Smucker relocating 86 jobs to Orrville, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, August 7, 2009
Orrville, Ohio—The J.M. Smucker Co. said 86 employees in its Folgers coffee business unit and oils commodity purchasing team are being offered relocation packages to move from Southwest to Northeast Ohio. The moves would begin in March 2011 and be complete by November 2011.

News out of the Center For Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars held Aug. 4-7 in Traverse City, Mich.:

• Ford plans to refresh, replace vehicle lines while cutting debt, Toledo Blade, August 7, 2009
• GM to introduce plug-in crossover SUV for Buick, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 7, 2009
• GM board wants vehicles brought to market faster, Toledo Blade News Services, August 6, 2009
• Toyota president says new sports car planned, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 5, 2009
• Task force head says U.S. won't run automakers, AP via Toledo Blade, August 5, 2009

This week's earnings reports:

• Auto woes fuel Dana sales dip of 49%, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, August 7, 2009
• OM Group loses $35 million in the second quarter, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 6, 2009
• PolyOne earns $3.5 million in the second quarter after a loss in the first, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 6, 2009
• Nacco Industries profit falls 30 percent in second quarter, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 6, 2009
• Owens Corning figures mixed, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, August 6, 2009
• Ferro Corp. lost $12 million in second quarter, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 5, 2009
• Diebold's profits up, revenue declines, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, August 5, 2009
• RTI faces unprofitable year in 2009, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, August 5, 2009
• Defense sales boost TransDigm profits, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 4, 2009
• Diebold 2Q earnings up nearly 12 percent, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 4, 2009
• Ford reports first sales increase in nearly 2 years, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, August 4, 2009
• Good news for General Motors, by William K. Alcorn, Youngstown Vindicator, August 4, 2009
• Toyota sales fall 11.4 percent in July, Prius sales jump, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 3, 2009
• GM sales plunge 19 percent, cash for clunkers doesn't boost Cobalt sales, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 3, 2009
• Chrysler sales fall 9 percent in July, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 3, 2009
• Ford to post 1st monthly sales increase in 2 years, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 2, 2009
  

ArcelorMittal to bring back hundreds of laid off steelworkers in Cleveland, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 6, 2009
Cleveland—ArcelorMittal Cleveland said Thursday, due to improving market conditions, it is in the process of restarting a blast furnace and other operations at its steel complex near downtown. Hundreds of employees will return in phases, but ArcelorMittal said some will be back on the job by Monday.

Factory orders unexpectedly increase in June, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, August 6, 2009
Washington—The Commerce Department said Wednesday that factory orders rose for the fourth time in five months, an unexpected gain and the latest sign of recovery in the ailing manufacturing sector.

Obama touts Youngstown in speech, by Robert McFarren, Youngstown Vindicator, August 6, 2009
Youngstown—The recovery and prosperity of the national economy depends on what happens in cities such as Youngstown, President Barack Obama said in a speech in Indiana.

FirstEnergy seeks $57 million in stimulus dollars for big 'smart grid' investment, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 6, 2009
Cleveland—FirstEnergy today filed an application for $57 million in federal stimulus money with the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a $114-million proposal to invest in "smart grid" technologies. The proposal requests money for test projects in several suburban communities east of Cleveland served by Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co.

FDA chief vows tougher stance on food, drug safety, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 6, 2009
Washington—The Food and Drug Administration's new Commissioner Margaret Hamburg promised Thursday to crack down on food and drug companies that break the law, as the agency tries to regain its footing after a string of high-profile safety problems.

Obama brings green jobs message to Midwest, by Jeff Mason, Reuters via YahooNews, August 5, 2009
Wakarusa, Indiana— President Barack Obama urged the economically battered U.S. heartland on Wednesday to resist hard times and pledged $2.4 billion to help create green jobs and ease the pain of rising unemployment.

BASF Catalysts in Elyria will get $24.6 million in federal stimulus money, by Stephen Koff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 5, 2009
Washington—BASF Catalysts in Elyria will get $24.6 million in federal stimulus money and spend a similar sum itself in order to produce nickel-cobalt-metal cathode material for cutting-edge lithium-ion batteries.

Ashland officials welcome investment by Barbasol, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 5, 2009
Ashland, Ohio—Thanks to an incentive package from local and state authorities, Barbasol, the Columbus-area maker of shaving cream, will invest $7.25 million to buy land and build a plant in an industrial park owned by the the City of Ashland.

GM chairman speaks about car maker's challenges, by John D. Stoll, Wall Street Journal, August 5, 2009 (Subscription)
Milford, Mich.—After a visit to General Motors' vehicle proving grounds here, GM Chairman Edward E. Whitacre Jr. sat down for an interview with the WSJ. This article presents excerpts of the interview.

Battery sweepstakes: And the winner is ... General Motors, by Keith Johnson, Environmental Capital blog, Wall Street Journal, August 5, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—The Obama administration unveiled today the 48 winners in its $2.4 billion plan to kick-start U.S. production of batteries needed for the next generation of electric vehicles. Not surprisingly, the biggest winner is General Motors and its much-hyped Chevy Volt.

• White House unveils $2.4 billion in grants to jump-start industry in Midwest, by Elizabeth Williamson, Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2009 (Subscription)
• List of Recovery Act awards for electric drive vehicle battery and component manufacturing initiative (PDF, 65k), U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, August 5, 2009
• DOE announces $2.4 billion for U.S. batteries and electric vehicles, U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, August 5, 2009

Delay in Boeing's 787 Dreamliner could cause troubles for Northeast Ohio suppliers, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 4, 2009
Cleveland—The Boeing Corp. said Monday it is "in discussions" with major suppliers about another likely delay in the rollout of its long-awaited 787 Dreamliner long-range passenger jet.

Panel gets earful in Toledo on auto woes; Ohio legislators hear Finkbeiner, others, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, August 4, 2009
Toledo—A state joint legislative task force examining the impact of the auto industry on Ohio's economy heard a truckload of testimony in Toledo Monday illustrating just how complex a subject they are trying to comprehend. Sen. Mark Wagoner (R., Ottawa Hills) said the initiative is likely to affect three primary areas: worker retraining programs, infrastructure to help manufacturing plants' operators, and car dealer franchising laws.

Goodyear, NASA jointly develop airless tire for rover capable of transporting heavy loads across lunar surface, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 4, 2009
Cleveland—Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., in Akron, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland said this week they have developed a new airless tire suitable for use on the surface of the moon.

Corrosion course will be offered at U. of Akron, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 4, 2009
Akron—This fall, with backing from the Defense Department, the University of Akron begins setting up the nation's first coordinated academic effort to prepare engineers to understand and prevent corrosion—a beast that each year devours $400 billion worth of machinery, infrastructure and vehicles in the United States.

6,000 autoworkers take GM buyout, including 574 at Mansfield, 185 at Lordstown and 88 at Parma, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 4, 2009
Cleveland—Despite the response, GM will still have about 7,500 too many people. In its restructuring plans, GM has said it wants to have 40,500 workers by the end of this year.

• GM buyout offers falls short of goal, layoffs loom, by Tom Krisher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 3, 2009
• Toyota restructures too, but at its own pace, by Micheline Maynard, New York Times, August 3, 2009

Cleveland firm's air-speed probes for Airbus get FAA clearance, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 4, 2009
Cleveland—Aero-Instruments announced Aug. 4 that its replacement probes, which measure critical airspeed, have been approved by the FAA for use on Airbus planes — just four days after European air-safety regulators recommended the original probes be replaced on many Airbus planes.

Aluminum recycler Aleris International Inc. to pay $4.6 million EPA fine, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 4, 2009
Cleveland—Aleris International Inc. agreed to pay a $4.6 million federal fine and spend $4.2 million on pollution controls to settle a suit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brought against the Beachwood aluminum recycler.

China jobless pose 'grave' crisis, BBC News, August 4, 2009
Beijing—Wang Yadong, a senior official at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said China's job outlook remains grave and could deteriorate further, putting enormous pressure on the government to create jobs.

• China's factories continue to expand, by Terence Poon, Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2009 (Subscription)
• China's gains in manufacturing stir friction across the pacific, by Timothy Aeppel, August 4, 2009 (Subscription)

Opinion: Obama's trade test: the President faces his steel tariff moment, Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Mr. Obama faces his own trade test thanks to the United Steelworkers request to impose tariffs or quotas on imported car tires from China. ... Protectionism hurts the protectionist as much as anyone else, or more. Maybe that’s why American tire makers haven’t joined the Steelworkers in this complaint.

While state's work force training funds are tight, those who get it will find higher reimbursement rates, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 3, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—On July 22, about 40 representatives of local manufacturing companies attended a MAGNET-sponsored program designed to help companies find government training dollars. Companies that do want training money should apply for it pronto, before funds run out, according to Susan Dukeman, regional director of the Workforce Guarantee Program.

Companies boosting production to restock bare shelves, index shows, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 3, 2009
New York—The Institute for Supply Management issued a better-than-expected report and concluded U.S. manufacturing activity should grow next month for the first time since January 2008 as industrial companies work to restock customers' bare shelves.

• U.S. manufacturing contraction slowest since August, by Tali Arbel, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 3, 2009
• Decline levels off in manufacturing, by Sara Murray, Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2009 (Subscription)
• Building a recovery, factory by factory, by Mark Gongloff, Wall Street Journal, August 3, 2009 (Subscription)
  New York—There is a small cadre of forecasters who expect a far better outcome than mere recovery, soon. They see not only the end of recession but also a classic, V-shaped recovery brewing.
• Manufacturer ‘destocking' hurts suppliers, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 3, 2009 (Subscription)
  Cleveland—Manufacturers have been slashing their inventories in a process that has become known as “destocking” — a tactic that simultaneously is slashing the sales of many companies in Northeast Ohio that are their suppliers.

President Obama's proposed federal budget offers an opportunity for environmentalists, by Bob Downing, Akron Beacon Journal, August 3, 2009
Akron—The ailing Great Lakes are on the verge of getting an infusion of at least $400 million in new federal funds. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is in President Barack Obama's first budget as it moves through Congress and would be the largest commitment to the lakes in U.S. history.

Invacare sues N.Y. competitor over bed, walker infringement, by Jay Miller, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 3, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Invacare Corp. is suing Medical Depot Inc. (dba Drive Medical Design and Manufacturing), charging its competitor with infringing on patents Invacare holds on a line of hospital beds and a line of rolling walkers.

Summit organizers push green economy, by Jay Miller, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 3, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Sustainable Cleveland 2019 is a three-day summit sponsored by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson that begins Aug. 14. The summit's goal is to spur the creation of an action plan for building a green economy in Northeast Ohio over the next decade.

New plant awaits Lordstown restart, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, August 2, 2009
Lordstown, Ohio—General Motors Corp.'s new era begins Monday, with its Lordstown Complex leading the march for a company focused on fuel-efficient cars such as next year's Chevrolet Cruze.

Defense bill has $2M for YSU work on lightweight body armor, by Harold Gwin, Youngstown Vindicator, August 1, 2009
Youngstown, Ohio—Youngstown State University and two industrial partners are in line to get a $2 million federal-defense research grant to develop a viable lightweight, cost-efficient, integrated armor plate for soldiers.

Local leaders turn focus to finding new tenant for GM stamping plant, by Al Lawrence, Mansfield News Journal, August 1, 2009
Ontario, Ohio—Ontario Mayor Ken Bender insisted the effort to attract a new tenant to the 2.1-million-square-foot plant should be a community effort, not just a project for area development offices.

No word on agreement between Delphi, union, Warren Tribune Chronicle, August 1, 2009
Warren, Ohio—No word was available Friday on any agreement involving Delphi Packard Electric workers or retirees connected to a bankruptcy judge's approval Thursday of Delphi Corp.'s plan to exit bankruptcy, a union official told union members.