Toledo Powertrain to begin recall of up to 300 workers in April, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, February 26, 2010
Toledo—General Motors Co.'s Toledo Powertrain plant will begin recalling as many as 300 laid-off employees in April for training on the plant's newest product, a six-speed, front-wheel-drive transmission.

First Solar chief sells 40% of shares in firm, Toledo Blade, February 26, 2010
Tempe, Ariz.—First Solar Inc. Chairman Michael Ahearn has sold more than 40 percent of his holding for $142 million. First Solar was founded in Toledo and was bought in 1999 by billionaire John T. Walton, who moved the headquarters. Its only panel plant in North American is in Perrysburg Township.

Honda launches hybrid with more sporty look, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 26, 2010
Tokyo—The car will go on sale in Japan today and in the U.S. and Europe by midyear.

Toyota recall weekly news roundup:

• Toyota's problems spur calls for more regulation, Los Angeles Times via Akron Beacon Journal, February 26, 2010
• Adherents defend the Toyota 'Way,' by Daisuke Wakabayashi, Wall Street Journal, February 26, 2010 (Subscription)
• Crisis puts spotlight on auto electronics, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, February 26, 2010
• Toyota pledges to take safety 'to the next level' by Stephen Manning, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 25, 2010
• Toyota apologizes for handling of safety issues, by Larry Margasak and Ken Thomas, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 23, 2010
• Honda surpasses Toyota as top U.S. seller in wake of recall crisis, by Dan Gearino, Columbus Dispatch via Akron Beacon Journal, February 23, 2010

This Week's Earnings Reports:

• Dana posts $431M loss in '09; sales down 35%, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, February 25, 2010
• OM Group posts fourth-quarter profit, full-year loss, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 25, 2010
• Myers Industries carves out a fourth-quarter profit as sales rise, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 25, 2010
• Olympic Steel ends a bad year with $2.6 million fourth-quarter loss, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 25, 2010
• Chart Industries posts lower profit for fourth quarter, year, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 25, 2010
• Shiloh Industries sales grow, loss shrinks, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 24, 2010
• J.M. Smucker reports record third quarter, profits up 74 percent, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 24, 2010

FirstEnergy plans Brecksville forum, Akron Beacon Journal, February 25, 2010
Akron—A discussion on Smart Grid Technology: Save Energy, Improve Efficiency and Increase Reliability will be held March 10 at FirstEnergy Corp., 6896 Miller Road, Brecksville.

Step2 CEO resigns from job, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, February 25, 2010
Streetsboro, Ohio—Step2 Chief Executive Officer Scott Levin, who joined the Streetsboro toy maker in 2007, has resigned. The new CEO is Jack Vresics, formerly GM of a California company acquired by Step2.

Port authority offers help to V&M Star Steel expansion, by Ron Selak, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 25, 2010
Vienna, Ohio—The Western Reserve Port Authority is extending a hand to V&M Star Steel that, if accepted, would allow the steel tube maker to save money on its new $650 million pipe mill on the border of Girard and Youngstown.

FBI raids 3 Toyota suppliers in Michigan, Search reportedly not connected to recalls, AP via Toledo Blade, February 25, 2010
New York—As part of an anti-trust investigation, the FBI's Detroit office said agents raided the offices of three auto suppliers: Denso Corp. of Southfield, Mich.; Yazaki North America, of Canton, Mich., and Tokai Rika, of Plymouth, Mich.

Start-up Bloom claims fuel-cell breakthrough, by Jim Carlton, Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2010 (Subscription)
San Jose, Calif.—Bloom Energy Corp asserted its fuel-cell technology is nothing less than a breakthrough in weaning the world off conventional power. Company officials say its fuel cells are less expensive to manufacturing, consisting of specially coated ceramic squares made from a common sand-like substance.

Durable goods orders rise 3 percent in January, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 25, 2010
Washington—Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods shot up in January by the largest amount in six months, but the strength came from a surge in demand for commercial aircraft.

Goodyear names Richard Kramer to succeed Robert Keegan as CEO, by Michelle Jarboe, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 24, 2010
Akron—Richard Kramer, the Akron tire maker's chief operating officer, will become president and CEO on April 13. Robert Keegan, the current CEO, will stay on as executive chairman of the board.

• Akron's Goodyear chooses next CEO, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, February 25, 2010

Company signs lease in Brookfield, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 24, 2010
Brookfield, Ohio—TMK IPSCO said Tuesday it has signed a lease on a building where Ultra Premium Oilfield Services plans to produce up to 100,000 tons of threaded pipe annually and eventually employ 120.

GM to end Hummer after sale to Chinese buyer fails, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 24, 2010
Detroit—General Motors Co. said Wednesday it will shut down Hummer after its bid to sell the brand to a Chinese company collapsed. GM is focusing its efforts on its four remaining brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick.

• GM to shut Hummer after sale collapses, by Norihiko Shirouzu and Sharon Terlep, Wall Street Journal, February 24, 2010 (Subscription)

GM adding 1,200 autoworkers at Ohio plant, Akron Beacon Journal, February 23, 2010
Lordstown, Ohio—General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it is bringing 1,200 autoworkers back to work this summer to start producing the Chevrolet Cruze compact car.

ArcelorMittal CEO takes 2009 pay cut, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 23, 2010
Brussels, Belgium—The world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal SA says it gave its chief executive Lakshmi Mittal a 12 percent pay cut last year as the company lost money amid slumping steel sales.

EPA fines an engine maker praised by DOE, by Stephen Power, Wall Street Journal, February 23, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—Cummins Inc., a vehicle-engine company based in Columbus, Ind., will pay a $2.1 million penalty and recall 405 engines under a settlement agreement. The EPA alleged Cummins shipped more than 570,000 heavy-duty diesel engines to vehicle-equipment manufacturers nationwide without pollution control equipment included. The manufacturer says it failed to maintain proper documentation on 405 units.

Saab deal is done, Spyker says, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 23, 2010
Amsterdam—Dutch company Spyker Cars NV said Tuesday it has completed its $74 million purchase of loss-making Swedish carmaker Saab Automobile AB from General Motors Inc.

Senators warn over CO2 regulation, by Ian Talley, Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2010 (Subscription)
Washington—Eight Democratic Senators from coal and manufacturing states warned the Obama Administration Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency's plans to regulate greenhouse gases could hurt the economy.

• Sen. Sherrod Brown joins eight senators in writing to EPA administrator on behalf of American manufacturing, press release, February 23, 2010