Overtime creeps back before jobs, by Kris Maher and Timothy Aeppel, Wall Street Journal, November 27, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—The WSJ interviews executives and workers at Jergens Inc. and Eaton Corp. about why manufacturers are paying overtime to spur productivity during a period of uncertain growth.

Cooper Tire & Rubber to expand, hire 100; Tire maker to spend $10M to update Findlay factory, Toledo Blade, November 25, 2009
Findlay, Ohio—The upgrade project bolsters production at a cost-competitive plant and will make more higher-profit tires, the firm said. The added jobs stem from the launch of several new light truck, SUV, and premium winter tire products.

• Cooper factory adding capacity, jobs, by Lou Wilin, Findlay Courier, November 25, 2009

85,000 Toledo-made Dodge Nitros recalled, Toledo Blade, November 25, 2009
Toledo—Chrysler Group LLC will recall nearly 85,000 Toledo-made 2007 Dodge Nitro SUVs this month because of a safety issue with its intermittent windshield wipers.

American Municipal Power will not build coal-fired power plant, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2009
Cleveland—Due to escalating costs, American Municipal Power, the largest supplier of power to Cleveland, has cancelled its coal-fired 1,000-megawatt power plant on the Ohio River in Meigs County.

Bridgestone tech center plans progressing, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, November 25, 2009
Akron—Summit County and Akron governments are closing in on an agreement that will have Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations in a new technical center no later than 2012.

Analysis: Large parts of auto industry should be scrapped, by Steve McGrath, The Source Blog, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Following on the news of GM's failed deal to sell its Saab unit, the WSJ's The Source blog suggests the sector as a whole is still way too big and is being protected from the market forces that should bring it back into line.

• GM not talking to any new Saab suitors, source says, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2009
• Saab likely to close as brand fails to sell, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, November 25, 2009
• Beijing Autos reconsiders Saab bid, AP via Manufacturing.Net, November 25, 2009
• Swedish buyer backs out of deal to buy Saab; GM to announce new plans for the brand in a few days, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 24, 2009

GM says future of Belgian Opel plant is uncertain, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2009
Ruesselsheim, Germany—An Opel plant in Belgium faces an uncertain future as General Motors Co. moves to restructure its European operation, a drive expected to cost some 9,000 jobs across the continent, a top executive said Wednesday.

GM to build new midsize Buick at Canadian factory, by Kathryn Kroll, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2009
Detroit—Production of the 2011 Buick Regal will begin in the first quarter of 2011 at its assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario.

Chrysler gives in to temptation, by Liam Denning, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Chrysler Group has just unleashed its incentive package for a range of 2010 models.

Durable goods orders retreat in October, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2009
Washington—The Commerce Department said today that orders for big-ticket factory goods fell unexpectedly in October as the economy struggles to get back to full health.

Energy push spurs shift in US science, by Gautam Naik, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2009
Oak Ridge, Tenn.—The Obama administration's push to solve the nation's energy problems, a massive federal program that rivals the Manhattan Project, is spurring a once-in-a-generation shift in U.S. science.

Washington state Supreme Court reinstates $8 million award against Hyundai, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2009
Olympia, Wash.—The Washington state Supreme Court has reinstated an $8 million default judgment against Hyundai Motor Co. in a lawsuit over the backward collapse of a front seat.

Toyota to replace 3.8 million gas pedals, by Ken Thomas, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, November 25, 2009
Washington—Toyota Motor Corp. said today it will replace accelerator pedals on 3.8 million recalled vehicles in the United States to address problems with the pedals becoming jammed in the floor mat.

Area lawmakers to meet with Severstal, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, November 24, 2009
Warren, Ohio—Area lawmakers will sit down with Severstal North America Inc. executives Dec. 3 to sound them out on the future of the company's Warren and Wheeling mills, a local official said Monday.

Metalforming association's members increase in pessimism about economy, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 24, 2009
Independence, Ohio—For the third consecutive month, more of the Precision Metalformers Association's members who responded to its monthly survey predicted a decline in both general business conditions and their own order volumes.

Ohio EPA says two Cleveland companies reach settlement, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 24, 2009
Cleveland—Chemical manufacturer Zaclon LLC and Independence Land Development Co. agreed to pay the Ohio EPA a $72,000 fine to settle past hazardous waste violations.

Ford extends most of its $10.7 billion credit line, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 24, 2009
Detroit—Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it has extended the maturity dates on most of its $10.7 billion revolving line of credit for two years, preserving cash to use for its turnaround efforts.

GM parts suppliers return $140 million from bailout, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 24, 2009
Washington—The Treasury Department says suppliers providing auto parts to General Motors have returned $140 million in bailout money. A similar group set up to help Chrysler suppliers still has $1 billion in support.

Tire inflation: tariffs, demand push up prices, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 24, 2009
Detroit—Akron-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. just raised prices and other manufacturers will likely follow to offset US tariffs on Chinese-made tires and the rising cost of raw materials.

Goldsmith & Eggleton upgrade Ohio facility, Rubber & Plastics News, November 23, 2009
Wadsworth, Ohio—Goldsmith & Eggleton Inc. has completed the final phase of a three-stage mill room upgrade that significantly expands the firm’s production capabilities.

Schulman targeting sheet and profiles, by Frank Esposito, Plastics News, November 23, 2009
Fairlawn, Ohio—. Schulman Inc. of Fairlawn is re-launching its Invision-brand enhanced polyolefin materials with a focus on sheet and profile markets.

PolyOne advances sustainable lineup, by Frank Esposito, Plastics News, November 23, 2009
Avon Lake, Ohio— PolyOne Corp. is moving ahead with efforts to commercialize its lineup of sustainable compounds

Analyst predicts small auto sales comeback in 2010, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 23, 2009
Detroit—Fitch Ratings analyst Mark Oline predicted that auto sales will rise to 11.1 million cars and trucks next year, a 7.8 percent increase over the 10.3 million he expects for 2009.

GM sues over millions spent on steering repairs, by Ed White, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, November 23, 2009
Detroit—GM is suing JTEKT North America to recover tens of millions of dollars it has spent to repair shaky steering columns in its best-selling small car and other models.

Matsos Family Restaurant is bottling a dressing sold in 25 states, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, November 23, 2009
Wooster, Ohio—Diners at the Matsos Family Restaurant in downtown Wooster were constantly asking to purchase some of the eatery's house dressing to take home. Here's how restaurateur Spiro Matsos got his new manufacturing business off the ground.

Cliffs Natural Resources to buy Freewest's Ring of Fire properties, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 23, 2009
Cleveland—The producer of iron ore and coal will acquire Freewest's interests in the Ring of Fire properties, which comprise three chromite deposits.

This week's earnings reports:

• Severstal posts small profit, no word on fate of Warren mill, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, November 21, 2009

Made in Stark: Thermo Manufacturing: Dedicated to innovation, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, November 22, 2009
Plain Township, Ohio—In this regular Sunday feature focusing on Stark County manufacturers, reporter G. Patrick Kelley profiles Thermo Manufacturing which makes a lightweight alternative to sheet metal.

A Talk With the Boss: Tom Murphy, president and chief operating officer of Ben Venue Laboratories, by Shaheen Samavati, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 22, 2009
Bedford, Ohio—In this regular PD feature, the PD interviews the president and chief operating officer of Ben Venue Laboratories, a fast growing pharmaceutical manufacturing company that employs more than 1,300.

First Solar plant re-energized by expansion, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, November 22, 2009
Perry Township, Ohio—A huge expansion of First Solar's solar panel manufacturing plant in Perrysburg Township is nearing completion just in time for a massive planned increase in solar energy use across the United States and Canada.

Toledo start-up Xunlight Corp. undeterred by prospect of supply glut, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, November 22, 2009
Toledo— Todd Armstrong, spokesman for Xunlight Corp., which is a technology offshoot of the University of Toledo with about 100 employees, downplayed the impact of industry problems on the company.

Goodbye, YS&T offices; hello, V&M green space, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, November 21, 2009
Youngstown, Ohio— In another step to secure the V&M Star Steel expansion, the city has been approved for a $630,000 state grant to demolish the former Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. office building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Unconfirmed report: South Korean Cruze work coming to Lordstown, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, November 21, 2009
Lordstown, Ohio—A story from a South Korea newspaper that General Motors Corp. plans to shift some production of that nation's version of the Chevrolet Cruze small car to Lordstown generated more questions than answers Friday.

• Report: South Korean Premiere work to come to Lordstown, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, November 20, 2009