Manufacturing & Technology News articles from October 2008

Manufacturing & Technology News archives from October 2008

Commentary: U.S. military fails to learn ancient military lesson.
October 17, 2008... It wasn't long ago that the world watched the collapse of the Soviet Empire. At the time, the USSR had a mighty military force that was overextended throughout the world and was bogged down in Afghanistan. Within a flash in 1989, the Soviet...

Financial meltdown: what happens next.
October 17, 2008... What does the U.S. financial sector's collapse mean for American manufacturers? It won't be good, at least in the short term, according to some economists who have warned for years about the economic threat posed by global trade imbalances and...

Trade agreements need health and safety assurances.
October 17, 2008... The United States trade policy apparatus is skewed to represent only the interests of importers, and needs to be reoriented to include other groups, according to the independent Consumers Union, publisher of the Consumer Reports magazine. "For...

NAM's total revenues drop but members' dues stay strong.
October 17, 2008... The National Association of Manufacturers experienced a steep decline in revenues in 2007. The organization's total revenue number fell from $40.579 million in 2006 to $33.649 million in 2007, according to the organization's IRS Form 990, which...

Finance ministers fail to address undervalued Chinese currency.
October 17, 2008... Finance ministers at the annual International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting this past weekend understandably devoted almost all of their time to the banking crisis, but one casualty was that no attention was given to the misaligned currency...

Presidential debates: not much stuff amidst the fluff.
October 17, 2008... In the four debates involving the presidential and vice presidential candidates, there has been little discussion of economic issues that pertain to the creation of wealth in the United States through the production of goods. By running keyword...

Quotable, from 1988.(Quotation)
October 17, 2008... "Foreign television firms have benefited from ample funding and direct government involvement in developing HDTV. U.S. companies are under-funded and, as entrepreneurs, pursuing independent strategies. The personal computer, automated...

Downturn in N.Y. manufacturing.
October 17, 2008... The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has issued a sobering assessment of the state's manufacturing industry for the month of October. The Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that conditions for New York manufacturers "deteriorated...

Imports take a dive.
October 17, 2008... The economic slowdown is starting to impact the volume of imports coming into the United States. Cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is projected to decline by 6.5 percent this year, "as merchants carefully manage...

Congress tells DOD to create 'trusted' systems policies.
October 17, 2008... As more high-tech U.S. software and hardware production moves offshore, the U.S. Congress is growing increasingly concerned about foreign infiltration of high-tech components and software being embedded into U.S. weapons systems. In its 2009...

New pay scale for new government employees.
October 17, 2008... The federal government has now become the de-facto owner of a number of huge private financial enterprises that were "too big to fail," including Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG. The editors of Manufacturing & Technology News suggest that it is...

China's entry into WTO is questioned by former chief trade negotiator.
October 31, 2008... The chief U.S. trade negotiator who paved the way for China's entry into the World Trade Organization says the deal has not worked to the benefit of the United States. Now that he is retired, Robert Cassidy, former assistant United States...

Justice Dept. is serious about enforcing export controls.
October 31, 2008... Prosecuting individuals and companies that export sensitive military technology to China and other enemies is becoming a big business within the U.S. federal government. The Justice Department is aggressively ramping up programs, training and...

Democrats' defense budget plan raises Republican Ire.
October 31, 2008... Comments by two key Democratic members of the House of Representatives about cutting the defense budget have thrown Republicans on the Armed Services Committee into a tizzy. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told the South Coast Standard-Times in...

Trucking fleets are driving less and will be buying less.
October 31, 2008... U.S. trucking fleets are entering tough times, and companies making trucks are not going to be happy. Fifty-four percent of North American truck fleet managers told Longbow Research that they are experiencing a reduction in demand, an increase...

The world tires of rule by dollar.(AMERICA'S 'ECONOMIC EGOTISM')
October 31, 2008... What explains the paradox of the dollar's sharp rise in value against other currencies (except the Japanese yen) despite disproportionate U.S. exposure to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? The answer does not lie in...

Global manufacturing takes a hit.
October 31, 2008... Manufacturing purchasing managers' indexes from around the world sank as quickly as financial markets during October. The manufacturing index in Europe fell to 41.1 in October, down from 45 in September. It is the worst reading in the index's...

Foreign economic policies are no longer the purview of the Department of State.
October 31, 2008... The Department of State seems to have lost track of what it takes for the United States to be a superpower. Up until 2001, the State Department was producing annual "Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade Practices," assessing the...

Small companies are fearful about their future.
October 31, 2008... Small businesses aren't feeling very optimistic about their economic prospects. An eye-opening 53 percent of 850 small business owners surveyed by the management consulting firm George S. May International said they believed that their business...

Broad national coalition to work at changing U.S. trade laws.
October 31, 2008... A large number of trade associations, manufacturing companies, labor groups, farmers, banks, academics and former government officials have coalesced around a new "Coalition to Fix America's Economy." At least 35 organizations, 75 companies and...

General Motors Corp.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... General Motors Corp. announced plans in October to close its Grand Rapids, Wyo., metal stamping factory, and speed up closure of its Janesville, Wisc., sport utility vehicle plant by December 23. "I am devastated," said Greg Golembiewski,...

Citation Corp.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Citation Corp., a privately-held company based in Novi, Mich., has announced plans to close its Lufkin, Texas, foundry due to slow demand in the automotive industry. "The company will also lay off 18 percent of its corporate salaried workforce....

SKF.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... SKF, a maker of automotive seals, has announced plans to close its factory in Elgin, Ill., and move its operations to Mexico and elsewhere in the United States. The Elgin plant will lay off 160 of its 430 workers, and will cost the company $60...

Greenport Kaz Inc.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Greenport Kaz Inc. has announced plans to close its 200,000- square- foot vaporizer and humidifier manufacturing plant in Greenport, N.Y., and lay off up to 350 employees. The company will outsource production to a plant in Juarez, Mexico....

Tenneco.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Tenneco has announced plans to close four automotive parts manufacturing plants in North America, and lay off 1,100 workers worldwide. The company expects to close its elastometer facility in Milan, Ohio, and an original equipment emission...

Superior Industries International.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Superior Industries International has announced plans to close its automotive aluminum wheel manufacturing plant in Pittsburg, Kan., and lay off 600 workers, or 29 percent of its workforce, due to reduced demand for SUVs and light trucks. The...

Chrysler.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Chrysler will is laying off 825 workers at its Toledo Jeep plant and is accelerating the closure of its factory in Newark, Del., that makes the Durango and Aspen sports utility vehicles, laying off an additional 1,000 workers by December 31....

Brunswick Corp.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Brunswick Corp., the Chicago-based manufacturer of boats, has announced plans to close four plants and lay off 1,400 workers. The announcement in October, followed an announcement in June of a layoff of 1,000 workers due to the faltering...

Doosan Infracore International.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Doosan Infracore International, a company that makes attachments for construction equipment made by Bobcat, has announced plans to close its plant in Carrollton, Ga., and lay off 147 workers.

Norwalk Furniture.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Norwalk Furniture has announced plans to close its Norwalk, Ohio, factory and lay off 500 workers.

Ball Corp.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Ball Corp. has announced plans to close two factories, one in Kansas City, Mo., the other in Guayama, Puerto Rico. The Kansas City plant, which produces 1.1 billion, 12-ounce cans per year, will lay off 180 workers. The Puerto Rico plant, which...

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. is closing its Detroit axle plant and forging plants in Detroit and New York. "We need to resize the company and our cost structure and that's exactly what we're going to do, with due care and great urgency,"...

NuAir Manufacturing.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... NuAir Manufacturing of Tampa, Fla., is closing its manufacturing plant that makes windows and doors and is laying off 126 workers, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Lear Corp.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Lear Corp., based in Southfield, Mich., will lay off the remaining 236 employees at its Tampa, Fla., automotive parts manufacturing plant, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Lear is also closing a similar plant in...

Thiele Mfg.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Thiele Mfg., a maker of dump-truck beds, has closed its plant in Winber, Penn., and laid off 60 workers.

Eli Lilly.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Eli Lilly has announced that is considering closing its 54-year-old manufacturing plant in Shadeland, Ind., and lay off 780 workers. The plant does bulk manufacturing for active pharmaceutical ingredients for the cancer medicine Gemzar and...

Acusphere Inc.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Acusphere Inc., a pharmaceutical company based in Watertown, Mass., has reduced its manufacturing workforce by 24 people, or about 24 percent. The company also required that all of its senior managers take a salary cut of 10 percent.

Whirlpool.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Whirlpool is shutting down plants in Oxford, Miss., and in Puebla, Mexico. Production from the 400,000-square-foot Oxford, Miss., plant, which makes built-in ovens and cooktops, will be shifted to Cleveland, Tenn., and create 500 jobs for a...

Furniture Brands International.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Furniture Brands International has closed its High Point, N.C., manufacturing plant and laid off 300 workers. "The closing of this manufacturing operation is directly related to the competitive pressures we face today in the furniture...

Nautilus Inc.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Nautilus Inc., the fitness equipment manufacturing company, has announced plans to close its Tulsa, Okla., manufacturing plant and transfer the work to Independence, Va., and Portland, Ore.

Simmons Bedding.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Simmons Bedding has announced plans to close its Atlanta manufacturing operations and move them to Dallas, Texas, Waycross, Ga., and Charlotte, N.C. "The decision to close our Atlanta manufacturing facility is a very difficult one for us...

Deluxe Corp.(PLANTS CLOSING IN NORTH AMERCIA)
October 31, 2008... Deluxe Corp. has announced plans to close its Greensboro, N.C. manufacturing facility in 2009 and lay off 117 people. Deluxe also plans to close a manufacturing facility in North Wales, Pa., and a manufacturing facility and call center in...

Areva.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Areva, the French nuclear vendor, and Northrop Grumman have teamed up to build a new $360-million joint venture manufacturing plant in Newport News, Va. The facility will produce equipment and pressure vessels for the nuclear power industry....

SolarWorld.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... SolarWorld, based in Bonn, Germany, has opened a new factory in Hillboro, Ore., that is projected to produce 500 megawatts of solar cells by 2011. The plant is expected to be the largest photovoltaics production facility in the United States...

Alliant Techsystems.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Alliant Techsystems has announced plans to open two new composite manufacturing plants at its Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center, W.V. One plant will produce composite aircraft parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and another...

Neurotech Pharmaceuticals.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Neurotech Pharmaceuticals has opened a 27,000-square-foot biotech manufacturing plant in Cumberland, R.I. The facility, which will make therapeutics for chronic retinal diseases, received a $4 million grant from the Rhode Island Economic...

Precision Aerospace Corp.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Precision Aerospace Corp. has received a tax credit from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to support the company's $10-million expansion of its Grand Rapids manufacturing plant. The company expects to add 190 new jobs to its existing...

Atlas Copco.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Atlas Copco, the Stockholm, Sweden-based maker of industrial equipment, has opened a new manufacturing plant in North Bay, Canada. The facility will produce mining equipment and is part of the company's Geotechnical Drilling and Exploration...

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. has invested $42-million in its plant in Cerritos, Calif., to produce corrugated cardboard for the Southern California market. The facility employs 123 people and can produce as much as 2.3 billion square feet of...

Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas has opened a new $64.5 million blade and vane manufacturing facility in Orlando, Fla. The 111,500-square-foot plant will employ 225 new workers for the manufacture of commercial and industrial power systems.

First Solar Inc.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... First Solar Inc., based in Tempe, Ariz., has announced plans to expand its manufacturing plant in Perrysburg, Ohio, thanks to help from local economic development officials. The company expects to add 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space...

Toyota.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Toyota has announced plans to start producing its Prius hybrid automobile at its Blue Springs, Miss., by the start of 2010. It is the first time the popular vehicle will be made outside of Japan. Toyota has also opened a new $187-million...

Vuteq.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Vuteq, a Japanese-owned company, has announced plans to expand its operations in Princeton, Ind., creating more than 50 new jobs over the next year to assemble interior parts for the nearby Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Indiana. The...

Allegheny Technologies.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Allegheny Technologies has announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in its specialty metals flat-rolled products division and has tentatively chosen Breckenridge, Penn., as the site of the new facility. ATI expects to spend up to $600...

RainDance Technologies.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... RainDance Technologies has opened a new manufacturing facility in Lexington, Mass., to make "microfluidic" products aimed at human health and disease research applications. The facility will employ about 100 workers including biologists,...

Integrity Manufacturing LLC.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Integrity Manufacturing LLC is negotiating with the Kentucky Economic Development agency to build a one-million square-foot plant that would produce the ZAP electric car in its state. Currently ZAP vehicles are being made in China in a joint...

Rogers Foam Corp.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Rogers Foam Corp., a Massachusetts-based company, announced plans to build a new 42,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Flint, Mich. But the deal is contingent upon receiving "renaissance zone" tax breaks until 2023, according to the Flint...

Sealed Air Corp.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Sealed Air Corp., a maker of packaging materials such as "Bubble Wrap," will open a 100-employee manufacturing facility in Louisville, Ky. The Elmwood, N.J.-based company will lease 415,000 square feet of space and invest more than $11 million...

Johnson Controls.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Johnson Controls has announced plans to open a new automotive seating and interior products plant in West Point, Ga., to supply Kia's new assembly plant there. The 130,000-square-foot plant is expected to employ 310 people. Kia started...

Alcon, Inc.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... Alcon, Inc., has announced plans to expand its medical device manufacturing plant in Cabell County, W.V. The company will add a new 74,000-square-foot plant and increase employment by 350. The company will be making small artificial lenses used...

MAN Ferrostaal Inc.(PLANTS OPENING IN NORTH AMERICA)
October 31, 2008... MAN Ferrostaal Inc. has announced plans to open a new U.S. headquarters office in Cleveland from which to start planning construction of new solar thermal power plants in the United States that cost more than $1 billion each. The Essen,...