Weathering the economic storm: Veyance chief shares advice on downturn, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, November 21, 2008
Fairlawn, Ohio—At Thursday's Akron Roundtable gathering, Tim Toppen, president and chief executive of Veyance Technologies, answered questions about the economy and global financial crisis after a talk that focused on Veyance, a new company that has historic ties to Akron. Veyance is the former Engineered Products division of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. that makes rubber hoses and conveyor belts.

GM to extend holiday shutdown, may cut production, AP via Toledo Blade, November 21, 2008
Detroit—General Motors Corp. will extend its holiday shutdown or make other production cuts at up to 10 factories as it deals with a continued U.S. auto sales slump and fights to stay solvent.

Fostoria plant lays off 110 through month’s end, Toledo Blade, November 21, 2008
Fostoria, Ohio—ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft Co. has laid off 110 machine operators through the end of the month. The action involves about a third of the plant’s 360 employees and was prompted by slumping orders from truck manufacturers for which the company makes parts.

Toledo Powertrain puts 110 on two-week layoff, Toledo Blade, November 21, 2008
Detroit—General Motors Corp. announced yesterday that it would be temporarily laying off 110 workers on its second shift at its Toledo Powertrain plant on Alexis Road.

This Week's Earnings Reports:

• Smucker profit rises on higher prices, hard times, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 21, 2008
• TransDigm profit up sharply for quarter, year, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 20, 2008

Liquid crystal company moving to KSU research park, Akron Beacon Journal, November 20, 2008
Kent, Ohio—AlphaMicron, a Kent liquid crystal technology developer, will move into Kent State University's Centennial Research Park, taking up three-quarters of the facility and enabling the company to grow.

Democratic leaders say they'll delay auto bailout plan, for now, by Steve Koff and Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 20, 2008
Washington— Automakers seeking $25 billion in federal bailout loans to stave off bankruptcy will have to wait at least a couple of weeks to know whether they get approval.

Related story: Voinovich's auto-bailout plan gains steam; Sherrod Brown signs on, by Stephen Koff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 20, 2008

AGMC, CSU join forces on medical research, by Cheryl Powell, Akron Beacon Journal, November 19, 2008
Akron—Akron General Health System entered a five-year deal with Cleveland State University to collaborate on bioengineering research and development projects.

Shearer's Foods wins challenge, Akron Beacon Journal, November 19, 2008
Akron—Shearer's Foods, the Stark County snack foods manufacturer, was one of four winners of the 2008 Competitiveness Challenge, organized by MAGNET (the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network.)

Wind power not total answer, Farm Bureau official says, by Eric Schaadt, Findlay Courier, November 19, 2008
Ottawa, Ohio—Wind-powered energy alone won't satisfy America's appetite for electricity. Solar energy, fuel cells and geothermal power are other keys for meeting the rising demand for energy according to an Ohio Farm Bureau spokesman addressing a gathering sponsored by the Hancock County Farm Bureau.

Steel shipments down 23% in October, by Sarah Hollander, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 19, 2008
Rolling Meadows, Ill.— The Metals Service Center Institute reported that steel shipments from U.S. service centers dropped nearly 23 percent in October, compared to the same time last year.

Voinovich at center of possible auto-rescue compromise, by Stephen Koff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 19, 2008
Washington—The White House and Congress are far apart on a proposed auto-industry rescue that would keep car makers from filing for bankruptcy. But if a palatable compromise emerges today, Ohio's Sen. George Voinovich will get credit.

Nestle Foodservices opens product-development facility in Solon, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 18, 2008
Solon, Ohio—Nestle Foodservices, which operates a sprawling prepared-food production and packaging plant employing 1,750 workers in Solon, is opening a professional food service product-development facility today near its other facilities on Bainbridge Road.

Related story: Nestle SA to open beverage business, by Thomas Mulier, Akron Beacon Journal, November 19, 2008

University of Toledo putting $10 million in economic development, by Meghan Gilbert, Toledo Blade, November 18, 2008
Toledo—The University of Toledo announced it will transform the UT Science and Technology Corridor in name and scope, and infuse $10 million to jump-start its efforts.

Complaints filed in American Standard strike, Youngstown Vindicator, November 18, 2008
Salem, Ohio—Both workers and strikers at American Standard have filed complaints with law enforcement officials about the other side’s conduct.

More grant requests on way for R&D park, by Heather Rutz, Lima News, November 18, 2008
Lima, Ohio—The city and nonprofit Ohio Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Center are gearing up for new state and federal grant submissions to help a planned research and development park, Mayor David Berger said Monday.

October wholesale prices plunge record 2.8 percent, by Martin Crutsinger, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, November 18, 2008
Washington—The Labor Department reported today that wholesale prices dropped by 2.8 percent in October, the biggest one-month decline on records that go back more than 60 years.

Metal-forming manufacturers expect business activity to worsen, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 18, 2008 (Subscription)
Cleveland—In its November survey of 157 metal-forming companies in the United States and Canada, the Cleveland-based Precision Metal Forming Association found rising pessimism among its members.

Manufacturers take cue from Jay Leno, use tube to reach students, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 18, 2008 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Jay Leno appeared via video last Tuesday, Nov. 11, during a show produced by the Cleveland-based Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, in conjunction with public broadcasting television station WVIZ-TV, Channel 25, and welding equipment maker Lincoln Electric Co. of Euclid.

Honda dedicates Indiana plant, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, November 18, 2008
Greensburg, Indiana—Honda Manufacturing of Indiana started churning out fuel-efficient Civic sedans last month at its new $550 million factory which paused for its dedication ceremony on Monday.. “We face a difficult economy ... but at Honda, we have always understood that challenging times represent opportunity,” said Honda President and Chief Executive Takeo Fukui.

Analyst says history backs Findlay plant, by Lou Wilin, Findlay Courier, November 17, 2008
Findlay, Ohio—George Erickcek, an economic analyst for the W.E. Upjohn Institute in Kalamazoo, Mich., says Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s Findlay operation has history (and the corporate headquarters) on its side.

Tough conditions planned for Detroit, by Elizabeth Williamson and Greg Hitt, Wall Street Journal, November 17, 2008 (Subscription)
Washington—Auto-parts makers are requesting access to the government's $700 billion financial-industry rescue fund, and Democratic lawmakers are planning tough conditions— including a government oversight board—on a proposed aid package for Detroit's troubled auto companies.

Supplier woes put auto industry in serious danger, experts warn, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, November 17, 2008
New York—The financial woes of U.S. automakers have grabbed Washington’s attention, but similar problems at auto suppliers have the potential to set off a cataclysmic chain of events in the industry if key parts makers run out of cash and fail.

Industrial production rebounds, by Jeff Bater, Wall Street Journal, November 17, 2008 (Subscription)
Washington—Production by U.S. industries climbed strongly in October following an enormous drop—the biggest in 62 years—that was caused by hurricanes and labor unrest.

Related story: Industrial output rose in October; Outlook for year still dim, analysts warn, by Martin Crutsinger, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 18, 2008

Four Cuyahoga companies awarded state grants, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 17, 2008
Columbus—MAGNET is among four Cuyahoga County companies to win a total of $6.5 million in state economic development grants to promote the growth of their businesses and to help them create and keep jobs in Ohio. MAGNET received a $250,000 Thomas Edison Program grant to provide Edison Technology and Industry Center services to manufacturers.

Cliffs calls off Alpha Natural Resources deal, by Sarah Hollander, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 17, 2008
Cleveland—The proposed multibillion-dollar merger of Cliffs Natural Resources and Alpha Natural Resources is off due to the uncertain economy.

GM plans new work in Parma; may protect 1,500 jobs, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 17, 2008
Parma, Ohio—General Motors' Parma parts plant will get more work and equipment over the next few weeks, possibly protecting the jobs for the 1,500 people working there.

Recycling business cashes in on used gift cards, by Sarah Hollander, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 17, 2008
Bedford Heights, Ohio—Since its founding in 2005, Earthworks System LLC has collected and recycled nearly 4 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride scrap left over from the card manufacturing process, discontinued stock, cancelled jobs, rejects and spent cards.

Steris agrees to joint venture with VTS Medical Systems, by Mary Vanac, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 17, 2008
Mentor, Ohio—Steris Corp., which makes sterilization and surgical support technologies, has agreed to a joint venture with VTS Medical Systems of Melville, N.Y., to bring the latest high-definition video, touch-screen integration and communication technology into hospital operating rooms.

Northeast Ohio positions itself to emerge strong from recession, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 17, 2008
Cleveland—The Fund for Our Economic Future, the Greater Cleveland Partnership and several state programs are making strategic, million-dollar investments in biomedicine, technology, manufacturing and advanced energy across 16 counties.

Group encourages businesses to grow, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, November 17, 2008
Akron—Recession-proofing your business isn't necessarily about cutting costs. Some members of the Cleveland/Akron chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization say a better response to an economic downturn is to grow.

Ford maps route to survival, by Bryce G. Hoffman, Detroit News via Akron Beacon Journal, November 16, 2008
Detroit—For the last six weeks, Ford Motor Co.'s top executives met almost daily to craft a plan to keep the company solvent in the face of the worst financial crisis in decades.

Timken doing its best to aid area economy; Shearer's CEO honored, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, November 16, 2008
Canton—Timken has been in the news quite a bit lately announcing a new small diameter steel mill and supplying bearings for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory. In other good news: Shearer's Foods CEO Robert J. Shearer has been inducted into the Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame.

Editorial: Rescue Detroit, Akron Beacon Journal, November 16, 2008
Akron—Many Republicans argue for an end to ''bailout-mania,'' for letting the auto industry suffer the consequences of years of poor planning. That misses two essential points: lawmakers can craft language holding the auto industry's collective feet to the fire; and federal spending is essential to get the economy back on the right track.

Editorial: AEP plan needs thorough scrutiny, Canton Repository, November 16, 2008
Canton—The Canton Repository's editorial board agrees with the Stark County commissioners, other public boards and the Ohio Consumers' Counsel in challenging American Electric Power to defend a rate hike request that they say may be indefensible.

Philips Healthcare considers job cuts under restructuring, by Mary Vanac, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 15, 2008
Highland Heights, Ohio—Royal Philips Electronics, the Dutch parent of Philips Healthcare, is considering a corporate restructuring that may cost jobs at Philips Healthcare in Highland Heights (formerly known as Picker International).