The Detroit Free Press (8/19, Priddle) reported, “As Ford pushes to standardize the way it builds cars throughout the world, efficiency should improve and costs should fall, but headaches triggered by regional differences will never go away.” The Press reported, “At a recent industry conference in Traverse City, John Fleming, head of Ford’s global manufacturing, said having a single system to build vehicles anywhere in the world will reduce manufacturing investment costs by 8% a year while boosting by 25% the number and types of vehicles that can be produced per facility by mid-decade. The ‘One Ford’ strategy will support Ford’s largest expansion in 50 years, including nine plants in Asia.”
Kickoff Fall with NADCA Education Classes!
NADCA’s education division is excited to announce the release of its 2012 Fall Education Schedule! This fall NADCA will be offering the following courses:
- EC-205 Quick Die Change – October 29, 2012
- EC-202 Zinc Die Casting – October 30, 2012
- EC-305 Metallurgy Of Die Casting Alloys – October 31, 2012
- EC-211 Dimensional Repeatability – November 1, 2012
- EC-515 Die Casting Defects – November 5, 2012
- EC-514 Gating Design – November 6, 2012 – November 7, 2012
- EC-700 PQ² – November 8, 2012
- EC-606 Product Design – November 12, 2012
- EC-506 Engineering Die Casting Dies – November 13, 2012 – November 14, 2012
Do not miss out on your chance to gain valuable knowledge about die casting parts and processes! For more information on the spring semester course schedule please visit: www.diecasting.org/education/schedule.htm. To register for a course or courses visit: www.diecasting.org/education/registration.
If you would like to learn about other education services NADCA offers please visit: www.diecasting.org/education or contact Melisa Ryzner at (847) 808-3161.
Report: Reshoring To The US Could Provide Significant Cost Advantages For Metals, Chemicals Sectors
IndustryWeek (9/13, Katz) reports, “‘Reshoring’ manufacturing production to the US could provide significant cost advantages for the chemicals and metals sectors, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report released Wednesday. Lower energy and transportation costs, an educated workforce and a depreciating US dollar are factors contributing to this new opportunity for manufacturers.” The PwC report said shale “gas has created new investment prospects for chemicals and metals producers because of more affordable energy and demand for their products from increased drilling.”
Study: Federal Regulations On Manufacturers May Reduce Output By As Much As $500 Billion This Year
Bloomberg News (8/22, Wingfield) reports, “Regulations on US manufacturing may reduce output by as much as $500 billion this year, according to an industry-sponsored study that cast doubts on President Barack Obama’s efforts to trim red tape in the federal government. The Obama administration has established an average of 72 regulations on manufacturers annually, an increase from the 45 per year imposed under President George W. Bush, according to the study”conducted by NERA Economic Consulting. “With job creation a central theme in the US presidential race, the health of manufacturing companies is of importance to both Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.” The National Association of Manufacturers and other industry groups “have said federal regulations hinder economic growth.”
IndustryWeek (8/22, Minter) reports, “In ‘Macroeconomic Impacts of Federal Regulation of the Manufacturing Sector,’ NERA looked at the cumulative impact of federal regulations issued since 1981 that affect the general economy and the manufacturing sector in particular. The study found 2,183 regulations affecting manufacturing, of which 235 are considered ‘major’ regulations with compliance costs of $100 million or more. The NERA study estimates that these regulations cost the economy from $265 billion to $726 billion a year in direct compliance costs.”
The New York Times reports, “In a 2-1 ruling, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said the Environmental Protection Agency had exceeded its authority in the way it apportioned the cleanup work among 28 upwind states.” The court ruled that while the EPA “was authorized to set rules that would require upwind states ‘to bear responsibility for their fair share of the mess in downwind states,'” it “had improperly required states ‘to reduce their emissions by more than their own significant contribution to a downwind state’s nonattainment.'”
The Washington Times calls the ruling “a major blow to environmentalists and a significant setback to the Obama administration’s clear-air agenda”, while Politico refers to “a rebuke to the Obama administration”.
Ben Geman, in a blog post for The Hill, reports that “the 2-1 court decision Tuesday is a victory for industry groups, some states and GOP lawmakers, who alleged the rule would create economic burdens and force the closure of substantial numbers of coal-fired power plants.” Geman adds that “Capitol Hill Republicans have taken aim at the rule, passing legislation in the House to scuttle it and force EPA to re-write the restrictions. But a bid to nix the rule in the Senate fell well short of the needed votes last November.”
It was “a major victory for utilities and business groups,” the Washington Post reports, “who fought the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule on the grounds that it was costly, burdensome and arbitrary.” The ruling was “authored by Judge Brett Kavanaugh and joined by Judge Thomas Griffith – two George W. Bush appointees,” while “Judge Judith Rogers, a Bill Clinton appointee, dissented.”
In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal casts the ruling as part of a larger pattern of the Obama Administration’s EPA pushing the limits of Federal power beyond what’s appropriate, and in the process hurting US business.
Business Inventories Rose 0.1 Percent In June
Bloomberg News (8/15, Jamrisko) reports, “Inventories in the US rose in June at the slowest pace in nine months as a slump in sales gave companies little incentive to keep more goods on hand. The 0.1 percent increase in stockpiles followed a 0.3 percent gain in May,” the Commerce Department said. “Manufacturers, burdened by slower global economic growth, may find companies will place fewer orders and limit investment until households pick up the pace of spending.”
The AP (8/15, Crutsinger) reports, “Sales fell 1.1 percent, the sharpest decline since March 2009 when the economy was still in recession. The small June increase in inventories pushed total business stockpiles up to $1.58 trillion. That’s 20 percent higher than the low reached in September 2009 when businesses were slashing inventories in response to the recession.”
U.S. Plans to Impose Tariffs on Appliances from South Korea and Mexico
The U.S. Department of Commerce will impose tariffs on some imported appliances – this after it ruled on Monday that some appliances are being dumped on the U.S. market.
The DoC made a preliminary determination in an anti-dumping investigation of large residential washing machines being imported from South Korea and Mexico. The investigation came in response to a petition filed by Whirlpool Corp. in
December 2011. “Dumping” happens when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair value.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Clamping and changing systems based on electric permanent magnets enable moulders to save costs and setup time and enhance safety.
Magnetic clamping and changing systems can help moulding, metalworking and die-casting companies save costs, reduce setup times, enhance productivity and safety, and improve production quality. Their value is seem especially in small-series manufacturing. A diverse range of Hilma-brand magnetic clamping plates from the Römheld Group are available to answer growing demand for this flexible quick-tool-change technology.
US Manufacturers Leaving China
Forbes (7/26, Rapoza) reports, “US companies are leaving China and heading to other parts of the world, including back home.” According to Forbes, “Wage costs are only part of the picture. Moving closer to home markets, and the price of logistics has taken away some of China’s competitive edge.” A survey conducted “by the Hackett Group consultancy found that 46 percent of executives at European and North American manufacturing companies said they were considering returning some production to the United States from China, while another 27 percent said they were actively planning for or are in the midst of such a shift, the paper reported.”
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Ford: Reports Of More Aluminum On F-150 Are “Premature.”
USA Today (7/27, Woodyard) reported, “Ford Motor, which has seen hidebound pickup buyers embrace gas-saving technology, appears to be headed a step further: an F-150 that makes extensive use of aluminum panels instead of steel.” Richard Schultz, managing director of consultant Ducker Worldwide, who was briefed on the change by a Ford executive with knowledge of the plans, said “Ford Motor will embrace aluminum when the next-generation F-150 appears in July 2014 as a way of saving gas, although it’ll raise costs.”
The Wall Street Journal (7/27, Ramsey, Subscription Publication) reported, according to executives familiar with the company’s plans, the automaker is hoping the switch to aluminum will cut the weight of its F-150 truck by about 700 pounds.
The Detroit News (7/27, Henkel) reported, “Ford Motor Co. is looking into adding more aluminum parts to its popular F-150 pickup, according to a company source, but the automaker says reports it is planning a largely aluminum version of the truck are ‘premature.'” Ford spokesperson Said Deep said, “‘It is premature to discuss specific approaches or solutions that we might use for future products.'” Deep also said, “Ford is already a leader in aluminum use in full-sized pickups.” He added, “We’re constantly looking at multiple ways to improve the fuel efficiency and capabilities of our cars and trucks with innovative technologies.”
U.S. Plans to Impose Tariffs on Appliances from South Korea and Mexico
The U.S. Department of Commerce will impose tariffs on some imported appliances – this after it ruled on Monday that some appliances are being dumped on the U.S. market.
The DoC made a preliminary determination in an anti-dumping investigation of large residential washing machines being imported from South Korea and Mexico. The investigation came in response to a petition filed by Whirlpool Corp. in
December 2011. “Dumping” happens when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair value.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Hyundai, the Korean automotive leader maintains its trust in Tijuana’s competitiveness and announced their investment in a new M$131 aluminum die casting plant adding nearly 300 new jobs to the company’s current base of 2,300 employees. The announcement was made by Kenny Lee, company’s CEO, in a ceremony with representatives of local and state government, Tijuana EDC and private sector leaders.
MRT Boosts Productivity with New Die Casting Robots
World-class foundry MRT Castings has just invested in a new extractor robot for its largest die casting cell – speeding up operations and further enhancing quality.
The new extractor robot on MRT’s Bühler 530-tonne cell complements its robot-controlled ladle and die spray.
NADCA Seeks Examples of Impact if Tax Hikes Go Through on Jan 1
Please follow this link to see an overview of the key tax provisions that have expired in 2011 or will be expiring at the end of 2012. These issues will affect the die casting industry.
With the prospect of higher taxes starting Jan. 1 due to the scheduled expiration of the tax policies originally enacted in 2001 and 2003, the House Ways & Means Committee has asked for our assistance in providing first hand examples about the impact that tax hikes would have on your facility. Will it affect your hiring decisions for the remainder of the year? Will your business hold off on investments? Will your facility make different decisions about planning for the future? These stories, data and examples are critical to helping lawmakers understand and communicate the importance of the expiration of the current tax code. Feel free to send your stories and comments along to the NADCA Washington Office- ssalmon@artemisdc.com – we will then pass them along to the appropriate committee staff.
The House of Representatives has taken further action on developing legislation and will be voting in the next few weeks to extend the 2001 and 2003 reduced tax rates. The legislation that House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) will introduce is expected to include: extension of the 2001 and 2003 reduced marginal income tax rates; extension of current estate tax provisions; extension of reduced rates on capital gains and dividends; AMT relief; and return of Section 179 allowance to $25,000.
OSHA Cites Sandwich Castings and Machine in Illinois for 20 Violations Including Lack of machine Guarding
SANDWICH, Ill. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited aluminum castings producer Trio Foundry Inc., which operates as Sandwich Castings and Machine, with 20 health and safety violations, including one willful and one repeat violation. A health inspection that began Jan. 13 was initiated at the facility in Sandwich as part of OSHA’s Local Emphasis Program for Primary Metals. Upon finding several safety violations, OSHA subsequently opened a safety inspection on Feb. 10. Proposed penalties total $113,300.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
FRANKLIN (SOMERSET) — A 39-year-old man was splashed in the face and burned with molten metal on Monday morning at Carteret Die Casting Corp., 74 Veronica Ave., police said.
“They are looking into exactly how this accident happened,” Sgt. Phil Rizzo said. “Apparently, it looks like for whatever reason, he removed the cover from a piece of apparatus.”
To view the rest of this article, click here.
MRT Boosts Productivity with New Die Casting Robots
World-class foundry MRT Castings has just invested in a new extractor robot for its largest die casting cell – speeding up operations and further enhancing quality.
The new extractor robot on MRT’s Bühler 530-tonne cell complements its robot-controlled ladle and die spray.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
NADCA Seeks Examples of Impact if Tax Hikes Go Through on Jan 1
With the prospect of higher taxes starting Jan. 1 due to the scheduled expiration of the tax policies originally enacted in 2001 and 2003, the House Ways & Means Committee has asked for our assistance in providing first hand examples about the impact that tax hikes would have on your facility. Will it affect your hiring decisions for the remainder of the year? Will your business hold off on investments? Will your facility make different decisions about planning for the future? These stories, data and examples are critical to helping lawmakers understand and communicate the importance of the expiration of the current tax code. Feel free to send your stories and comments along to the NADCA Washington Office- ssalmon@artemisdc.com – we will then pass them along to the appropriate committee staff.
The House of Representatives has taken further action on developing legislation and will be voting in the next few weeks to extend the 2001 and 2003 reduced tax rates. The legislation that House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) will introduce is expected to include: extension of the 2001 and 2003 reduced marginal income tax rates; extension of current estate tax provisions; extension of reduced rates on capital gains and dividends; AMT relief; and return of Section 179 allowance to $25,000.
US Files Trade Complaint Against China Over Auto Duties
CBS Evening News reported, “The United States filed a complaint against China today with the World Trade Organization. The US accuses China of putting unfair fees on some cars made in America, making them more expensive for Chinese drivers.” CBS went on to profile China’s love of American automobiles, noting, “Last year, the Chinese bought 18 million cars — six million more than were sold in the US — and 80% paid cash.”
The New York Times reports the US “filed a trade complaint against China on Thursday for new duties it imposed on American-made cars and trucks.” US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said, “The Obama Administration will continue to fight to ensure that China does not misuse its trade laws and violate its international trade commitments to block exports of American-made products. American auto workers and manufacturers deserve a level playing field and we are taking every step necessary to stand up for them.” China imposed the duties, which the Obama Administration “said cover about $3.3 billion worth of auto exports to China, after the Obama administration bailed out General Motors and Chrysler in the wake of the financial crisis in 2008.”
The Washington Post says the “action comes as President Obama has pledged to get tougher on China’s trade policies to help level the economic playing field with the Asian economic power.” Obama touted the move during campaign stops in auto-producing Ohio on Thursday. The White House said the tariffs impact about 80% of US auto exports to China. Press Secretary Jay Carney “noted that this is the seventh such action taken against China. ‘The previous six have all been successful,'” he said.
PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today announced the first commercial success of its ColorKast™ technology in the consumer electronics market. As a result of this innovative technology, Alcoa can produce color anodizable aluminum die cast components with high-end cosmetics. The first use of the ColorKast™ technology appears on Samsung’s new digital camera NX210 and other consumer electronic OEMs are preparing to apply this technology to their products.
ColorKast™ is a breakthrough aluminum die casting technology that allows consumer electronics manufacturers to create cosmetically high-end, lightweight, and cost-effective components for portable electronic devices using proprietary alloy, process, and finishing technologies developed at Alcoa Technical Center. The result is cosmetic 3D products with the rich, metallic “look and feel” of anodized aluminum, and the high productivity and cost advantages of die castings as compared to unibody machining processing or magnesium die casting. In addition, products made from ColorKast™ create a better green solution relative to plastics or composites because aluminum is infinitely recyclable.
The performance and aesthetic requirements of ColorKast™ have been validated with Alcoa’s exclusive manufacturing partner, GK (Global Kwangsung) in South Korea, before being introduced to the market, leading to the success of the first commercialized application at Samsung.
For more information on Alcoa’s capabilities in the consumer electronics market, visit http://www.alcoa.com/con_electronics/.
Inhofe: Utility MACT Rule Will Destroy Jobs, Cause Energy Price To Skyrocket
In an op-ed on CNN‘s (6/20) website, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) writes, “On Wednesday, the US Senate will have the opportunity to put a stop to one of the most expensive Environmental Protection Agency rules in history: the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards rule.” The Utility MACT “rule will destroy jobs and cause energy prices to skyrocket.” Sen. Inhofe writes, “West Virginia’s Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, a Democrat, recently wrote to West Virginia Sens. Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller urging them to vote for SJR 37, saying EPA’s rules have ‘coalesced to create an unprecedented attack on West Virginia’s coal industry'” and “West Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Jeffrey Kessler echoed this concern, saying that EPA is destroying the state’s ‘most valuable state natural resource and industry.'” In addition, Inhofe writes, “we’ve also secured the support of the” National Federation of Independent Business, the Farm Bureau, the National Association of Manufacturers and other business groups, “all of which represent major groups who are apparently not ‘doing fine’ in the face of EPA’s regulations.”
Romney Campaign Says He Opposes EPA Mercury Rule. The National Journal (6/20, Harder, Subscription Publication) reports Mitt Romney “opposes a landmark environmental regulation controlling mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants, according to a campaign statement to National Journal Daily Tuesday.” Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul said in a statement, “Governor Romney has made clear that he opposes the Utility MACT, which costs more than $1,500 for every one dollar reduction in mercury pollution.” The AP reports the “campaign’s statement is a reversal from the position Romney held as Massachusetts governor.” In 2003, Romney as governor stood with a power plant in the backdrop and declared that that people were dying because of its noxious emissions. Massachusetts joined with others in the Northeast to sue EPA, seeking the same rules on mercury that Senate Environment and Public Works Ranking Member James Inhofe is now trying to block.
US – “Super-Vacuum” Magnesium Diecasting Among Projects Earning DOE Funds
GM research foresees lighter, more cost-efficient vehicle doors
The U.S. Dept. of Energy identified 13 manufacturing research projects to receive over $54 million in funding support. Describing the various projects as efforts toward “innovative technologies and materials” DOE said the investments would help to supply domestic manufacturers with the “cutting-edge tools, techniques and processes they need to compete successfully in the global marketplace.”
Report: Southern Spent Over $17 Million To Fight EPA Rules
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (6/20, Swartz) reports, “Atlanta-based Southern Co. spent $17.5 million lobbying against federal environmental rules that eventually will cause the nation’s largest utility to close or retrofit several of its coal-fired power plants, according to a report” from the National Resource Defense Council. The “report was released the day before the US Senate is scheduled to vote on a measure that would delay the EPA’s mercury rule. The US House also is considering bills that would delay other EPA rules.” The report said “Southern paid at least $50,000 to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, the National Association of Manufacturers and” another business group in 2011.
Public Broadcasting Atlanta (6/20) also covers the story.
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Over eight hundred strong, a committed team of proud American workers at the Briggs & Stratton plant in Poplar Bluff, MO, have been steadily working towards a key milestone – 70 million engines manufactured. Over its first 23 years, the Poplar Bluff plant has consistently produced millions of engines each year while improving the efficiency of the facility and maintaining high quality standards. The plant recently surpassed 69 million engines produced, a great accomplishment for the employees and evidence that Briggs & Stratton, like many companies, is solidly committed to U.S.-based manufacturing.
Help Educate Students on Manufacturing – Share Your Videos Today
Do you have a video that shows applications or processes of manufacturing? Chrisandjimcim.com, a website dedicated to making Computer Integrated Manufacturing more exciting and easier for students and educators, is looking for videos in areas such as welding, molding, forming, EDM/ECM, CNC, robotics and prototyping. The website that was created a little over a year ago is geared towards helping teachers get kids interested in and excited about manufacturing. By continuously updating and adding as many resources to this site as possible they hope to create a one stop shop for teachers of manufacturing. If you have material that you would like to share please contact Jim Hanson at jhanson2@warren.in.us.
DOE Announces $54 Million In Energy Efficiency Grants For Manufacturers
The Detroit News (6/12, Shepardson) reports that the DOE announced $54 million in grants that will be “matched with $17 million in private-sector funding for 13 projects to advance new technologies, materials and processes that can help US manufacturers dramatically increase the energy efficiency of their operations and reduce costs.” Energy Secretary Steven Chu said of the awards, “The projects announced today will improve the competitive position of US industry and help Michigan’s manufacturers produce more while saving energy, saving money and protecting our air and water.” Dow Chemical Co. will receive $9 million “to create a low-cost carbon fiber production process that could reduce the cost of manufacturing carbon fibers by 20 percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent,” and General Motors Co. “will receive a nearly $2.7 million grant to develop an integrated die-casting process that is expected to achieve a 50 percent energy savings for the process used to manufacture car doors,” the News adds.
The Detroit Free Press (6/12, Bomey) adds that David Danielson, assistant energy secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, said of the projects, “We’re only funding things that are on the edge of their roadmaps, where given the constraints of quarter-to-quarter profitability they’re not able to invest.”
Natural Gas Falls To Six-Week Low On Supply Glut Concerns
Dow Jones Newswires (6/12, Strumpf, Subscription Publication) reports natural gas prices fell to a six-week low Monday as traders weighed warmer weather against supplies that remain at record levels. Natural gas for July delivery settled 8.1 cents, or 3.5 percent, lower at $2.218 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest settlement price since April 27. Although MDA EarthSat Weather has forecast above- average temperatures in many parts of the Midwest and Northeast over the next two weeks, suggesting a rise in cooling demand in the short term, but according to the Energy Information Administration’s weekly inventory report last week, supplies have reached 2.877 trillion cubic feet, which is the highest level ever for that time of year and 33% higher than the five-year average.
Reuters (6/12, Silha) adds that moderate weather forecasts for the Northeast and Midwest in the short term are also weighing on traders, despite hot weather in Texas.
Die casting is one of the most mature manufacturing processes available. The most common materials die cast are alloys of aluminum, magnesium, and zinc. In recent years, significantly improved technology has enabled the die casting industry to remain very competitive in many market segments. The use of computerized product and process design tools, as well as significant new equipment technologies, have further enhanced the rapid cycle times and low cost of die castings.
One area of the die casting industry that is seeing rapid growth is the die casting of magnesium alloys. While many new applications for magnesium die castings in the auto industry are being realized by conversions from aluminum components and steel fabrications, the purpose of this white paper is to compare magnesium die castings to injection molded plastic components, which are also being converted to magnesium die castings in many applications. To read the complete White Paper on this topic please click here.
More Metal Competition: GM China Casts Magnesium Prototype Part
The General Motors (Detroit, MI) China Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai has announced that its micro-foundry and formability lab successfully completed the initial low-pressure casting of a magnesium part, a milestone in lightweight automotive materials research.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Toyota Plans To Bring Hybrid Production To US, China
The Chicago Tribune (5/10, Kambayashi) reports, “Toyota Motor Corp plans to start making an annual total of 100,000 hybrid vehicles in the US and China, a news report said Wednesday.” According to the article, “high prices are undermining its sales in the two largest car markets, and the firm has decided to turn to local production, the Nikkei business daily reported without citing any sources.” Under the plan reported by Nikkei, “Toyota plans to begin building its popular Prius hybrid in the US, the world’s second-largest car market, around 2015 while gradually reducing imports from Japan.”
Semi-solid Die Casting using the Gas Induced Semi-Solid (GISS) Technique
Semi-solid metal forming has been reported to give several advantages compared with conventional die casting. Less gas porosity, reduced solidification shrinkage, heat treatability and reduction in cycle time are some of the advantages. Two major routes are used to form semi-solid metal: thixocasting and rheocasting. In thixocasting, grain-refined billets are reheated to the semi-solid range and formed into near-net-shape parts. In contrast, rheocasting involves preparing semi-solid metal from the melt using a technique. High feedstock materials cost and high capital investment of thixocasting make it desirable only in niche applications. Therefore, the rheocasting route has been favored by the industry in recent years.
Recently, a simple and efficient technique called the Gas Induced Semi-Solid (GISS) technique has been invented. It is being developed and commercialized by GISSCO Company Limited in Thailand. In this technique, the semi-solid slurry is produced by injecting fine inert gas bubbles through a graphite diffuser to agitate molten alloys during solidification. To read about Gas Induced Semi-Solid (GISS) process please click here to login and read this month’s issue of Die Casting Engineer.
Politico (5/1) reports, “Bowed but not beaten after the Senate failed to overturn a National Labor Relations Board rule shortening the timeframe allowed for union elections, business groups are pledging to fight on. The National Association of Manufacturers said it will still push for the overturn of the so-called ‘ambush elections’ rule, which went into effect today.” President and CEO Jay Timmons said, “These changed rules overturn 75 years of labor policy and unnecessarily upset workplace relations – leaving employers without adequate preparation time before an election and forcing employees to make an important decision without all the information at hand.”
Nemak Buys J.L. French
J.L. French Automotive Castings Inc., Sheboygan, Wis., announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Nemak S.A. de C. V., Monterrey, Mexico.
According to a statement released by J.L. French, the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. The purchase price was not disclosed.
“We feel this acquisition will allow J.L. French to thrive under the new ownership of a company that has a high stake in our success,” said Tom Musgrave, J.L. French’s chief executive officer, president and chairman.
“This transaction will provide long-term financial support for J.L. French with an automotive supplier parent company.”
Nemak is a major supplier in the aluminum automotive components business, with a focus on engine blocks and cylinder heads. Nemak operates facilities in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The company employs nearly 18,000 worldwide.
“This acquisition offers attractive growth opportunities in aluminum transmission components,” said Alvaro Fernandez Garza, president of Nemak parent company Alfa. “Furthermore, J.L. French’s technology will facilitate our entrance into other high-value added products, such as suspension and structural parts.”
J.L. French supplies primarily automobile components to the transportation industry. The company operates six manufacturing facilities throughout the world and employs more than 1,900. Its facilities are located in North America, Europe and Asia.
Toyota To Unveil RAV4 EV
USA Today (5/1, Woodyard) reports, “Toyota now is preparing unveil its fully engineered RAV4 EV at the 26th World Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition.” Sometime later in 2012, “Toyota will begin production of the…EV,” jointly devised with Tesla, “at its Woodstock plant in Ontario, where the current RAV4 is built.” The Japanese firm “paid Tesla about $100 million to supply the RAV4 EV’s powertrain, including the battery, motor, gearbox and power electronics.” The RAV4 EV is expected to have a range of 100 miles.
EPA Announces New Source Performance Standards For Oil, Gas Production Operations
The New York Times (4/19, A20, Broder, Subscription Publication) reports, “Oil and gas companies will have to capture toxic and climate-altering gases from wells, storage sites and pipelines under new air quality standards issued on Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency.” The Times reports, “Industry groups said meeting the proposed standards would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and slow the boom in domestic natural gas production.”
The Los Angeles Times (4/19, Banerjee) reports that the oil and gas industry expressed concern “that if a national standard went into effect this year, there would not be enough companies providing the green completion technology to meet the increased demand, making the rule more expensive to comply with.” Ultimately, “the rules are expected to affect the approximately 11,000 new wells annually that undergo hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and another 1,200 or so that are re-fracked to boost production,” the Times said.
USA Today (4/19, Vergano) adds that EPA official Gina McCarthy said “half of all new fracking wells already collect gases from the initial drilling of the well…but only Colorado and Wyoming explicitly require such green completions.”
The Wall Street Journal (4/19, A3, Tracy, Subscription Publication) reported that the delay in the implementation of the rules suggests that in an election year, the Obama Administration was cautious about taking any steps that the oil and gas industry may have perceived as an attack.
The Washington Post (4/19, Eilperin, Mufson) also covers the story.
Manufacturers: More Regulations From EPA Will Hamper Job Creation. In a press released, the National Association of Manufacturers (4/19) President and CEO Jay Timmons said, “President Obama continues to tout the importance of manufacturing. However, the Administration’s actions signal the opposite, as these new costly regulations on energy producers hurt manufacturers’ competitiveness and delay job creation.” Timmons also said, “These regulations will add to the cumulative regulatory burden facing manufacturers – making it unnecessarily harder to create jobs. There is no doubt that small energy producers and manufacturers will be disproportionally affected by these new regulations from the EPA. Most unfortunate is that these new rules will only increase energy prices in the long run.”
Government agencies such as the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration that are thinking of moving to iPhones for their mobile communications might want to wait until the iPhone 5 is released.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Magna E-Car Systems Opens Plant In Michigan To Build Hybrid, Electric-Vehicle Parts
The Detroit Free Press (4/17, Snavely) reports, “Magna E-Car Systems today held a grand opening event for its plant in Grand Blanc Township where it employs about 100 to who will make components for hybrid and electric” vehicles. The “plant is making electric motors, converters, powertrain controllers and battery management systems for the Ford Focus Electric and Fisker Karma.” Despite the weak demand for electric vehicles, chief operating officer Kevin Pavlov “said automakers must continue to make advances in hybrid and electric cars in order to meet future fuel economy regulations.”
Ford Quietly Rolling Out Focus Electric.
The Detroit Free Press (4/17, Priddle) reports, “Ford’s new Focus Electric, with its $40,000 sticker price, is in the midst of a quiet rollout focused on California, New York and New Jersey, then 19 targeted metropolitan areas before it goes nationwide.” Ford’s lead marketer, Jim Farley, said, “The marketing of the Focus Electric is to people who buy electric vehicles, not to you and me. We’re focused on the people who buy them.” According to “Paul Venn, president of client services with Team Detroit, Ford’s advertising agency…customers in a major electric vehicle market are aware of the car.”
Poor Sales Not Deterring Manufactures From Unveiling New EVs.
The Detroit News (4/17, Shepardson) reports that despite lackluster electric vehicle sales, “automakers show no signs of pulling back their multibillion-dollar bets: They need electric cars to meet tough new fuel-efficiency standards.” Roughly “a dozen new plug-ins and fully electric cars will go on sale in the next year.” As gas flirts with “$4 a gallon nationwide, most consumers remain reluctant.” Furthermore, drivers remain worried about EVs’ range.
Volkswagen To Build Audi Plant In Mexico
The Detroit News (4/19, Tierney) reports, “Volkswagen AG confirmed Wednesday that it will build a factory in Mexico to assemble premium Audi SUVs starting in 2016. Volkswagen already has a VW-brand plant in the Mexican city of Puebla and a new one in Chattanooga, Tenn., and it has been mulling an Audi plant for North America for several years.” The company “sold 117,561 Audis in the US in 2015, up 16 percent over the previous year. It’s targeting annual US sales of 200,000 Audi vehicles by 2018, when Volkswagen expects to be the world’s largest automaker.”
AFP (4/19) reports, “The exact location for the plant would be selected later this year.” Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board of management of Audi AG, in the statement, “Good infrastructure, competitive cost structures and existing free trade agreements played a significant role in the choice of Mexico.” Bill Visnic, a senior analyst from automotive website Edmunds.com, said, “Production in North America is a critical factor in Audi’s play for higher sales volumes in the United States and it also acts as a buffer from currency fluctuations that can negatively affect profit margins and price competitiveness.”
Also covering the story are the Wall Street Journal (4/19, Rauwald, Subscription Publication), Reuters (4/19, Cremer, Burger), the Financial Times (4/19, Thomson, Reed, Subscription Publication) and other media sources.
Ducati To Be Bought By Audi For $1.1 Billion. The Los Angeles Times (4/19, Carpenter) reports, “Ducati, the famed Italian maker of luxury motorcycles favored by celebrities and the rich, is being acquired by Volkswagen AG’s Audi division for $1.1 billion. The Ducati purchase would add to the German automaker’s premium motorsports lineup.” The automaker “also owns Bugatti and Lamborghini, the latter of which hired former Ducati North America Chief Executive Michael Lock in March.”
The AP (4/19) reports, “Ducati, based in Bologna, has some 1,100 employees. Last year, it sold about 42,000 motorcycles and had revenue of some €480 million ($630 million).”
Also covering the story are Reuters (4/19, Cremer), Bloomberg News (4/19, Reiter), AFP (4/19), BBC News (4/19), MarketWatch (4/19, Rauwald) and other media sources.
EPA Announces New Source Performance Standards For Oil, Gas Production Operations
The New York Times (4/19, A20, Broder, Subscription Publication) reports, “Oil and gas companies will have to capture toxic and climate-altering gases from wells, storage sites and pipelines under new air quality standards issued on Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency.” The Times reports, “Industry groups said meeting the proposed standards would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and slow the boom in domestic natural gas production.”
The Los Angeles Times (4/19, Banerjee) reports that the oil and gas industry expressed concern “that if a national standard went into effect this year, there would not be enough companies providing the green completion technology to meet the increased demand, making the rule more expensive to comply with.” Ultimately, “the rules are expected to affect the approximately 11,000 new wells annually that undergo hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and another 1,200 or so that are re-fracked to boost production,” the Times said.
USA Today (4/19, Vergano) adds that EPA official Gina McCarthy said “half of all new fracking wells already collect gases from the initial drilling of the well…but only Colorado and Wyoming explicitly require such green completions.”
The Wall Street Journal (4/19, A3, Tracy, Subscription Publication) reported that the delay in the implementation of the rules suggests that in an election year, the Obama Administration was cautious about taking any steps that the oil and gas industry may have perceived as an attack.
The Washington Post (4/19, Eilperin, Mufson) also covers the story.
Manufacturers: More Regulations From EPA Will Hamper Job Creation. In a press released, the National Association of Manufacturers (4/19) President and CEO Jay Timmons said, “President Obama continues to tout the importance of manufacturing. However, the Administration’s actions signal the opposite, as these new costly regulations on energy producers hurt manufacturers’ competitiveness and delay job creation.” Timmons also said, “These regulations will add to the cumulative regulatory burden facing manufacturers – making it unnecessarily harder to create jobs. There is no doubt that small energy producers and manufacturers will be disproportionally affected by these new regulations from the EPA. Most unfortunate is that these new rules will only increase energy prices in the long run.”
