Sherwin-Williams Co. buys Italian wood coatings business, by Shaheen Samavati, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2010
Cleveland—Sayerlack Industrial Wood Coatings makes industrial wood stains and finishes for use in the furniture and cabinets industry. The division had net sales of $147 million in 2009, according to Sherwin-Williams.

GM to invest $59 million in Defiance plant, hire 80 workers, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2010
Defiance, Ohio—The $59 million investment will give the plant the capacity to forge 188,000 engine blocks per year. It's part of GM's plan to support new versions of its Ecotec engine line.

American Greetings' talks with Brooklyn under wraps, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2010
Brooklyn, Ohio—A day after offering ideas to American Greetings Corp. officials on ways to keep the greeting card-maker in Brooklyn, Mayor Richard Balbier said he hopes to hear back from the company in a month.

W.P. Carey affiliate buys Middleburg Heights home of Nova Machine Products, by Stan Bullard, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 18, 2010
Middleburg Heights, Ohio—An affiliate of a New York-based investment firm has bought the Middleburg Heights headquarters and factory of Nova Machine Products Inc. for $9.6 million, according to Cuyahoga County land records.

Toyota Recall News Roundup:

• Transportation Department to investigate Toyota Corolla, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2010
• Power steering concerns have Toyota on verge of recalling popular Corolla subcompact, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2010
• Toyota investigating Corolla steering problems, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2010
• Toyota to offer details of task force, by Norihiko Shirouzu, Wall Street Journal, February 16, 2010 (Subscription)
• Transportation Department demands Toyota recall documents, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2010
• Toyota to idle 2 U.S. assembly plants amid recalls, by Ken Thomas and Stephen Manning, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 16, 2010
• Toyota faces more death reports, by Ken Bensinger and Ralph Vartabedianm McClatchy-Tribune News Service via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2010
• Toyota woes put focus on black box, by Dionne Searcey and Kate Linebaugh, Wall Street Journal, February 15, 2010 (Subscription)
• Toyota plans to boost testing and disclosure, by Norihiko Shirouzu, Wall Street Journal, February 15, 2010 (Subscription)
• Toyota has repaired 500,000 vehicles, by Sharon Terlep, Wall Street Journal, February 15, 2010 (Subscription)
• Toyota may lengthen warranties to keep customers, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 15, 2010
• Toyota studies electronics again, trip undecided, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 15, 2010
• Toyota-funded study finds no problems with electronics, by Kate Linebaugh, Wall Street Journal, February 14, 2010 (Subscription)
• Toyota sued in California over acceleration deaths, AP via Canton Repository, February 13, 2010
• Dana begins recall of Tacoma pickups, Toledo Blade, February 13, 2010
• Toyota recalls Tacoma trucks over propeller shaft, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 12, 2010

This Week's Earnings Reports:

• Cliffs Natural Resources sees 2009 profit fall on lower sales, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2010
• Goodyear attributes fourth-quarter profit to improving sales in some global markets, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2010
• Brush Engineered Materials loses $3.6 million in fourth quarter, but sales trending up, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2010
• Brush Engineered Materials reports larger fourth-quarter loss, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 17, 2010
• Owens Corning reports sales down, loss in fourth quarter 2009, Toledo Blade, February 17, 2010
• La-Z-Boy posts profit of $11M for third quarter, Toledo Blade, February 17, 2010

HDT Engineered Technologies acquires Nordic Air Inc., Crain's Cleveland Business, February 17, 2010
Solon, Ohio—Formerly known as Hunter Defense Technologies, the company's purchase of Nordic Air follows last month's acquisition of Airborne Systems Group Ltd.

V&M Star’s pipe mill shows rise in productivity, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, February 17, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—V&M isn’t the only company trying to take advantage of increasing demand. In the past five weeks, two other companies have announced plans to build new mills to produce pipe for natural-gas exploration.

• Editorial: A new steel plant in Youngstown, thanks to foreign investment, Akron Beacon Journal, February 17, 2010

Workers: Denman Tire stalled, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 17, 2010
Braceville, Ohio—Workers for specialty tire maker Denman Tire Corp. have told the Tribune Chronicle that management ordered them on Feb. 5 not to return to work until further notice. Company and United Steelworkers Local 98L officials either didn't return numerous phone calls in recent days or declined to speak on the record.

Conneaut turbines will be creating power this month, by Mark Todd, Ashtabula Star Beacon, February 17, 2010
Conneaut, Ohio—Two wind turbines recently built in Conneaut will be spinning out electricity no later than the end of this month, according to a spokesman NexGen Energy, the Colorado company that built the generators.

Industrial production rises 0.9 percent in January, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2010
Washington—The report on industrial production from the Federal Reserve showed gains in all three major categories: manufacturing, mining and utilities.

Factories gear up to hire; Industrial output up again, by Sara Murray and Robert Guy Matthews, Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—Manufacturers are seeing more signs that the U.S. economic recovery is on a solid footing, opening the way for new hiring as well as call-backs for factory workers laid off during the depths of the recession.

Three companies quit Climate Action Partnership over moves on climate, by John Lorinc, New York Times, February 16, 2010
Washington—BP America, ConocoPhillips and Caterpillar said Tuesday that they were discontinuing membership in the lobbying group, which includes corporate giants like Alcoa and DuPont, and influential environmental organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund. The three companies cited concerns over the direction that climate change legislation has taken in Congress. Oil companies are particularly upset about concessions Congress has made to the coal and utility industries.

• Defections shake up climate coalition, by Stephen Power and Ben Casselman, Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2010 (Subscription)

V&M delivers plant, 350 jobs, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, February 16, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—V&M Star Steel said construction will start next month on a $650 million pipe mill that will employ 350 people. It will be the biggest industrial plant to be built in the Mahoning Valley since the GM Lordston plant was built in the 1960s. The company needs the new mill because of an expected jump in demand for drilling pipe needed for natural-gas exploration.

• Youngstown area to get 350 more jobs when new steel tube plant opens, by Shaheen Samavati, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2010
• V&M Steel plans $650 million addition, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 16, 2010
• Breaking News: V&M gives go-ahead to project, Youngstown Business Journal, February 15, 2010

American Greetings in talks with Brooklyn over proposed move, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2010
Brooklyn, Ohio—Brooklyn city officials met quietly with American Greetings Corp. executives on Tuesday to talk about how to keep the company from leaving Brooklyn. But neither side would divulge details on what was said.

Chrysler has offer of $27.5 million for Twinsburg stamping plant, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2010
Twinsburg, Ohio—Park Corp., a company with extensive Midwest holdings in the metals industry, has reportedly offered $27.5 million to buy Chrysler's Twinsburg 195-acre stamping plant site.

• Potential buyer bids $27.5 million for Twinsburg stamping plant, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, February 16, 2010
• Park Corp. makes $27.5 million bid for Chrysler plant in Twinsburg, by Stan Bullard, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 16, 2010

Ford lays off 900 workers at Mustang plant in Michigan, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2010
Detroit—Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday that it plans to cut 900 workers at the Michigan plant that makes the Mustang, which saw sales drop sharply last year, but most will get positions at other facilities.

Bridgestone to hold technical center groundbreaking Thursday, Akron Beacon Journal, February 16, 2010
Akron—Bridgestone Americas will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday for its new $100 million technical center in Akron. The company expects workers to move into the building by late 2011 or early 2012.

• Tire maker to replace its No. 1 executive, Akron Beacon Journal, February 16, 2010
  Nashville, Tenn.—Effective March 1, Gary A. Garfield will succeed Mark Emkes as chief executive and president of Bridgestone Americas.

Factory activity likely to stay on upswing, Wall Street Journal, February 16, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—The broader rebound in U.S. manufacturing activity has been one sign that the economic recovery is gathering strength, despite high unemployment and a still-weak housing market.

RPM primed to expand via acquisition, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 15, 2010 (Subscription)
Medina, Ohio—RPM International Inc., a producer of coatings, caulks, sealants, roofing materials and other construction-related goods, kicks off the year with a new acquisition, a war chest of about $750 million and an appetite for more deals.

Babcock & Wilcox looks to future, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 15, 2010 (Subscription)
Barberton, Ohio—B&W quietly is working on a way to extract carbon dioxide from coal-fired utility emissions. Its pilot facility — only a fraction of the size of what eventually could be built onto a real power plant — has tested well so far, the company reports.

NorTech Innovation Awards 2010, by Amy Ann Stossel, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 15, 2010 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Crain's profiles the finalists in advance of the Feb. 24 awards ceremony. The annual Awards program is intended to honor the innovations and achievements of companies, entrepreneurs, universities and nonprofit organizations from throughout Northeast Ohio.

Jeep rolls toward milestone, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, February 15, 2010
Toledo—Toledo's most famous ambassador turns 70 this summer, and city leaders - with its parents' blessing - want to throw a special party on the spot where it was born. Support is building for the idea to mark the Wrangler milestone by building a four-wheel-drive "playground" on the now-vacant 70-acre site of Chrysler's former Toledo Jeep Assembly Plant on Jeep Parkway in West Toledo.

Area businesses find refinancing through SBA, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, February 15, 2010
Akron—The ABJ profiles Doyle Systems, a light manufacturer in Barberton, Ohio. The company found a loan with assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration that helped it stay in business during the economic downturn in 2009.

Little Tikes and Step2 in NYC toy showcase, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, February 15, 2010
Hudson and Streetsboro, Ohio—Little Tikes (Hudson) and Step2 (Streetsboro) will be exhibiting at the 2010 Toy Fair that opens in New York today.

AEP issues RFP for biomass fuel, Business First of Columbus, February 15, 2010
Columbus, Ohio—American Electric Power Company Inc. is seeking companies to deliver blended coal and biomass fuel to five Ohio plants as it works to meet state regulations on electricity generation.

Made in Stark: Innovation, production merge at Sare Plastics, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, February 14, 2010
Lexington Township, Ohio—In its weekly Sunday feature, the Repository features Sare Plastics which makes Silca Systems, a product that allows the installation of stone, brick, tile or pavers on any elevated surface.

Planned closure of Hugo Boss plant in Brooklyn raises questions of fairness, by Olivera Perkins, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 14, 2010
Cleveland—Union leaders continue to protest plans to close the Hugo Boss plant in Brooklyn. The company says the facility must be closed because it is not competitive with the company's other facilities abroad.

Exal Corp. executive upbeat on new Youngstown plant, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, February 13, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Delfin Gibert, president of Exal Corp., is confident he can begin construction of a new 400-employee plant this year even though financing is not complete. Gibert is hoping for about $20 million in government financing to assist in construction of the new plant in Salt Springs Road Industrial Park to make aluminum cans and bottles in specialty shapes.

• Exal eyes april groundbreaking for plant, by George Nelson, Youngstown Business Journal, February 15, 2010

Report: New survey says companies are going green, and expecting suppliers to follow suit, by Sean Murphy, Modern Materials Handling, February 12, 2010
London, U.K.—The nonprofit Carbon Disclosure Project that collects climate change data from corporations recently released the results of its annual CDP Supply Chain Report. CDP says suppliers to large corporate clients should be prepared to discuss sustainability and environmental business practices with their customers. According to the report, 63% of the companies surveyed have "a formal, documented corporate climate change strategy," and 89% of respondents have "an established strategy" for working with suppliers on carbon-related topics.