Spin-off Veyance marks 100th day, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, November 8, 2007
Fairlawn— Today marks the 100th day since Goodyear spun off its Goodyear Engineered Products for nearly $1.5 billion to Washington, D.C., private-equity firm the Carlyle Group. Last weekend, about 170 employees moved into a new headquarters in Fairlawn, which will add another building and about another 100 employees next year. Veyance officials said the company decided to stay in the Greater Akron area because of the proximity to its largest customers and to be sensitive to employees. In addition, Fairlawn offered Veyance the most attractive financial package.

RPM sells Bondo subsidiary to 3M, by Frank Benatayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 8, 2007
Medina—Minnesota-based 3M bought the automotive aftermarket company Bondo Corp. from RPM International for an undisclosed sum. 3M indicated it would market the Bondo line more vigorously to commercial auto-body shops and repair operations. The product is manufactured in Atlanta. The company's products include application and sanding devices and putties and gels for a variety of automotive and home-repair uses.

MAGNET and CSU update Manufacturing Brief series, produced by the Center for Economic Development, Cleveland State University, Maxine Goodman Levin Collect of Urban Affairs, sponsored by MAGNET and the U.S. Economic Development Association, November 2007 (PDF, 800k)

This six-page, illustrated color brief provides a quick, current and informative report on trends in employment, wages and output for major manufacturing industries. This report updates the two previously published briefs with data from the first quarter of 2006. It also provides more detailed sub-regional analysis.

Why coal is to get additional attention, by Neil King Jr. and Spencer Swartz, Wall Street Journal, November 8, 2007
Paris—The International Energy Agency painted a tough energy outlook for coming years, with tightening oil supplies and a surge in global-warming emissions as China and India burn more coal to power their booming economies. In its annual forecast, the Paris-based group predicted an abrupt escalation in oil prices around 2015.

$39-billion loss downgrades GM, by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 8, 2007
Detroit—On Wednesday, GM announced a record $39-billion second-quarter loss on a charge involving unused tax credits. Industry analysts said high gasoline prices, the housing slump and jittery consumers will hamper the automaker's restructuring efforts. However GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said this quarter's result would not affect the company's long-term prospects of recovery.

Pennsylvania nano tech center to fund research, Akron Beacon Journal, November 8, 2007
Pittsburgh—The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center invites researchers to submit proposals for funding nanomaterials commercialization projects. The center, which supports efforts with applications for new nano-based products and manufacturing processes in the commercial and defense sectors, plans to award up to $800,000 in grants by April, 2008. Visit www.pananocenter.org.

Ford contract sends extra work to NE Ohio plants, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 6, 2007
Cleveland—Ford Motor Co.'s proposed new contract with the United Auto Workers will keep the Cleveland Casting Plant in Brook Park open an extra year, send a new engine to the Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1, assign some new parts for the Walton Hills plant and add a new product to the Avon Lake van plant.

Related Story: Local UAW leaders OK Ford deal, workers spared layoffs, by Tom Krisher and Dee-Ann Durbin, AP via Canton Repository, November 6, 2007

Sikorsky taps Eaton for new Marine helicopter work, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 7, 2007
Cleveland—Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced that Eaton Corp. will design, develop and supply the integrated fuel system for the Marine Corp.'s new CH-53K "Super Stallion" heavy-lift helicopter. Brad Morton, president of Eaton's aerospace segment, said Eaton's recent acquisition of Cleveland-based Argo-Tech Corp. and other recent acquisitions made the fuel-related contracts possible. Argo-Tech will have a hand in the further development and manufacturing for the contract.

Related story: Eaton opens Mexico City office, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 6, 2007

Mahoning County Career and Technical Center Board studies plans for expanding career center, by Angie Schmitt, Youngstown Vindicator, November 6, 2007
Canfield, Ohio—Board members at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center are reviewing conceptual plans for a $16.4 million expansion that will increase capacity in nearly all of the school's programs and rebuild a wing destroyed by fire in May. Despite the fire, demand for the school's technical education programs is strong with enrollment jumping 17 percent this year.

Certification sought for imports, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 7, 2007
Washington—Under separate safety plans detailed by the Bush administration Tuesday, safety certification would be required for imported foods at risk. Foreign makers of toys and other common consumer products, too, could seek voluntary certification that they meet U.S. product safety standards in exchange for expedited entry into this country.

Event Alert:

Panel to discuss regional economy, Akron Beacon Journal, November 6, 2007
Akron—The Greater Akron Chamber will hold its fifth annual economic forecast next Tuesday at the Sheraton Suites, 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. A five-person panel will discuss the regional economic outlook for 2008. Sherwin Williams president and COO John G. Morikis will represent manufacturing on the panel. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The program will run from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. To make a reservation, call 330-376-5550 or register at http://www.greaterakronchamber.org.Cost is $30 for members; $40 for others.

Ford, UAW Tentative Deal: No strike, no more plant closings, by Sarah A. Webster, Detroit Free Press, November 3, 2007
Detroit—Preliminary details of the tentative labor contract reached today between the UAW and Ford Motor Co. show that the union extracted a rosier pact than many people had expected. Six plants that had been slated to close will remain open for now. Following the pattern set by negotiations with GM and Chrysler, Ford will turn over responsibility for retiree health benefits to the UAW.

Related stories:

Ford's Avon Lake plant appears safe from closing, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 4, 2007
Detroit—The early-morning agreement reached on Saturday between Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Workers apparently spares the company's Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake. The agreement, promptly approved by the Ford board, now goes to Union members for a vote.

Workers at Ford skeptical about deal, by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, November 4, 2007
Detroit—A Ford employee and former UAW official says, after GM and Chrysler announced layoffs immediately after new union contracts were accepted by employees, Ford workers will be less inclined to believe that the pledges will protect jobs.

Crime scene: Cleveland’s crime rate is raising concerns of business owners who are operating within the city limits, by David Bennett, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 5, 2007 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Although over-all property crime has remained steady in the last few years, Case Western Reserve University research showed a significant increase between 2005 and 2006. This report includes interviews with several Cleveland-based manufacturers, and covers the potential Internet-based remote video monitoring may have in reducing the incidence of property crime.

Kaydon Corp. acquires Avon Bearings, October 29, 2007 (PDF)
Ann Arbor—Kaydon Corp. acquired Avon Lake, Ohio-based Avon Bearings Corp. for $55 million in cash. The company said Avon, a custom designer and manufacturer of high-precision, large-diameter turntable bearings, will accelerate growth of its Kaydon Bearings business, especially in the growing market for wind energy projects.

Kotzalas named top young engineer, Business Wire via Forbes.com, November 4, 2007
North Canton—SAE International/Association of Equipment Manufacturers selected Timken Co.'s Michael Kotzalas for its 2007 Outstanding Young Engineer Award for the Off-Highway Industry. Kotzalas, a technical group leader for Timken, holds two patents for cylindrical roller bearing designs and is the co-author of the fifth edition of the engineering industry standard reference book, Rolling Bearing Analysis.