WKYC's "Home Made" series features The Chilcote Company, WKYC, November 29, 2007
Cleveland—100 years ago David Chilcote's grandfather started a little business to make cardboard mountings for photographs. Before long, he built the factory that still stands on Superior Avenue where nearly 400 employees manufacture paper and foil products used by professional photographers. Read the story and view the video clip featuring one of Cleveland's most venerable manufacturing companies.

Cleveland Angel Fair: Investors inspect inventive exhibits, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, November 30, 2007
Cleveland—Twelve young companies got a chance to impress 100 potential investors at the first Cleveland Angel Fair held at Cleveland State University on Nov. 29th. Attendees said the five-hour affair was a rare opportunity to chat with entrepreneurs, investors, chief executives, researchers and economic development groups under one roof.

Goodyear [headquarters] deal could be finished next week, by Rick Armon, Stephanie Warsmith, Phil Trexler and Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, November 30, 2007
Akron—Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. appears poised to accept a deal to build a new worldwide headquarters in Akron, ending any fear the company might move out of the city and Ohio.

Middlefield, Ohio company to produce new lubricant/coating additive, PR Newswire via CNN Money, November 16, 2007
Dallas—Platinum Research Organization announced selection of Middlefield, Ohio-based Chem Technologies Ltd. to produce its TechroBond 280, a new additive for industrial greases. Chem Technologies specializes in blending chemical additives into pre-weighed batch inclusive packaging for the rubber, plastics and other industries.

Lincoln Electric announces joint venture with Chinese welding materials company, PR Newswire via CNN Money, November 29, 2007
Cleveland—Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a majority-owned joint venture with Zhengzhou Heli Welding Materials Co., Ltd., a privately- held manufacturer of subarc flux based in Zhengzhou, China. The joint venture will manufacture subarc flux and subarc wire in Zhengzhou.

Masco implements previously announced leadership changes, PR Newswire via CNN Money, November 29, 2007
Taylor, Mich.—Masco Corporation, parent company of Middlefield, Ohio-based Kraftmaid Cabinetry Inc., announced its President and C.O.O., Alan H. Barry, will retire effective Nov. 30, as previously announced. C.E.O. Timothy Wadhams will assume the additional title of President. Executive V.P. Donald J. DeMarie, Jr., will serve as C.O.O.

Area economy has bright spots, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, November 29, 2007
Cleveland—Some in-depth number crunching by Cleveland State University's Center for Economic Development reveals recent growth in several sectors of Northeast Ohio's manufacturing industry. In addition, a geographic breakdown shows that half of Northeast Ohio's 16 counties added manufacturing jobs in the past couple of years.

MAGNET published the November 2007 Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Brief (PDF, 800k) in conjunction with the U.S. Economic Development Administration

Related stories:

Three of the five largest manufacturing industries in Northeast Ohio increased both employment and gross regional product from 2004 to 2006, MAGNET press release via Reuters, November 29, 2007

Manufacturing news mixed for Northeast Ohio, WKYC-TV News, November 29, 2007

Cleveland-area manufacturers lag state and nation in job creation, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 28, 2007.

Governor visits UT incubator, touts Toledo alternate-energy hub, by Tom Henry, Toledo Blade, November 29, 2007
Toledo—Gov. Ted Strickland got an earful yesterday from local energy entrepreneurs and dignitaries, then extolled the virtues of his state energy plan he has gotten through the Ohio Senate and soon hopes to have taken up by the Ohio House.

Restructured B&W is renamed, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, November 29, 2007
Lynchburg, Va.—Babcock & Wilcox Co. announced a new name for its Barberton, Ohio-headquartered division that manufactures large coal-fired boilers and pollution-control equipment for electric utilities: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Inc. The company also announced a new Virginia-based nuclear power subsidiary called Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group Inc.

Closing catches tool shop off guard, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, November 29, 2007
New Franklin, Ohio—Parent company Kennametal unexpectedly announced it has tentatively decided to close the Manchester Tool Co. plant by the end of March. A USW representative said the closing was completely unexpected, because 67 union members have been working extra shifts and orders for steel and carbide products made at the company have been strong.

American Standard Co. factory in Tiffin to close, Toledo Blade, November 29, 2007
Tiffin, Ohio—A tentative decision has been made to shutter the American Standard Co. Inc. factory here, idling 165 hourly employees, company and union officials said. Reasons cited included disparity with the company's Mexican factories as well as excess product inventory caused by the subprime mortgage and foreclosure crisis.

Diebold growing in Latin America, by Allison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 28, 2007
North Canton—Diebold Inc. announced plans to partner with Central American distributor to gain a direct presence throughout most of Latin America. On January 1 the company will begin operating in the region under the name Diebold Central America.

Related press release: Diebold Agreement to Form a Direct Operation in Central America, Diebold, November 28, 2007.

Hinkley Lighting buys Fredrick Ramond of California, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 27, 2007
Lakewood, Ohio—Hinkley Lighting Inc., a designer and manufacturer of up-scale residential lamps and fixtures, announced the acquisition of California-based Fredrick Ramond Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

U.S. railroads face pressure to merge, CN Chief Says, by Hugo Miller, Bloomberg, November 27, 2007
Montreal—The CEO of Canadian National Railway Co. says investors will pressure the biggest U.S. railroads to merge over the next five to six years. A combination between two of the four largest U.S. railroads would create a single transcontinental carrier or allow one railroad to dominate freight in either the western or eastern U.S.

No cuts expected at Salem plant, Youngstown Vindicator, November 28, 2007
Salem, Ohio—A recent change of ownership will not affect jobs at the Salem, Ohio plant which employs 365 hourly workers manufacturing bathtubs, sinks and whirlpools, according to a spokesperson for American Standard Americas (formerly the American Standard Co.). Private investment firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc. will acquire a controlling interest in the company from Bain Capital Partners, Inc., which will retain a minority stake in the new company.

Government declines to file charges against 9 former Delphi execs, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, November 28, 2007
Detroit—The U.S. Justice Department has decided not to file criminal charges against nine former Delphi Corp. officials involving allegations of accounting fraud at the struggling auto-parts maker.

Financing set for Dana to exit from bankruptcy, Toledo Blade, November 28, 2007
Toledo—Dana Corp. said yesterday it has commitments for $2 billion in financing as it tries to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy at least by the end of January.

Wabash National Selects Goodyear Tires for Its Trailer Lines, PR Newswire via CNNMoney.com, November 27, 2007
Akron—The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that it has signed a one-year agreement to be the preferred tire supplier for semi trailers manufactured by Lafayette, Indiana-based Wabash National Corporation.

Liveable Community Awards: Toledo earns 3rd in global awards, by Bevan Hurley, Toledo Blade, November 27, 2007
London—Toledo placed third in its population category at the prestigious International Liveable Community Awards, behind Malmo, Sweden and Lyons, France. The U.N. Environmental Program sponsors the awards which recognize communities that embrace the environment and promote responsible future planning. Forty-six communities from 23 nations participated in this year's competition.

Judge asked to strike down lead paint cleanup plan, by Eric Tucker, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 27, 2007
Providence, R.I.—Three former lead paint manufacturers, including Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams, asked a judge Monday to strike down a proposed state plan for the companies to pay about $2.4 billion to clean up thousands of properties contaminated with the toxic substance.

UT chosen office site of energy alliance; 15 Ohio universities in collaborative group, by Meghan Gilbert, Toledo Blade, November 27, 2007
Toledo—The University of Toledo will house the offices of the statewide University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio. Fifteen Ohio universities formed the alliance to collaborate on discovery, develop and commercialization of energy-related technologies.

Ohio coal production drops, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, November 27, 2007
Columbus—After four years of increases, Ohio coal production dropped 10 percent in 2006, according to the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources. State and industry officials indicated the dip could be cyclical and they predicted mining will increase in Ohio.

After fire disruption, WCI Steel begins to restart its operations, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, November 27, 2007
Warren—After repairing a blast furnace damaged in a fire on Nov. 9, production at WCI Steel was restarted Sunday, when crews started loading the blast furnace with coke, iron ore and limestone. The rolling mill, which had remained in operation using existing inventory, shut down on Nov. 22 and may be restarted next week.

Four counties mull joint port authority, by David Patch, Toledo Blade, November 23, 2007
Napoleon, (Northwest) Ohio—Officials from Defiance, Fulton, Henry, and Paulding counties met Tuesday to discuss pooling resources to create a joint port authority that could boost economic development projects.

Upcoming events:

Friday, November 30—7:00 am to 9:00 am—Leadership Breakfast Series: John M. Stropki, Lincoln Electric, Corporate College East, sponsored by the Cleveland Engineering Society, visit www.cesnet.org or call 216-361-3100.

Tuesday, December 4—8:00 am to 10:00 am—Manufacturing Forum at Foseco Metallurgical Inc., 20200 Sheldon Road, Cleveland, 44142, sponsored by the Work in Northeast Ohio Council (WINOC), e-mail bobmeyer@winoc.org.

Rio Tinto fights to keep BHP bid at bay, BBC World Service, November 26, 2007
Analysts say that Rio Tinto's refusal to team up with BHP indicates its conviction that mineral and metal prices will stay high for years to come.

Related stories:

Rio Tinto delivers bullish outlook as it aims to fend off BHP bid, by Alex Wilson, Wall Street Journal, November 26, 2007. (Subscription)

BHP Billiton bid for rival driven by mining boom, by Jason Singer and Robert Guy Matthews, Wall Street Journal, November 9, 2007 (subscription)
Melbourne, Australia and London—BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, bid $142 billion for London-based Rio Tinto, which rebuffed the offer. BHP signaled it would continue to pursue a deal. A merger could allow a combined BHP-Rio Tinto to better manage logistics of getting products from mines to factories. The deal is likely to face antitrust scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe.

Cleveland State's Fenn Academy, high schools, businesses recruit engineering students, by Angela Townsend, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 26, 2007
Fenn Academy, a partnership started two years ago among CSU's Fenn College of Engineering and several local high schools attracts high school students to engineering careers in this region by offering them college credit for high school engineering courses.

Precision Metalforming Association issues gloomy business conditions report, November 19, 2007
According to PMA’s November 2007 Business Conditions Report, only 15 percent of participants expect business conditions to improve soon. The survey samples opinions from executives at 145 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada.