B&W nuclear group to hire workers, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, February 6, 2009
Barberton, Ohio—As many as 145 new jobs will be added to the Barberton-based Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group to help it fulfill more than $1 billion in awards to make nuclear components, including reactors, for U.S. defense programs.

Brush Engineered Materials cuts 10% of global work force, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 6, 2009
Cleveland—In anticipation of a drop in sales, Brush Engineered Materials Inc. announced it has trimmed its global work force by 10 percent. However, it said the job cutbacks had little effect on the Cleveland headquarters, which employs about 125.

Unprecedented growth seen for solar energy, Toledo Blade, February 6, 2009
Toledo—The head of the federal government's effort to promote solar technology told about 200 industry leaders yesterday that expanding the industry to the level needed by 2030 will require unprecedented levels of growth. John Lushetsky, program manager of the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technology Program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, was the keynote speaker at a day-long conference called "Empowering Solar Energy in Ohio."

U.S. official: Recession is tougher now, but it will end, Toledo Blade, February 6, 2009
Cleveland—Mark Schweitzer, senior vice president and director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, said productivity gains from new technology and resulting capital spending by businesses will end the recession. He would not, however, say when that might happen.

Delphi may cut retiree benefits, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 6, 2009
Toledo—Saying it needs ''immediate and significant actions," auto parts maker Delphi Corp. filed a motion in bankruptcy court Wednesday asking permission to terminate certain salaried employee benefit plans and programs after March 31.

Chrysler to temporarily close 4 factories, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 6, 2009
Detroit—Chrysler LLC says it will temporarily close four assembly plants next week because of weak U.S. sales. It will idle factories in Brampton, Ontario; Sterling Heights, Mich.; Belvidere, Ill., and Detroit from Feb. 9-13.

China's official data mask severity of economic slump, by Joe McDonald, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 6, 2009
Beijing—The Chinese government's outdated system of economic statistics tracking is making it difficult to get a clear picture of how the world-wide recession is affecting that country. For 2009, forecasts of full-year growth are as low as 5 percent—the best of any major country but China's weakest in nearly two decades.

Earnings Reports:

• TransDigm Group profits up 46.8% in first quarter, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 3, 2009
• Keithley Instruments posts big first-quarter loss, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 4, 2009 (Subscription)
• Diebold makes fourth quarter profit, Canton Repository, February 4, 2009
• Diebold forecasts lower '09 revenue, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, February 5, 2009
• PolyOne turns in fourth-quarter loss due to goodwill writedowns, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 5, 2009 (Subscription)
• Lubrizol reports fourth-quarter loss due to charges, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 5, 2009 (Subscription)

Auto-part makers seek bailout, by Jeff Bennett and Josh Mitchell, Wall Street Journal, February 5, 2009 (Subscription)
Detroit and Washington—In a request dated Monday to the Treasury Department, an industry group representing 400 parts makers asks for $25.5 billion in aid and guarantees.

Opinion: A reason for optimism, by Steve Weathers, president and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership, Toledo Blade, February 5, 2009
Toledo—By building on a strong, traditional manufacturing base and partnering with educational institutions and others to diversify our economy, the RGP, in collaboration with its local and state partners, has developed a foundation for future growth and success across the region.

Independent Street Blog: Is 'Buy American' good for small business? by Kelly Spors, Wall Street Journal, February 5, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Todd McCracken, president of the National Small Business Association, says the so-called "Buy American" language in the stimulus plan being debated in the senate could very well threaten small businesses more than help.

• Steel industry backs 'Buy America' in stimulus bill, by Sabrina Eaton, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 4, 2009

31 Ohio counties violate air limits, by Bob Downing, Akron Beacon Journal, February 5, 2009
Columbus—The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing Feb. 12 in Columbus on the proposed designation of 31 Ohio counties—including eight-county Akron-Cleveland area and the two counties surrounding Toledo—as failing to comply with the new limits for pollutant ozone under the federal Clean Air Act.

Chrysler to lay off 57 at Perrysburg Twp. site, Toledo Blade, February 5, 2009
Perrysburg Township, Ohio—Chrysler LLC will lay off 57 employees indefinitely from its Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg Township, beginning tomorrow. It cited slow sales of the vehicles for which the plant makes parts.

Battle heats up over union-backed bill, by Melanie Trottman, Wall Street Journal, February 5, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The high-stakes battle over the Employee Free Choice Act is becoming a war of words, with advocates and opponents spending millions to shape perceptions of the proposal among the public and undecided lawmakers.

China tops U.S. in auto sales; industry to consolidate, by Norihiko Shirouzu, Wall Street Journal, February 5, 2009 (Subscription)
Shijiazhuang, China—Sales in China's intensely competitive auto industry exceeded the U.S. for the first time last month. But even as the industry gains a higher global profile, it is about to get leaner—and potentially less splintered.

• China auto sales seen surpassing U.S. in January, by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 4, 2009

GM, Chrysler push to cut union payrolls, by Jeff Green and Mike Ramsey, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, February 4, 2009
Detroit—Automakers General Motors and Chrysler, propped up by $17.4 billion in U.S. loans, are speeding up efforts to pare union payrolls and meet a Feb. 17 deadline to justify keeping the money.

• GM confirms it will offer buyouts to all hourly employees, by Dan Strumpf, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 3, 2009
• Automakers face deadline, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, February 4, 2009
• Workers will be offered buyouts, Youngstown Vindicator, February 4, 2009
• Lordstown workers wary of buyout, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 4, 2009

Obama: Ohio to benefit by 142,000 jobs, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, February 4, 2009
Washington—White House officials said Tuesday its economic stimulus plan would create or save more than 142,000 jobs in Ohio.

Goodyear's cost cutting continues, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, February 4, 2009
Akron—Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said it needs to cut costs after a rough fourth quarter that included a dramatic drop in global tire demand coupled with higher raw-materials costs.

Applied Industrial lays off 10% of Cleveland headquarters staff, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 4, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Applied Industrial Technologies Inc. has laid off 10% of its headquarters staff, or 34 full-time employees, in reaction to slumping demand in the recession.

• Lubrizol Corp. cuts 170 jobs; Applied Industrial Technologies cuts 34 jobs, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 4, 2009
• Lubrizol cuts will hit close to home, Northeast Ohio News-Herald, February 5, 2009

Dana fights to distance itself from bankruptcy; Despite financial woes, company is optimistic, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, February 4, 2009
Toledo—A year after emerging from the shelter of bankruptcy protection, auto-parts manufacturer Dana Holding Corp. is spending its first birthday trying to figure out a way to get to its second.

GM sales data illustrate need for Lordstown cuts, Vindicator Staff and Wire Reports, Youngstown Vindicator, February 4, 2009
Youngstown—General Motors released sales numbers Tuesday that show why it shut down its Lordstown factory for all of January and is cutting back to one shift of production.

Case Western Reserve receives $7.5 million sustainability gift, by Shannon Mortland, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 4, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Chuck Fowler, president and CEO of Chardon-based Fairmount Minerals Ltd., and his wife Char Fowler have iven $7.5 million to Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management to support sustainable enterprise programs.

Ford chooses supplier for plug-in car battery, by Matthew Dolan, Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—Ford Motor Co. selected Johnson Controls-Saft to manufacture its lithium-ion battery for future plug-in hybrid vehicles.

BWC Safety Congress, Expo to be held at Columbus, [Dover/New Philadelphia] Times Reporter, February 4, 2009
Columbus—Ohio employers interested in saving money by increasing safety in the workplace are encouraged to attend the Ohio Safety Congress and Expo, sponsored by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

Lincoln Electric plans cuts; Executive pay to be lower also, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 3, 2009
Cleveland—Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. said Monday it plans to reduce its Cleveland work force of 2,900 and to cut 10 percent of its global employment as part of a plan to save the company $50 million a year.

Twinkie-maker Interstate Bakeries exits bankruptcy, by David Twiddy, AP via Canton Repository, February 3, 2009
Kansas City, Mo.—The maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread—with operations in Akron and Tallmadge—has emerged from more than four years of bankruptcy. A group of lenders and investment firm Ripplewood Holdings are splitting ownership of the company and taking it private.

• Twinkies, Wonder Bread maker exits bankruptcy, Akron Beacon Journal, February 4, 2009

Mississippi governor OKs incentives for Ohio-based Cooper Tire, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 3, 2009
Jackson, Miss.—Gov. Haley Barbour has signed a bill to provide $19 million of incentives to keep a Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. manufacturing plant in northeastern Mississippi.

GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota and Nissan sales dive, Hyundai promotion leads to sales gain, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 3, 2009
Cleveland—Despite continued price slashing, almost every major automaker posted a huge sales decline for the month. Chrysler led the downward slide with a 55 percent decline.

• Ford's U.S. sales plunge 40%, Toyota down 32%, by Kimberly S. Johnson and Bree Fowler, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 3, 2009
• Detroit reels as auto sales skid, by John D. Stoll and Alex P. Kellog, Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2009 (Subscription)
• U.S. car, truck sales plunge 37% in January, by Blade Staff and News Services, Toledo Blade, February 4, 2009

Manufacturing outlook for 2009: Buckle up, it could be a bumpy ride, by Bob Parker, vice president of research at Manufacturing Insights, Industry Week, February 3, 2009
Framingham, Mass.—One of our favorite activities at Manufacturing Insights is compiling our annual top ten predictions. The exercise allows our global research team to take a breath, aggregate our conversations in the marketplace and set the key areas of investigation for our research agenda.

Environmental Capital Blog: Peak lithium: Will supply fears drive alternative batteries? by Keith Johnson, Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Saudis like to say that the stone age didn’t end for a lack of stones. But could a lack of lithium end the electric car age before it begins? Bolivia’s populist government and its embrace of resource nationalism raises a lot of concerns about access to the world's biggest reserves of lithium.

Corrpro Cos. of Medina being sold for $91 million, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 2, 2009
Medina—Corrpro Cos., a corrosion control engineering services, systems and equipment company, said today it is being acquired by Insituform Technologies Inc. of Chesterfield, Mo.

Regional Talent Network wants to bring workers, employers together, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 1, 2009
Cleveland—The new Regional Talent Network, focused on lifting worker skills across the 16-county Northeast Ohio region, will be led by an 11-person steering committee to be named as soon as Friday. The network is directed by David Shute, formerly administrative director of special projects for the Cleveland Clinic.