Pierre's Ice Cream Co. gets unanimous approval for $6 million expansion from Cleveland Planning Commission, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 4, 2009
Cleveland—Pierre's Ice Cream Co. got a unanimous thumbs-up from the City Planning Commission this morning on its $6 million proposal to build another 35,540-square-foot production and storage facility on its Midtown Cleveland campus.

Honda honors Technico as a supplier of the year, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, September 4, 2009
Warren, Ohio—Technico Inc., a supplier of linear bearings, ball screws and other equipment for robots, won recognition from Honda of America as one of just 13 suppliers (out of 2,400) to be named Supplier of the Year.

Timken partnership expands capacity in Asia, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 3, 2009
Canton, Ohio—Under an initial five-year agreement, Daido Steel (HQ in Nagoya, Japan) will manufacture high-performance steel as specified by Timken. The finished products will carry the Timken brand, and will be marketed, sold and distributed by Timken's sales force and its authorized distributors in Asia.

Pierre's Ice Cream Co. wants to expand Cleveland operations, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 2, 2009
Cleveland—Pierre's Ice Cream Co. has submitted plans to the City Planning Commission's Euclid Corridor Design Review Committee to build a 35,540-square-foot factory adjacent to its corporate headquarters and warehouse at 6200 Euclid Ave.

Diebold Inc. president to ring NYSE opening bell on Wednesday to mark company's 150th anniversary, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 2, 2009
Green, Ohio—Diebold Inc. President and Chief Executive Thomas Swidarski will ring the ceremonial opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in honor of the security company's 150th anniversary.

$1.7 million grant to help generate green jobs in area, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 2, 2009
Cleveland—The Fund for Our Economic Future, the region's leading economic development philanthropy, said Tuesday that it would commit $1.7 million over two years to NorTech, a nonprofit organization, to lead an advanced-energy initiative.

Manufacturing activity grew in August, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 2, 2009
New York—The U.S. manufacturing sector grew in August for the first time in 19 months, adding to evidence that the recession is ending.

• Factory orders rose in July but missed forecasts, AP via New York Times, September 2, 2009

Global economy gains steam, by Justin LaHart, Andrew Batson and Marcus Walker, Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Manufacturing gains in the U.S., Europe and Asia added to evidence the global economy is improving at a faster pace than was widely anticipated a few months ago.

• Snapshots from global economy, Wall Street Journal Economics Blog, September 2, 2009

"Cap and tax" delay; Senate democrats realize they don't have the votes—for now, Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—Barbara Boxer (Marin County) and John Kerry (Nantucket) announced that Democrats won't release their cap-and-trade bill next week as scheduled after all, but will instead postpone it for up to a month

GM delays new Buick shipments on quality concerns, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 2, 2009
Detroit—General Motors Co. said Tuesday the rollout of its new 2010 Buick LaCrosse is being delayed for a few weeks due to quality concerns.

China plays down rare earth fears, by Chuin-Wei Yap, Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2009 (Subscription)
Beijing—A Chinese official attempted to quell global concerns that China is trying to dominate the market for a class of metal ores called rare earth, which are used in environmentally friendly technologies such as hybrid-car batteries. The metals also go into industrial magnets, liquid crystal displays, mobile phones and electric motors.

U.S. manufacturing showed growth in August, UPI, September 1, 2009
Tempe, Ariz.—The Institute of Supply Management said Tuesday its headline index for U.S. manufacturing activity punched into positive territory in August.

• Factory-sector gains signal global recovery, by Sara Murray and Andrew Batson, Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2009 (Subscription)
• Economists weigh in on the August increase in manufacturing activity, Wall Street Journal Real Time Economics Blog, September 1, 2009
• August 2009 Manufacturing ISM Report on Business, Institute for Supply Management press release, September 1, 2009
• U.S. factory sector expands, by Michael S. Derby, Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2009 (Subscription)
• Factories produce a rare item: good news, by Mark Gongloff, Wall Street Journal, August 31, 2009 (Subscription)
• ISM-Chicago: Midwest business activity increases more than expected, Bloomberg News via New York Times, August 31, 2009

Eaton acquires total ownership of Micro Innovation Holding, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 1, 2009
Cleveland—Eaton Corp. said today it has acquired the remaining 50 percent of the outstanding shares of Switzerland-based Micro Innovation Holding AG, a company that manufactures human machine interfaces, programmable logic controllers and input/output devices.

Manufacturers launch ad campaign on Cap and Trade, Ohio Manufacturers Association, September 1, 2009
Columbus—The OMA has joined the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) in a major TV, radio and Internet advertising campaign in Ohio (and several other states), warning that Congressional passage of the Waxman-Markey climate-change legislation will dramatically slow economic growth, raise energy costs and destroy jobs.

Three metro Toledo automotive plants again tops in productivity, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, September 1, 2009
Toledo—Oliver Wyman's Harbour Report, a widely respected annual industry study of manufacturing operations, cited Chrysler Group LLC's Toledo Jeep factory, GM's Toledo Powertrain plant and the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant in nearby Dundee, Mich., as among the most productive factories in North America.

Mexico gets Ford's diesel engine work that Brook Park hoped for, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 1, 2009
Cleveland—Ford Motor Co. said Monday it would build the 6.7-liter diesel engine for model year 2011 F-Series Super Duty trucks in Chihuahua, Mexico. Union and state officials had been involved in talks to bring the diesel engine to Brook Park.

Medina food manufacturer, Nordson Corp. among companies in line for state incentives, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 31, 2009
Cleveland—Medina-based Sandridge Food Corp., a manufacturer of refrigerated foods, won a $2 million loan from the state of Ohio. Geauga County-based Mercury Plastics Inc. and Nordson Corp. of Westlake also received state grants.

Goodyear, Steelworkers reach tentative agreement on labor pact, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 31, 2009
Akron—More than 10,000 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. workers in seven states will vote in the next few days on a national contract agreement.

• Tentative deal for Goodyear, Steelworkers, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 30, 2009

Inflatable Images expanding to include retail products featuring pro, college football, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, August 31, 2009
Brunswick, Ohio—After 25 years of manufacturing custom-designed cold-air inflatables exclusively for corporate clients, Inflatable Images has invested $3 million in a plan to enter the retail marketplace.

Wind farms set Wall Street aflutter, by Russell Gold, AP via Wall Street Journal, August 31, 2009
New York—A brand-new federal program that is paying substantial cash grants to help cover the cost of renewable energy investments received requests for $800 million in grants during its first four weeks. Project developers and Wall Street appear to be viewing the federal cash grant program as a good deal.

Runaway Train: China's worried about over-heated clean-energy sector, by Jonathan Shieber, Wall Street Journal, August 28, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Analysts following China’s renewable-energy market said a government announcement about "redundant projects" could slam the brakes on what has been a massive buildup of clean-energy manufacturing resources.

TTI Floor Care North America names VP of marketing for its Hoover unit, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 28, 2009
Cleveland—TTI Floor Care North America, the maker of Hoover and Dirt Devil vacuum cleaners, named Brian Kirkendall its new vice president of marketing for Hoover. Most recently, he was vice president of marketing and licensing at Step2 Toys, and prior to that he held vice president of marketing titles for Little Tikes and Newell Rubbermaid.

Eye Lighting International names new president, chief operating officer, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 28, 2009
Mentor, Ohio—Eye Lighting International of North America, a manufacturer and distributor of halogen and high-intensity discharge lighting products, named Tom Salpietra as the company's new president and chief operating officer.

Chinese tire-import spat puts Obama in trade-policy pickle, by Peter Fritsch, Wall Street Journal, August 28, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—President Barack Obama has until Sept. 17 to rule on a U.S. International Trade Commission recommendation that the White House put a 55% tariff on low-grade car tires imported from China.