First Solar kicks off Perrysburg Township expansion, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, October 7, 2008
Perrysburg Township, Ohio—First Solar Inc., a Tempe, Ariz., company with deep roots in Toledo, officially broke ground yesterday on a huge expansion project at its 500,000-square-foot solar-panel production plant in Perrysburg Township.

German solar-power firm's new Beachwood office finds eager Ohio collaborators, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 6, 2008
Cleveland—MAN Ferrostaal Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a German engineering and construction service company, is talking to about three dozen local and U.S. companies about possible collaborations.

Down economy weighs heavily on manufacturers, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 6, 2008 (Subscription)
Cleveland—The credit crunch and the attendant damage to the economy are starting to inflict a noticeable toll on Northeast Ohio manufacturers. Crain's interviews area economists and company executives on how the crisis is affecting their companies' growth plans.

Archway files for bankruptcy, by Ryan Holland, Battlecreek Enquirer, October 6, 2008
Battlecreek, Mich.—Citing rising food and fuel costs, two subsidiaries of Archway & Mother's Cookie Company Inc. have filed for bankruptcy, effectively shutting down the firm's U.S. operations, including a 50-year-old Archway Cookie plant in Ashland, Ohio that employs 60 people.

Oil prices fall as financial turmoil goes global, by Stevenson Jacobs, AP via Canton Repository, October 7, 2008
New York—Oil prices plunged below $90 a barrel Monday, coming within reach of year-ago levels as a widening financial maelstrom spreads overseas and crimps global demand for energy.

Hot business leads Rad-Con to Lakewood, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 6, 2008 (Subscription)
Bay Village, Ohio—Thanks to export-fueled growth, Rad-Con, a maker of furnaces used in the production of steel strip and wire, is moving its headquarters to Lakewood from Bay Village.

Event: PMA Annual Trainer's Roundtable, Oct. 21-22, PMA HQ in Independence, sponsored by the Precision Manufacturing Association
A networking dinner and awards ceremony on Friday, will be followed by a full-day of training-related programs for companies who manage or implement training. For registration info, download the program flyer (PDF, 131k)

Food manufacturers take measures in response to rising costs, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, October 5, 2008
Toledo—As the costs of food ingredients and non-edible materials have risen, grocery manufacturers have adjusted by changing packaging rather than increasing prices.

Ferro to sell Fine Chemicals business, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 4, 2008
Cleveland—Ferro Corp. said today it has forged an agreement to sell its Fine Chemicals business to Novolyte Technologies for $66 million in cash.

Specialty steel plant planned near Youngstown, by Sarah Hollander, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 4, 2008
Canton—Republic Special Metals Inc. announced plans to break ground on a $64-million specialty steel manufacturing plant in North Jackson, Ohio, near Youngstown.

Cleveland Cliffs gets support for buyout, by Mark Williams, AP via Canton Repository, October 4, 2008
Columbus— A hedge fund lost the fight to double its holdings in Cleveland-Cliffs on Friday, a move that would have allowed it to block the iron ore miner's $4 billion buyout of Alpha Natural Resources.