Manufacturing news
April 2008
Dell to cut Irish workforce
Dell has announced it is to shed 250 jobs across its two plants in Ireland.
30 Apr 2008 11:14
Electrolux feels economic strain
Home appliance maker Electrolux has seen a dramatic profit loss for the first quarter of 2008 having seen demand for its products drop in the current economic climate.
28 Apr 2008 13:32
Mars to buy Wrigley
Mars Inc is set to announce a $22 billion (£11.1 billion) acquisition of Wrigley, which will create the world’s largest confectionery firm.
28 Apr 2008 14:20
Chrysler and Nissan enter second agreement
Chrysler and Nissan Motor have entered into an agreement to make vehicles for each other – the second deal of its kind for the two companies so far this year.
17 Apr 2008 16:46
Michelin makes Northern Ireland investment
Michelin is to invest £14 million in its Ballymena bus and truck tyre factory in a bid to improve efficiency.
17 Apr 2008 16:33
Palm Paper to build world’s biggest mill
Palm Paper, Germany’s largest paper company, has begun building a £400 million paper mill in King’s Lynn, Norfolk – the first international investment made by the company.
17 Apr 2008 16:23
3M to cut Swansea jobs
3M has announced it is to cut up to 185 jobs at its Swansea, Wales, factory over the next 14 months following a decline in demand for its products.
16 Apr 2008 16:02
Closure threat for Kimball Electronics
Kimball Electronics has announced it may close its US-owned Bridgend, Wales, site and relocate to Poland, which would result in the loss of 190 jobs.
16 Apr 2008 16:59
Faccenda Group hit by rising costs
Soaring wheat and fuel prices have taken their toll on operations at Faccenda Group, resulting in the possible loss of 450 jobs at one of its chicken processing factories.
16 Apr 2008 15:58
SABMiller sees satisfactory sales
SABMiller, maker of Peroni, Carling Black Label and Miller Lite, has been experiencing satisfactory sales growth, despite rising costs and bad weather which have been hampering the beer industry.
16 Apr 2008 16:35
Soaring sales for Coca-Cola
Soft drink maker Coca-Cola has reported a 19 per cent increase in profits for the first quarter of 2008 thanks to sales success in the international market.
16 Apr 2008 16:23
Caterpillar awards first European certificate
Bolgers, the Ireland-based fabricated sheet metal manufacturer and exporter, has become the first European fabrication supplier to be awarded a silver certificate for Caterpillar’s Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP).
15 Apr 2008 14:18
South Texas to advance its manufacturing
An alliance of 60 education, business, industry, finance and government partners have joined forces to develop the Rio South Texas region into a hub for manufacturing development.
15 Apr 2008 9:43
Tyrrells founder sells up for £30 million
The founder of premium crisp maker Tyrrells, Will Chase, has sold his company to private equity firm Langholm Capital for £30 million ($59 million).
14 Apr 2008 16:52
Cadbury reports sales rise
Cadbury Schweppes has announced a 7 per cent rise in its confectionery sales for the first quarter.
11 Apr 2008 10:15
Airlines seek 787 delay compensation
Several Boeing customers are seeking compensation following the announcement of further delays to delivery of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
10 Apr 2008 9:47
Heineken looks to strengthen Swiss market position
Heineken, the Dutch brewer, has expressed interest in buying the beverage division of Eichhof Holding in order to increase its influence in the Swiss market.
10 Apr 2008 10:06
SFO acted unlawfully in BAE probe
The High Court has ruled that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) did act unlawfully in its abandonment of the BAE Systems corruption inquiry.
10 Apr 2008 10:51
Boeing announces more 787 delays
Boeing has announced further set-backs to the delivery of its 787 Dreamliner, blaming slow assembly and continued problems with suppliers for the delay.
09 Apr 2008 16:01
MATAAC extends a helping hand to US manufacturers
The MidAtlantic Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (MATAAC), sponsored by the US Department of Commerce, has launched a new website to help mid-Atlantic manufacturers to work through the grant application process.
09 Apr 2008 11:46
Nissan North America to enter LCV business
Nissan North America (NNA) is to begin light commercial vehicle (LCV) manufacture following a significant business investment.
09 Apr 2008 10:40
Philips discontinues US market TV manufacture
Electronics conglomerate Philips has announced it is to stop manufacturing televisions for North American sale as of September as the flat-panel TV market continues to struggle.
09 Apr 2008 12:16
Caterpillar awards Lincoln Electric supplier award
Caterpillar has continued in its commitment to quality by awarding one of its new supplier certifications to Ohio-based welding consumable manufacturer The Lincoln Electric Company.
08 Apr 2008 11:43
Flowcrete sold to US firm
Flowcrete Group has been sold for an undisclosed sum to American-based RPM International – a holding company with speciality chemical manufacturing subsidiaries.
08 Apr 2008 17:03
EADS Astrium acquires SSTL
EADS Astrium – a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS – has signed an agreement to acquire University of Surrey spin-out Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL), the small and micro satellite designer and manufacturer.
07 Apr 2008 14:13
Novartis plans Alcon takeover
Pharmaceutical firm Novartis has made plans for a $40 billion (25.5 billion euro) acquisition of Alcon – the world’s biggest eye care company – from Nestle.
07 Apr 2008 17:06
EU and US join forces over Chinese toymakers
The European Union and United States are to work together in encouraging toymakers in China to improve the quality and safety of their products following the mass recall of 2007.
04 Apr 2008 10:56
Ford to install third wind turbine
Automotive manufacturer Ford is to increase its environmental commitments with the addition of the third wind turbine to its Dagenham diesel engine manufacturing facility.
04 Apr 2008 9:45
Sony replaces president
Sony has replaced its TV business president in a bid to improve operations which have been hit by the falling costs of flat-panel televisions.
02 Apr 2008 10:32
Tata sees revenue source shift
Indian firm Tata looks likely to see its revenue centre move from businesses in its home country to those in the UK having won the bid for the Land Rover and Jaguar brands.
02 Apr 2008 10:57
Dell announces site closure
Dell is to close its PC manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas, with 900 workers set to lose their jobs.
01 Apr 2008 12:12
Evidence uncovered in EADS probe
France’s stock market regulator claims it has discovered evidence of EADS insider trading as part of the investigation into allegations the aerospace giant sold shares in its A380 aeroplanes despite knowing of the problems surrounding them.
01 Apr 2008 11:58