Lima industrial park is finalist for $300M plant, Toledo Blade, February 3, 2012
Lima, Ohio—Gateway Commerce Park, at State Route 65 and I-75 is one of two finalists for a $300 million manufacturing project, according to the vice president of the Allen County Economic Development Group.

Lubrizol seeks to give grants to area science teachers, Willoughby News-Herald, February 3, 2012
Eastlake, Ohio—The Lubrizol Corporation Lake County Science Teacher Award winner will receive $5,000 for science-related teaching expenses. The runner-up will receive $2,500 for science-related teaching expenses.

This week's earnings reports:

• Invacare Corp. reports large fourth-quarter loss vs. year-ago profit, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 2, 2012
  
• Toledo-built models perform well for Chrysler, Toledo Blade, February 2, 2012
• U.S. auto sales rise in January, led by Chrysler, Volkswagen, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 1, 2012
• Higher sales lift Chrysler to $183 million profit in 2011, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 1, 2012
  
• Honda profit off; plunge for year projected, Toledo Blade, February 1, 2012

Chrysler factory workers to get profit-sharing checks, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 2, 2012
Detroit—About 26,000 union-represented workers in the U.S. should get the payments under Chrysler's contract with the United Auto Workers union that was signed last fall. CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday that both salaried and hourly workers would get profit-sharing checks, but he would not reveal the amounts.

Cleveland area leads nation in percentage drop in jobs, by Olivera Perkins, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 2, 2012
Cleveland—The Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor metro area saw a 0.2 percent decrease in nonfarm payroll employment between December 2010 and December 2011. Although manufacturing grew last year, the increase could not offset job losses in finance and insurance, said George Zeller, an economic research analyst in Cleveland.

Weber Technologies Inc. in Eastlake acquired by Enginetics Aerospace, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 2, 2012
Eastlake, Ohio—Weber Technologies Inc., a company in Eastlake that is a provider of metalforming services for the aerospace industry, has been acquired by Enginetics Aerospace of Huber Heights, near Dayton.

U.S. auto-parts sector under siege by China; Subsidies blamed for trade deficit, by Tom Troy, Toledo Blade, February 2, 2012
Toledo—The auto-parts manufacturing industry, which employs thousands of men and women in northwest Ohio, is facing a grave threat from China, according to two new studies.

Manufacturers urge students to get skills; big demand for skilled welders, by Joe Giesy, Youngstown Business Journal, February 2, 2012
Champion, Ohio—The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition is partnering with area career and technical centers to inform students about a surplus of skilled trade positions -- and good careers -- available for the taking.

Manufacturers coalition to host career open houses, Youngstown Vindicator, February 1, 2012
Canfield, Ohio—During the open houses, members of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition, a coalition of more than a dozen local manufacturers and education and work-force members, will provide input regarding the manufacturing industry.

Opinion: In search of bright blue collars, by Sharon Broussard, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 1, 2012
Cleveland—Manufacturing workers need higher-level math skills and even an associate degree from community college to run ro bots, design tools and program machines. And most of these jobs pay well. The average annual wage is $51,107, which in this area is solidly middle-class pay.

Woman wins $9,800 in small-claims suit over Honda hybrid, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 1, 2012
Los Angeles—The judge ruled that the automaker misled her about the potential fuel economy of her hybrid car, but he could not find intentional fraud and thus did not award punitive damages. Most of the damages Peters was awarded were for extra money spent on fuel, both in the past and future, the cost of the car battery, and the decrease in the car's value because of its problems.

Honda to invest $98 million at western Ohio engine plant, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 1, 2012
Anna, Ohio— Honda said today it will invest $98 million at its largest auto engine plant for the western Ohio facility to produce components for its new transmission technology. Honda announced $120 million in investments last year for the production of the CVT at the plant in nearby Russells Point.

Manufacturing expands at fastest pace since June, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 1, 2012
Washington—U.S. factories grew in January at the fastest pace in seven months, boosted by a rise in new orders.

Applied Industrial Technologies buys two Quebec-based distributors, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 1, 2012
Cleveland—Applied Industrial Technologies has acquired Quebec-based distributors Solutions Industrielles Chicoutimi and Spécialités Industrielles Harvey for an undisclosed sum. Both businesses will continue to operate under the existing names and with their existing management.

Athersys secures $3.6 million in grants to advance MultiStem, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 1, 2012
Cleveland—"These grant awards provide us with additional funding to support further development of MultiStem in specific therapeutic areas, as well as enhance our manufacturing platform," said Gil Van Bokkelen, Athersys chairman and CEO, in a statement.

Parker Hannifin acquires railroad filtration business in Canada, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 1, 2012
Cleveland—Parker Hannifin Corp. has acquired the railroad filtration business of the Camfil Farr Group, a maker of air and liquid filtration products used in rail and transit, mining and marine engine applications.

China accused of unfair trade in auto parts, by Dan O'Brien, Youngstown Business Journal, February 1, 2012
Youngstown, Ohio—Three reports released Tuesday by the Alliance for American Manufacturing claim that more than 1.6 million jobs in the domestic auto-supply industry are at risk because of unfair trade practices by China.

Obama: 'U.S. auto industry is back', by Donovan Slack, Politico.com, February 1, 2012
Washington—President Barack Obama took a victory lap of sorts at the Washington Auto Show Tuesday. The president viewed more than a dozen new electric and hybrid models from Ford, Dodge and General Motors, and even sat in the drivers seat of a few, checking out the interiors.

Local economists see positive signs as wages, employment rise in Ohio, by Steve Bennish, Dayton Daily News, February 1, 2012
Dayton, Ohio—Governor Kasich cited Ohio auto industry wins in 2011 that include $500 million in new investments in Toledo; Ford’s $75-million investment in its Ohio Assembly facility in Avon Lake; GM’s $198-million investment in its Toledo transmission plant; and a powertrain plant in Defiance that will see a $47 million investment to begin making new, fuel-efficient auto engines.

Cleveland's west-side New Tech academy will have national attention in Wednesday webcast, by Patrick O'Donnell, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 31, 2012
Cleveland—Cleveland's New Tech high school on the West Side will be one of the schools featured in a national Internet broadcast Wednesday celebrating Digital Learning Day with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The Town Hall segment featuring New Tech will air at 2:15 p.m.

Steelworkers give Timken new contract proposal, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, January 31, 2012
Canton—The United Steelworkers union said it gave Timken Co. executives a contract proposal on Friday and that “the parties discussed their mutual desire to secure the investment for the Canton area,” meaning spending $225 million to expand and upgrade its Faircrest steel mill.

Newell Rubbermaid to add jobs, invest $25 million at Mogadore plant, Crain's Cleveland Business, January 31, 2012
Cleveland—Newell Rubbermaid said it plans to add nearly 140 full-time jobs and invest more than $25 million in its Rubbermaid manufacturing plant on Gilchrist Road in the village of Mogadore. Newell Rubbermaid currently employs more than 700 workers at the plant.

Talks slated by union, Cooper Tire in Findlay, by Tyrel Linkhorn, Toledo Blade, January 31, 2012
Findlay, Ohio— Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. officials have agreed to sit down with union negotiators in Findlay next week, a union official said Monday.

L'Oreal to close former Matrix Essentials plant in Solon, cut 260 jobs, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 31, 2012
Cleveland—The company plans to consolidate all of its shampoo and conditioner production in Kentucky and New Jersey. In 2001, L'Oreal proposed a $60 million expansion of the Solon site that would have doubled its size, but the deal fell apart when it couldn't get zoning changes from Solon.

General Motors to shift some parts production to Texas from Parma, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 31, 2012
Cleveland—General Motors Co. will move some work from Parma to a new $200 million plant in Texas next year, but the automaker does not expect to cut any jobs locally.

A. Schulman Inc. to acquire Elian SAS of France for $63 milion, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, January 31, 2012
Akron—Elian, a portfolio company of British Vita plc, provides specialty formulated color concentrates to end markets including health care, cosmetics, packaging, pipes and tubing, and personal hygiene products.

Blue Spark Technologies opens printed batteries plant in Wisconsin, Crain's Cleveland Business, January 31, 2012
Cleveland—Blue Spark said the new plant extends its capability to produce large volumes of its line of disposable, flexible carbon zinc batteries “to meet growing demand for printed electronics that power innovations in commercial and industrial packaging.”

Green Rock Lighting sees a bright future in LEDs, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, January 30, 2012
Cleveland—Green Rock Lighting, a unit of R.H. Industries, has invested heavily to produce LED fixtures with a view to the growing number of U.S. cities preparing to upgrade their street lighting. The company is partnering with California-based Bridgelux, a manufacturer of LED arrays that will provide the critical light-emitting diodes. (Subscription)

In planning for new Flats group, industrial reps feel minimized, by Jay Miller, Crain's Cleveland Business, January 30, 2012
Cleveland—Plans are under way to re-create an advocacy group for Cleveland's Flats called Flats Forward. But a spokesman for the Flats Industry Association says the planners aren't paying enough attention to the concerns of companies in the industrial and maritime sectors. (Subscription)

NASA assists Magnet's latest loans; 10 awardees will get help from Glenn, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, January 30, 2012
Cleveland—MAGNET is helping to administer local government loans intended to help manufacturers bring new products to market. The loans come with free engineering help from Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center. (Subscription)

Area manufacturers envision training center, by George Nelson, Youngstown Business Journal, January 30, 2012
Youngstown, Ohio—The Mahoning Valley Manufactures Coalition is spearheading an effort to establish a regional training center focusing on manufacturing and the skilled trades.

China unfairly limits export of raw materials, WTO says, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 30, 2012
Geneva, Switzerland—A WTO appeals body largely sided with the United States, European and Mexico, which had taken issue with Chinese restrictions on its exports of nine materials used widely in the steel, aluminum and chemical industries.

U.S. manufacturing making comeback; Some exported jobs return home, by Mark Williams, Columbus Dispatch, January 29, 2012
Columbus—American companies that shipped work abroad now are starting to bring manufacturing jobs back to this country: Several hundred thousand manufacturing positions are expected to open in the United States in the next decade.

Editorial: Coal plants' loss will hurt Ohio, by Plain Dealer Editorial Board, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 29, 2012
Cleveland—The EPA should be more deliberative in rolling out regulations that disproportionately affect coal states, with adjustment assistance to the communities most affected.

Editorial: Healthy option: First Energy retiring six coal-fired power plants, by ABJ Editorial Board, , January 29, 2012
Akron—The cry quickly sounded about the excessive cost, especially in a fragile economy. What the critics push aside are the far greater benefits, long the outcome of such environmental legislation. The EPA calculates that the mercury rules will prevent 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks per year.

Editorial: Clean Ohio is vital to shale work, by Tribune Chronicle Editorial Board, Warren Tribune-Chronicle, January 29, 2012
Warren, Ohio—Gov. John Kasich's recent announcement to continue the voter-approved Clean Ohio Fund, which had come under threat because its funding source - statewide liquor profits - is being diverted to the JobsOhio economic development agency, is a relief. But it's relief with reservations. Kasich's plan to finance the Clean Ohio Fund is missing many details.

Greater Cleveland manufacturers testing new strategies to fight skills gap, by Robert L. Smith, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 28, 2012
Cleveland—The labor shortage has gotten bad enough that dozens of manufacturers like Astro have banded together to plot training strategies and something more. They believe a public-relations crusade is needed, a campaign to inject some status back into the blue-collar job.

Ford posts $20.2 billion in profits; third shift set for Brook Park engine plant in May, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 28, 2012
Cleveland—In addition to the third shift at Brook Park, Ford is increasing production of four-cylinder EcoBoost engines at plants in Michigan.

Timken, Steelworkers to keep talking on contract issues involving Faircrest expansion, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, January 28, 2012
Akron—Timken continues to keep the Faircrest expansion in its capital outlay plans “at this point,” Timken President and Chief Executive James W. Griffith said. Because of the strong energy and mining demand for its steel, Timken is “capacity constrained,” he said.