opel subsidiary after last-minute financing demands stalled overnight talks Thursday, officials said. Germany had hoped for an agreement to shield automaker Opel — which employs 25,000 people there — from a looming GM bankruptcy by making it legally independent under a trustee.
Keep Your Conveyors FIT
May 27, 2009 7:14 am | Articles | CommentsDorner's two-tier conveying system. For a limited time Dorner is offering a factory inspection training (FIT) service to assist with new and existing conveyor projects. New conveyors projects can be overseen as part of the GetFIT™ service, which provides advice on installation, safety, optimum product handling, training, spare parts and warranties.
Tow Tractor Hauls Fast
May 27, 2009 5:09 am | Articles | CommentsThe new EZS 350XL tow tractor from Jungheinrich can tow several trailers together and has a capacity of 11,000 lbs. The truck is built with a 2.8 kW, 24 V AC drive motor for powerful acceleration and high travel speeds, with significant energy efficiency, longer operating times and low maintenance (through the omission of carbon brushes).
Keep Your Parts Cleaner For Longer
May 26, 2009 12:35 pm | Articles | CommentsThe new Oil Eater 45-gallon water-based parts cleaner is made of industrial grade high density polyethylene plastic and uses 1,000-watt heaters to reach its optimal cleaning temperature of 110° F. A filter system on the unit keeps the solution clean, prolonging fluid life.
Wearable Computer Keeps Hands Free
May 26, 2009 11:58 am | Articles | CommentsThe Ridgeline W200 from Glacier Computer LLC is a wearable computer made of reinforced magnesium alloy. At only 10.2 ounces and contoured to fit your arm, the W200 is a portable computer that allows the user to keep both hands free for completing other tasks.
Live Roller That Won't Freeze Up
May 26, 2009 11:42 am | Articles | CommentsThe Chain Driven Live Roller (CDLR) manufactured by viastore is designed to be reliabile, low maintenance and freezer capabile with operating temperatures that reach –20º F. It's is available in bed lengths from 2 feet to 10 feet with widths of 44 inches, 48 inches, 52 inches and 60 inches.
AEP Shifts To Non-Toxic Lubricant
May 26, 2009 10:47 am | Articles | CommentsAs part of a shift towards more environmentally-friendly operations, American Electric Power (AEP) recently replaced oil-based lubricants at six of its hydro plants with the non-toxic UCON Trident AW hydraulic fluid. This fluid, manufactured by Dow Chemical, is a fully synthetic polyalkylene glycol (PAG) lubricant and does not contain any chemicals on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERLCA) list of hazardous substances.
New Magnetic Conveying Applications Videos
May 26, 2009 8:54 am | Articles | CommentsBOYNE CITY, MI — April, 2009 — Industrial Magnetics, Inc. has posted several new videos on their website allowing viewers to see actual magnetic conveying applications with magnetic transfer conveyors and magnetic low-profile conveyors.
"Clean" Biomass Power Plant Application Cites Numerous Pollutants
May 26, 2009 7:35 am | Articles | CommentsThe developers of a proposed $90 million biomass power plant in southern Indiana say it would release hundreds of tons of nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide, as well as some hazardous air pollutants by burning wood waste to generate electricity.
Mitsubishi Offers Stimulus Rebate
May 22, 2009 6:43 am | Articles | CommentsMitsubishi Forklift Trucks has announced its own economic rebate stimulus package for customers. Through the end of June, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks will offer a “ Right on the Money ” rebate on any purchase, lease or long term rental for three forklift truck models.
Solar Power Plant Planned West Of Phoenix
May 22, 2009 6:17 am | Articles | CommentsAn Arizona power provider is teaming up with a two companies to build a solar-power plant west of Phoenix that could help it surpass a state-imposed alternative-energy requirement. The $1.5 billion plant, in combination with other Arizona Public Service Co.
QMC Improves Accuracy With Forklift Scale
May 21, 2009 11:27 am | Articles | CommentsQuality Metalcraft, Inc. (QMC), located in Livonia, MI, has served the automotive industry for nearly half a century and is now the world’s leading automotive engineering, prototype, and low volume production facility. The company combines state-of-the-art machinery with traditional “old school” finishing techniques to deliver quick turnarounds on high quality components, ranging from small brackets and simple fabrications to large body-in-white components and assemblies.
Plant Practices: ACT Customizes Workbenches
May 21, 2009 11:10 am | Articles | CommentsIn March 2008, Advanced Coating Technologies (ACT) of Middletown, NY began an ambitious $50-million expansion, constructing a new 40,000-square-foot building that would accommodate the manufacture of three different coating applications (two of which were new to the company), as well as other applications, conference rooms, and offices.
Mission Critical
May 21, 2009 10:49 am | by Paul Haake, Vice President of Engineering, Chloride North America | Articles | CommentsThe increasingly sophisticated control systems of today, mixed with the inherently poor power environment of an industrial facility and aging power generation and distribution facilities—both inside and outside of the plant—can produce a wide variety of power and electrical noise problems.
A Lift In Technology
May 21, 2009 10:28 am | by Anna Wells, Editor, IMPO | Articles | CommentsThe technology behind Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU)'s hybrid concept lift truck combines an IC engine, electric generator, and battery. The lift truck shifts automatically between battery and engine mode, simultaneously recharging the battery during operation. It’s no question that lift trucks are getting smarter—and with this, user capabilities and access to information becomes better.
Daimler Acquires Stake in Tesla
May 19, 2009 7:07 am | Articles | CommentsDaimler AG has acquired an equity stake of nearly 10 percent of Tesla Motors Inc. This investment deepens the relationship between the inventor of the automobile and the newest member of the global auto industry.
Steelworkers Urge Leaders to Reject Auto Plans That Close Plants
May 19, 2009 6:25 am | Articles | CommentsThe United Steelworkers (USW) today urged Congress and the Administration to reject any taxpayer-supported plan to restructure automobile companies that would export jobs instead of strengthen the domestic industry.
GM, UAW In Dispute Over Imports And Plant Closures
May 18, 2009 10:46 am | by TOM KRISHER, AP Auto Writer | Articles | CommentsCritical concession talks between General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers are being overshadowed by a public spat about the automaker's plans to import vehicles from other countries while it closes 16 U.S. factories.
F-35 Fighter Jets Needed By 2015 Deadline
May 15, 2009 5:33 am | by DONNA BORAK, AP Business Writer | Articles | CommentsThe chief of naval operations said Thursday on-time delivery of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s next-generation Joint Strike Fighter will be critical in closing the gap of the fighter jets needed to match current and future threats.
Industrial Production Falls By Least In 6 Months
May 15, 2009 5:17 am | by CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer | Articles | CommentsThe nation's industrial production fell in April by the smallest amount in six months, fresh evidence that the pace of the economy's decline is slowing. Output by U.S. factories, mines and utilities fell by 0.
Wholesale Prices Rise 0.3 Percent In April
May 14, 2009 7:35 am | by MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer | Articles | CommentsWholesale prices rose more than expected in April as the biggest jump in food costs in more than a year offset a second monthly decline in the price of energy products. The Labor Department said Thursday that wholesale prices climbed 0.
VW, Kia Rev Up In The South While Detroit Idles
May 14, 2009 6:59 am | by BILL POOVEY, Associated Press Writer | Articles | CommentsVolkswagen AG executives celebrate raising the first walls of their $1 billion assembly plant here Thursday, giving them a chance to smile amid the auto industry's global despair. When construction is finished and VW starts making a new mid-size sedan in 2011, Chattanooga's biggest catch will be 2,000 jobs at the plant and thousands of others at suppliers and other related businesses.
Hold Drums Securely Without Damage
May 13, 2009 12:18 pm | Articles | CommentsThe MORcinch from Morse is an entirely new type of drum holder, featuring a unique cinching action that adjusts to almost any drum size. Designed to be more secure, the MORcinch embraces almost the entire girth of drums, evenly distributing the weight to maximize security of the grip and minimize stress points that can cause drum sidewall damage.
Pivot Drive Rotates To Almost Any Position
May 13, 2009 12:13 pm | Articles | CommentsQC Industries’ new Automation Series low profile belt conveyors offer Pivot™ rotatable drives that can be quickly and easily rotated to almost any position. The drives can be positioned to avoid products on the conveyor belt or obstructions caused by integrated machines.
