Novelis Inc. to move HQ to Atlanta, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 12, 2010
Cleveland—Novelis Inc., a producer of aluminum rolled products, said about 80 professional positions will be moving its North American HQ to Atlanta as the company consolidates its operations at its world headquaters in Atlanta.

Toyota recall wrap-up:

• Toyota to expand disclosure amid pressure on CEO, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 12, 2010
• Toyota CEO's appearance before Congress under discussion, AP via Toledo Blade, February 12, 2010
• Toyota repairing 50,000 vehicles a day, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 10, 2010
• Handling of Prius recall shows Toyota's poor communication, crisis experts say, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 9, 2010
• Toyota reaches out to customers with marketing campaign, McClatchy via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 9, 2010
• Toyota seeks damage control, in public and private, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 9, 2010
• Toyota recalls hybrids world-wide, by Norihiko Shirouzou, Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2010 (Subscription)
• Toyota recalls 437,000 Priuses, hybrids globally, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 9, 2010
• Toyota details hybrid recall in attempt to contain crisis, by Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, February 9, 2010

This week's earnings reports:

• Sifco earnings rise in first quarter even as sales fall, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 11, 2010
• Libbey optimistic despite loss for 2009, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, February 11, 2010
• TransDigm Group posts lower first-quarter earnings, but raises full-year outlook, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 10, 2010
• TransDigm's first-quarter profit falls 22 percent to $30.8 million, by Alison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 10, 2010
• ArcelorMittal posts fourth-quarter profit, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 11, 2010

Market Diversification Seminar Is Feb. 25, Youngstown Business Journal, February 11, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—MAGNET is offering a free seminar Feb. 25 to explain its market diversification program. The two-hour event will be held in The Valley Center on the Northside Medical Center campus.

Eaton shares image of planned headquarters in Beachwood, by Michelle Jarboe, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 11, 2010
Cleveland—Eaton Corp., which is moving its headquarters from downtown Cleveland to Beachwood in 2012, shared a preliminary design and some details about its much-watched project with employees today.

Huntington Bank to boost small business lending in Cleveland, by Arielle Kass, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 11, 2010
Cleveland—Huntington Bank is continuing its Cleveland push with the announcement that it will make $360 million in loans to small businesses in this area over the next three years.

FirstEnergy agrees to buy Allegheny Energy in $8.5B stock deal, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 11, 2010
Akron—The combined company would retain the FirstEnergy name and would be headquartered in Akron. It would have 10 operating utilities in seven states serving more than 6 million customers.

U.S. probing charges China evading anti-dumping duties, by AFP via Industry Week, February 11, 2010
Washington—The U.S. Commerce Dept. said Thursday officials were looking into allegations that China was evading millions of dollars of U.S. anti-dumping duties on steel wire products by exporting via third countries.

Cleveland signs agreement to build small fuel plant fueled by municipal waste, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 11, 2010
Cleveland—The city of Cleveland has signed a $1.5 million agreement with the Princeton Environmental Group to design a small power plant fueled by municipal waste.

Lake Erie wind turbine backers ready to study wildlife impact, court manufacturer, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 11, 2010
Cleveland—The Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force is taking proposals to count birds and bats in an area three miles off downtown Cleveland, the proposed site for a pilot project of up to eight wind turbines.

KraftMaid's Middlefield headquarters, jobs could move out of state, by Shaheen Samavati, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 11, 2010
Middlefield, Ohio—Masco Corp., the Taylor, Mich.-based conglomerate that has owned KraftMaid since 1990, said Thursday that it plans to merge all of its cabinet-making subsidiaries into one business, called Masco Cabinetry.

Green Inc. Blog: Report pits perception against reality on issue of green business practices, by Sindya N. Bhanhoo, New York Times, February 11, 2010
New York—According to a recent report, released last week by Maddock Douglas, a Chicago-based business consultancy, some companies’ with extensive green practices do not have a green public image, while others who are less concerned with the environment and sustainable business practices are nonetheless perceived to be eco-friendly.

North Baltimore factory plans layoffs, by Joy Brown, Findlay Courier, February 11, 2010
North Baltimore, Ohio—Continental Structural Plastics has announced it will be laying off at least half of its 150-employee work force at its plant here that makes sheet molding composite auto body panels and pickup boxes for vehicles.

GM to recall 700 workers to plant in Canada, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 11, 2010
Oshawa, Ontario—General Motors Co. is adding a second shift late this year at its car assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario, to meet demand for the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro and the Buick Regal.

Honda expands recall, by Shino Yuasa, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 11, 2010
Tokyo—Honda originally announced the recall to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in November 2008, and the total number of vehicles recalled since then is approaching 1 million.

Chemical industry organizes in Ohio, by Bob Downing, Akron Beacon Journal, February 11, 2010
Akron—Officials in a teleconference announced the creation of an Ohio chapter of the Coalition for Chemical Safety, a national industry-backed group organized as Congress begins looking at reforms to the federal Toxic Substances Control Act passed in 1976. The Ohio chemical industry represents 50,000 workers and generates sales of $24 billion annually, with $5 billion of those sales being overseas.

Opinion Asia: Kaizen Goes Kaput, by Darius Mehri, Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—I worked as a research and design engineer in the engine department for a Toyota subsidiary in Japan for over three years in the late 1990s, and observed first-hand the flaws in the vaunted Toyota Production System. Mr. Mehri is the author of Notes From Toyota-Land: An American Engineer in Japan (Cornell University Press, 2005).

State establishes fund to invest in energy projects, Dayton Daily News, February 10, 2010
Columbus, Ohio—State officials have established the Ohio Energy Gateway Fund, a public-private partnership they hope will make at least $80 million available to invest in energy projects and energy technology companies.

Pipe, tube makers: Chinese companies perpetuating fraud, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, February 10, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Wheatland Tube and other domestic pipe and tube producers say Chinese companies are cheating to evade duties that were enacted in 2008.

GM plant puts new car, new machinery through the paces, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 10, 2010
Lordstown, Ohio—On Monday, Twenty assembly plant production workers were transferred to the Lordstown Complex's new West Plant body shop to train on what's being called GM's largest-ever installation of robots—more than 800 weld-sparking, fender-toting, quality-testing mechanical arms and eyes.

Regional meeting seeks ambassadors for Ohio Third Frontier, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, February 10, 2010
Cleveland—A dozen Northeast Ohio economic development organizations—including MAGNET—are hoping to make local business leaders and residents ambassadors for the Ohio Third Frontier Campaign. They've announced a public meeting to be held Feb. 23 in Independence.

Kia unveils plug-in hybrid concept car, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 10, 2010
Chicago—Kia Motors America introduced its new Ray plug-in hybrid concept vehicle Wednesday that is designed to travel up to 50 miles on one battery charge.

Rival automakers expect to gain from Toyota's pain, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 10, 2010
Detroit—A series of recent safety recalls—now totaling more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide—has cracked Toyota's bulletproof reputation and given rivals an opportunity to capture some of its customers.

Athersys gains patent protection for its MultiStem stem cell technology, by Brie Zeltner, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 10, 2010
Cleveland—Athersys Inc. has been granted two patents on its MultiStem stem cell technology that guard it from competitors who may try to use or duplicate its techniques.

US Steel recalls workers back to Lorain plant, by Shaheen Samavati, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 9, 2010
Lorain, Ohio—A union official says United States Steel Corp. has begun recalling laid-off workers at its factory in Lorain, which makes steel tubes used for gas and oil pipelines.

• Steel plant recalls laid off workers, by Scott Allyn, Lorain Morning Journal, February 9, 2010

Eyes on the Road Blog: Cars are getting scary again, by Joseph B. White, Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—The downside of this 30-year evolution is that for many people, cars are becoming scary again. The new, electro-digital automobiles are difficult for laymen to comprehend or repair. Their failures can be impossible for even experts to diagnose.

Cleveland to host Plastics in Medical Devices conference, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 9, 2010
Cleveland—The event, “Plastics in Medical Devices 2010,” kicks off April 12 with a pair of concurrent, afternoon workshops at LaCentre conference center in Westlake, followed by a 31-speaker conference program April 13 and 14.

3 area plants receive federal energy funds, Toledo Blade, February 9, 2010
Columbus, Ohio—Gov. Ted Strickland announced that American Trim, in Lima, General Motors Co.’s Defiance Powertrain Foundry and New Horizons Baking Co. in Norwalk have received funds from the federal stimulus package to improve energy efficiency.

• Delphi, WEK getting energy grants, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 9, 2010
• Delphi Warren gets $979,000 state grant, Youngstown Business Journal, February 9, 2010
• Ohio awards $12M in energy-efficiency grants, Business First of Columbus, February 8, 2010
• Energy upgrades for Summit, Stark, by Bill Lilley, Akron Beacon Journal, February 8, 2010

Governor: Grant supports 44 jobs, by Lou Whitmore, Mansfield News Journal, February 9, 2010
Mansfield, Ohio—Gov. Ted Strickland visited Edge Plastics Monday to deliver a $651,540 grant that will fund the installation of two new injection molding machines used to manufacture large, plastic household storage containers.

GM Europe details restructuring plan, by Christoph Rauwald, Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2010 (Subscription)
Frankfurt, Germany—General Motors Co.'s European division said Tuesday it plans to invest €11 billion ($15.03 billion) on its model line-up by 2014 as part of a complex turnaround plan aimed at reaching break-even in 2011 and returning to profitability in 2012.

Study: NE Ohio's logistics off course, by Jay Miller, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 8, 2010 (Subscription)
Cleveland—A study due out this month from a local economic development cooperative says Northeast Ohio has fallen far behind Columbus and the Toledo area as a center for the transportation and distribution of cargo from around the world.

Aleris International files plan of reorganization under Chapter 11, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 8, 2010 (Subscription)
Beachwood, Ohio—Aleris International Inc., an aluminum recycler and a producer of aluminum products, finally has filed a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

'Flexible electronics' offer area tech muscle, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 8, 2010 (Subscription)
Cleveland—NorTech president Rebecca Bagley believes Northeast Ohio is in a position to exploit many opportunities related to flexible electronics, which companies are using to develop cheaper solar panels, smarter medical devices and computer screens that can be rolled up like newspapers.

New Mather Metals files permanent-layoff notice, Toledo Blade, February 8, 2010
Toledo—New Mather Metals Inc., a local auto-industry supplier that said in August it would close permanently by March, has filed a required regulatory notice that it permanently will lay off its 168 employees in April.

Silgan mum on reasons for closing Port Clinton plastics plant, Toledo Blade, February 8, 2010
Port Clinton, Ohio—A Connecticut-based metals and plastic packaging company with more than 20 manufacturing plants in North America won't say why it chose to close a plastics plant it has owned in Port Clinton for 20 years.

No more push: How Detroit stopped overproducing, by Amy Wilson, Automotive News, February 8, 2010
Detroit—The Detroit 3 entered 2010 with the lowest Jan. 1 days supply and fewest vehicles in stock since Automotive News began recording complete inventory data in 1992. Leaders at GM, Ford and Chrysler say their bad habits are over.

Honda finance chief warns of Toyota fallout, by Yoshio Takahashi and Mariko Sanchanta, Wall Street Journal, February 8, 2010 (Subscription)
Tokyo—Honda Chief Financial Officer Yoichi Hojo warned that Toyota Motor Corp.'s massive recall could have a ripple effect throughout the broader auto industry, denting consumers' faith in the quality and safety of vehicles.

• Toyota's U.S. chief is on the hot seat, by Kate Linebaugh and Norihiko Shirouzu, Wall Street Journal, February 6, 2010 (Subscription)
• Missed signs in Toyota recalls, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 6, 2010

Congressional hearings to focus on Toyota's explanation, regulators' role, McClatchy via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 7, 2010
Washington—Two House committee hearings, one this week and another Feb. 25, will take place amid the high political pressures that shape Washington investigations.

Talk with the Boss: Joe McAleese, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 7, 2010
Cleveland—In its weekly "Talk with the Boss" series, the PD features Joe McAleese, president and chief executive of Elyria's Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC since 2003.

Automakers banking on commercial vehicles, by Jeff Green and Keith Naughton, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, February 7, 2010
New York—Ford Motor Co.'s Transit Connect, a business vehicle used to haul goods such as food and paint, is leading a new wave of delivery vans that might help replace profits lost when Americans fell out of love with pickups.

Diebold announces executive promotions, Akron Beacon Journal, February 7, 2010
Green, Ohio—Diebold Inc. named John M. Deigan as vice president and chief marketing officer and promoted James Chen to executive vice president of international operations.

Going public may lose allure for entrepreneurs, by Clair Cain Miller, New York Times via Akron Beacon Journal, February 7, 2010
New York—Investors in technology startups have been trying to end the drought in initial public offerings of tech companies. But for entrepreneurs, has taking a company public lost its allure?

Smucker, National Instruments on Fortune's list of 100 Best Companies, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 7, 2010
Cleveland—Northeast Ohio companies making Fortune magazine's annual list of 100 Best Companies to Work For are J.M. Smucker Co. of Orrville, No. 47, and National Instruments Corp. of Cleveland, No. 87.

Opinion: The U.S. needs an industrial policy, by John Hofmeister, Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil Company, is founder and CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy, says the next decade could see negative growth thanks to our foolhardy fondness for "free market" philosophies that tell us it's OK to export all our jobs. ... Where to stimulate job creation should be as obvious as the cosmetic smile on an elected official's face: manufacturing.

KraftMaid parent combining cabinet units, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 6, 2010
Middlefield, Ohio—The effect on KraftMaid Cabinetry corporate workers at its Middlefield headquarters has yet to be determined after parent Masco Corp. on Tuesday announced the combination of its cabinet-making units.

Tiny Smart car sputters in U.S., Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, February 6, 2010
New York—Daimler AG's two-year effort to win over U.S. drivers with a thrifty, plastic-clad minicar is running out of steam, adding urgency to the German automaker's effort to find a partner for the Smart brand.