Manufacturing news
January 2006
Quality recognition for garment manufacturer
UniFirst Corporation’s two apparel manufacturing facilities in Mexico have been awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification following 15 months of preparation and a two week quality system audit.
30 Jan 2006 19:40
FDA tasks Boston Scientific over quality
What a difference a day makes in manufacturing. Just one day after Boston Scientific agreed to a $27 billion deal to buy Guidant Corp., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Boston Scientific in a letter that its quality practices are not up to snuff.
27 Jan 2006 14:32
Low price, Daimler-Chrysler endorsement, boost biodiesel
American Biofuels, L.L.C. expects to increase biodiesel production to 40,000,000 gallons per year in 2006. This is a significant leap, as total biodiesel production in the United States in 2005 was only 66-million gallons.
27 Jan 2006 14:48
Phenomenal expansion for Massachusetts manufacturer
L-com Connectivity Products, Inc., based in North Andover, MA, has expanded its manufacturing operation into a second facility, after a “phenomenal” increase in sales.
27 Jan 2006 0:47
Chemical manufacturers asked not to stick with PFOA
DuPont and 3M are among eight companies targeted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to eliminate emissions of a chemical used in the manufacture of non-stick coatings, because of concerns that it might be a carcinogen.
26 Jan 2006 1:54
First stainless steel robot installed in US
Dean Foods, a division of PET Dairies LLC, is the first company in the US to use a stainless steel robot.
26 Jan 2006 16:40
Heart device soap opera reaches climax
Boston Scientific has won the ratings war with rival Johnson & Johnson for the acquisition of Guidant Corporation, in a $27 billion deal.
26 Jan 2006 1:39
Not so fast, automotive - manufacturing a Wall Street bright light
Judging by Weeks Two and Three of January, the wheels were coming off the cart in US manufacturing – this based on the Ford plant closures, and GM’s report of a disappointing Q4 of 2005, and the resultant pessimism and stock decline on Wall Street.
26 Jan 2006 16:55
Texan HVAC company acquired by Italy’s ECO Group
Astro Air, based in Jacksonville, TX, is to be acquired by the Italian based ECO Group, the leading European manufacturer of coils and coolers for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry (HVACR).
25 Jan 2006 17:12
UAW registers disappointment with Ford restructuring, predicts more
Predictably, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and Vice President Gerald Bantom, who directs the UAW National Ford Department, have registered strong disappointment Ford Motor Co.’s “Way Forward,” being plant closures between now and 2012, and a reduction of 30,000 jobs.
24 Jan 2006 16:04
American institutions Frisbee, Hula Hoop, moving to Hong Kong
Wham-O may claim sole credit for backyard summertime fun in America, but the maker of Frisbee, Hula Hoop and the Slip’N Slide will be bought by Hong Kong-based toy and game manufacturer Cornerstone Overseas Investments, Limited.
20 Jan 2006 17:40
American institutions Frisbee, Hula Hoop, to move to Hong Kong
Wham-O may claim sole credit for backyard summertime fun in America, but the maker of Frisbee, Hula Hoop and the Slip’N Slide will be bought by Hong Kong-based toy and game manufacturer Cornerstone Overseas Investments, Limited.
20 Jan 2006 17:35
Drug manufacturers find portfolios age and shrink in sales value
Both Pfizer Inc. and Novartis AG reported slower fourth-quarter earnings than they’d expected in 2005. Bloomberg blames it on competition from generics, and expired patents, the bane of a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s toehold in a given market.
20 Jan 2006 17:20
The winner: Airbus for orders, Boeing for value
The tally is in, and France-based commercial plane maker Airbus SAS topped US-based Boeing Co. in 2005, with net orders for 1,055 planes, versus 1,002 for Boeing.
18 Jan 2006 14:29
CPG slowdown in 2006?
Consumer packaged goods manufacturers – depending on product – will have to tighten belts in 2006, along with consumers.
16 Jan 2006 17:05
PWC: “Cadillac Corolla” unlikely, but they’ll shop at the same parts store
Mid-term, PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts, consolidation will take place more among suppliers than among carmakers. This according to Christopher Benko, director of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Automotive Institute in Detroit.
13 Jan 2006 19:04
Tyco divides, hoping to conquer again
Tyco International Ltd. Announced on Friday 13 January it will split into three public companies, according to an Associated Press story. Tyco will separate its electronics and healthcare businesses from its security (including ADT home alarm systems) and fire-protection services.
13 Jan 2006 19:28
RFID: Industry’s hangin’ on for ROI
Industry think-tank Aberdeen Group reports that 60 percent of senior management they surveyed is optimistic that, one day, they will see the return on investment of radio frequency identification (RFID) at their companies. But not today.
12 Jan 2006 14:54
Labor stats – heavy on services, where are the manufacturers?
If you sell to people, serve them lunch or administer their flu shots, you’ll never want for work. Manufacturing jobs will grow, but not as strongly
11 Jan 2006 18:12
Industrial Information: North American auto industry struggling, but spending still high
The US, Canadian and Mexican auto manufacturers may be struggling, but the numbers are not all frightening.
10 Jan 2006 14:19
Washington coiling to strike on China trade deficit
Two US senators are mulling retaliatory legislation against China, to counter the trade surplus and China’s currency controls.
10 Jan 2006 16:29
Boston Scientific pushes off ROI in acquisition of wounded Guidant Corp.
Boston Scientific Corp. will take a year longer than originally expected for its proposed $25 billion acquisition of Guidant Corp. to begin adding to the combined company's earnings, Associated Press reports.
09 Jan 2006 21:05
Texas Instruments “unlock value” by selling sensor unit
Chip manufacturer Texas Instruments announced yesterday that it will sell its sensors and controls business for $3 billion in cash to private investment firm Bain Capital LLC.
09 Jan 2006 20:53
Boeing sells F-15 to Singapore
AEROSPACE: An international deal takes to the air
01 Jan 2006 16:30
Dupont settles with EPA
A chemical giant strikes a key agreement with regulators
01 Jan 2006 16:27