PRO-TEC Coating president retiring, Findlay Courier, May 7, 2010
Leipsic, Ohio— PRO-TEC Coating Co. President W. Paul Worstell, 61, will retire effective June 1, after 40 years in the steel industry.

Libbey cites 'lean' work in rebound, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, May 7, 2010
Toledo—Executives at Toledo-based Libbey Inc. celebrated their rebounding fortunes Thursday during the glassmaker's annual shareholder meeting and vowed to never forget what they learned during the economic shock of 2008 and 2009.

This week's earnings reports:

• Cost-cutting pushes Nacco Industries' first-quarter profit to $11.7 million, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 6, 2010
  
• OM Group earns $22.6 million in first quarter, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 6, 2010
  
• Steris Corp. posts higher fourth-quarter earnings despite lower sales, Crain's Cleveland Business, May 6, 2010
• Nacco Industries Inc. posts first-quarter profit vs. year-ago loss, Crain's Cleveland Business, May 6, 2010
  
• Cooper Tire posts solid first-quarter profit, sales, Toledo Blade, May 6, 2010
• PolyOne Corp. posts $18.4 million profit in first quarter, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 5, 2010
  
• Airbus payment lifts RTI to profit, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune-Chronicle, May 5, 2010
• RTI records $11.4M profit, by Grace Wyler, Youngstown Vindicator, May 5, 2010
  
• FirstEnergy profits up 29 percent from last year, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 4, 2010
  
• Hawk Corp.'s first-quarter profit more than doubles to $3.8 million, by Allison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 4, 2010
  
• Park-Ohio Holdings reports $2.1 million first-quarter profit, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 4, 2010
• Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. reports first-quarter profit vs. year-ago loss, Crain's Cleveland Business, May 4, 2010
• The Andersons posts record profit in quarter, Toledo Blade, May 4, 2010
• GM's April sales rise 6.4 percent, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, May 3, 2010
• Preformed Line Products Co. reports lower first-quarter profits despite higher sales, Crain's Cleveland Business, May 1, 2010
  

Tracking system receives initial OK, by Katie Byard, Akron Beacon Journal, May 6, 2010
Akron—The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration has signed off on InSeT Systems' blast shield, which protects electronics that are part of a system to track the movement of coal miners and equipment.

NorTech sets its priorities in the advanced energy sector, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, May 6, 2010
Cleveland—NorTech on Tuesday was awarded a $300,000 federal grant that it will use to create “roadmap” plans meant to guide the region's efforts to build industries related to electric vehicles, storing electricity, controlling its distribution and turning waste into energy.

Inc. also thinks Youngstown has a bright future, by Grace Wyler, Youngstown Vindicator, May 6, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Youngstown may be poised to reinvent itself as a high-tech business center of the new century, according to an article in the May issue of Inc. magazine.

Start-up firm confident airship business will soar, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, May 6, 2010
—Ohio Airships has yet to take off. A few months ago, company officials said they planned to have their first customer by April, but now they say it may not happen until this month or later.

Owens-Illinois to reduce energy use, emissions, Toledo Blade, May 6, 2010
Toledo—Owens-Illinois Inc., the Toledo area’s largest company, said yesterday it would embark on a plan to significantly reduce energy use and carbon emissions at its operations worldwide.

Productivity grows 3.6 percent in first quarter, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 6, 2010
Washington—Productivity growth posted a better-than-expected gain in the first three months of the year while labor costs dropped more sharply than expected.

• Moment of truth for U.S. productivity boom, by Justin Lahart, Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2010 (Subscription)

Tube makers hail Chinese duties as high as 99 percent, Warren Tribune-Chronicle, May 5, 2010
Washington—On Monday, the International Trade Commission made its final ruling on the trade dispute, imposing duties of as much as 99 percent on Chinese steel tube imports. ''Today's vote will ensure a fair playing field is vital to our nation's global competitiveness. This ruling will save and create jobs in Lorain, Youngstown, Warren and dozens of communities around the country,'' Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. The ITC vote is the final step in this trade case filed on Apr. 8, 2009.

Third Frontier extension gets green light from voters, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 5, 2010
Cleveland—State Issue 1 -- a four-year, $700 million extension of Ohio's Third Frontier program -- was earning 61 percent approval from voters, with 85 percent of precincts reporting. Issue 1 will extend the public-private program to 2016.

Report puts Ohio among top five fuel-cell states, by Bob Downing, Akron Beacon Journal, May 5, 2010
Washington—Ohio is one of the top five fuel-cell states because of its visionary strategies and financial incentives, according to a new national report.

Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority names William Friedman chief executive, by Sandra Livingston, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 5, 2010
Cleveland—William D. Friedman -- a management consultant who was previously chief of the Ports of Indiana and an executive with the Port of Seattle -- was named president and chief executive by the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority board.

Increased shareholder control of Cooper Tire OK'd, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, May 5, 2010
Romulus, Mich.—Shareholders of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. yesterday approved two measures to strengthen shareholder control and to increase the number of shares available to award as incentive compensation to company officials.

GM replaces marketing chief in latest shake, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 5, 2010
New York—General Motors Co. has hired Joel Ewanick, the former head of marketing at Hyundai Motor America, to lead its marketing efforts as it pushes too sell more Chevys, Cadillacs and trucks following its restructuring.

Auto-parts makers rev profits, by Paul Vigna and John Shipman, Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—After two very lean years that saw sales plunge and bankruptcies sweep the industry, rejuvenated sales and production rates—U.S. auto sales were up 20% in April—are forging higher profits for auto-parts suppliers.

Factory orders surged again in March, by Sara Murray, Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2010 (Subscription)
Washington—Tim Quinlan, a Wells Fargo Securities economist, said the manufacturing sector is surpassing "even optimistic outlooks" as it snaps back from a deep recession.

Recalculating the cost of big layoffs, by Scott Thurm, Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—Companies that take a more-targeted approach to layoffs during economic slumps tend to do better in recoveries than those that slash employment sharply and across the board, experts say. The current recovery will test those findings.

Startup will make, sell electric cars in new way, by Dan Gearino, Columbus Dispatch, May 5, 2010
Columbus—Coda Automotive is proposing more than just a new technology for cars. The company has a new business model for manufacturing and selling its all-electric sedan. The company is considering building a battery plant in Central Ohio.

Consolidated Biscuit sold, Findlay Courier, May 4, 2010
McComb, Ohio—Baked goods manufacturer Consolidated Biscuit was purchased Saturday by Hearthside Food Solutions of Grand Rapids, Mich., a manufacturer of granola bars, croutons, cereals, popcorn and snack mixes.

Cobalt sales surge 29 percent, Youngstown Vindicator, May 4, 2010
Detroit—The auto industry stayed on the road to recovery in April after last year’s dismal numbers, with most major automakers seeing double-digit sales gains. The Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cobalt sold 13,701 units in April 2010.

• U.S. car sales up in April, by Neal E. Boudette and Matthew Dolan, Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2010 (Subscription)
• Auto industry on road to recovery but pace slows, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 3, 2010
  

Recovery fires up for steel industry, by Robert Guy Matthews, Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—Amid firming signs of recovery in the U.S., some steelmakers are expanding operations and re-hiring in hopes of getting an early jump on burgeoning demand in the energy, appliance and automotive markets.

Economic outlook remains cautious, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, May 4, 2010
Washington—Factories are churning out more goods. Consumers are spending. Government aid is fueling construction activity. But stagnant pay and weak hiring will likely restrain the economic rebound in coming months.

Green jobs slowly ticking upward, by Sindya N. Bhanoo, New York Times, May 4, 2010
New York—According to a report released by the Economics and Statistics Administration, a division of the Department of Commerce. Green services and businesses amounted to just 1 to 2 percent of the private business economy in 2007. And there were 1.8 million to 2.4 million green jobs in 2007.

Car industry to push back on safety bills, by Josh Mitchell, Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2010 (Subscription)
Washington—Auto makers are preparing to push back against legislation being drafted in Congress that is designed to improve vehicle safety but that the companies fear could increase manufacturing costs and lead to more civil lawsuits.

EPA proposes coal ash rule, sets time for comment, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 4, 2010
Chattanooga, Tenn.—The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed regulating coal ash, possibly as a kind of hazardous waste, while phasing out wet storage impoundments. It would allow coal byproducts to be used in concrete, wallboard and other building materials.

March factory orders up surprising 1.3 percent, by Martin Crutsinger, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, May 4, 2010
Washington—The Commerce Department reported orders to U.S. factories rose a surprising 1.3 percent in March with widespread gains in many industries offsetting a big drop in commercial aircraft.

Auto safety bill includes standard for stopping, by Micheline Maynard, New York Times, May 4, 2010
Detroit—Senators introduced on Tuesday their version of broad automobile safety legislation that would set new standards for stopping distance, push-button ignition systems, data recorders and electronic controls.

Automakers seek to delay ethanol blending raise, by Matthew L. Wald, New York Times, May 4, 2010
Washington—Citing new test data, the auto industry says the federal government’s plan to raise the amount of ethanol mixed into gasoline will damage cars and increase the amount of pollution they emit.

Shaping the future of bioplastics, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, May 3, 2010 (Subscription)
Cleveland—PolyOne Corp is one of several local companies selling or using plastics made from biological material, and dubbed bioplastics. The companies hope to capitalize on an expected boom in demand for durable, environmentally friendly plastics.

Company buying empty Star Bronze plant, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, May 3, 2010
Alliance, Ohio—NuEarth Corp. of Miramar, Fla., plans to close late this month on its purchase of the former Star Bronze Co. building at 803 S. Mahoning Ave. The maker of environmentally friendly products plans to bring more than 60 new jobs to the city.

Obama adviser Christina Romer hopeful that high-tech manufacturing will flourish, by Teresa Dixon Murray, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 3, 2010
Cleveland—Presidential adviser Christina Romer is optimistic about the future of manufacturing-heavy areas like Northeast Ohio, she said today as she toured Ford Motor Co.'s Engine Plant No. 1 in Brook Park., which is now focusing on building cleaner auto engines.

Manufacturing sector expands in April, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 3, 2010
New York—The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded at the fastest pace in nearly six years, as factories continue to lead the economy's rebound.

• Manufacturing shows broad signs of growth, by Sara Murray, Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2010

AK Steel adding June surcharge to some products, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 3, 2010
Westchester, Ohio—AK Steel Holding Corp. said Monday that it has informed customers it will add a $345 per ton surcharge to invoices for electrical steel products it ships in June.

NHTSA probes sticky pedal problem in Dodge Caliber, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 3, 2010
Detroit—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating a problem with sticky gas pedals in 2007 Dodge Caliber small sport utility vehicles.

• Driver's Seat Blog: Gas pedal problems continue, this time with Dodge, by Jonathan Welsh, Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2010 (Subscription)

Environmental certification becoming increasingly crowded and contested field, by Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, May 3, 2010
Washington—The FTC is going to issue a new guide for environmental marketing claims within a few months and has filed charges against textile manufacturers for deceptively labeling and advertising items as made of bamboo fiber when they were made of rayon and for selling biodegradable products that didn't degrade in landfills.

New chief executive brings vision for growth to Step2, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, May 2, 2010
Hudson, Ohio—Among Vresics' goals are going back to basics, he said, to make ''innovative toys and games and activities that are affordable to families and give good value. We need to consistently win at retail.''

Key drivers of GM's future: Investments show firm's confidence in Toledo, area, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, May 2, 2010
Toledo—Much of GM's future will depend on people in northwest Ohio and the products they make. GM's Defiance Foundry has received more than $170 million in investments from the automaker in the last three months, and the award-winning Toledo Powertrain plant is about to become the company's only North American source of a new transmission that will go into GM's new smaller cars.

Cooper adding engineers, scientists, Findlay Courier, May 1, 2010
Findlay, Ohio—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. will be adding 25 engineers and scientists to its product development staff in Findlay this year, the company reported Friday.

Profits raise U.S. auto parts makers from near death, AP via Toledo Blade, May 1, 2010
Detroit—In the past two weeks, large suppliers such as Gentex Corp., BorgWarner Inc., and Federal-Mogul Corp., have reported millions in profits for the first quarter, reversing huge loses from early last year when the auto industry nearly collapsed. The revival is driven by rising auto sales and the suppliers' own painful cuts during the recession.

• Auto-parts firms' results improve, by Jeff Bennett, Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2010 (Subscription)

Boeing’s selection would benefit Ohio, Youngstown Vindicator, May 1, 2010
St. Louis—Ohio will benefit from about 690 jobs if the Boeing New Generation Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force’s next aerial refueling aircraft, Boeing Defense and Space Security announced this week. Ohio manufacturers that would produce components of the tanker include Allen Aircraft Products in Ravenna, Achilles Aerospace Products in Twinsburg and Voss Industries in Cleveland. The NewGen tankers would replace an aging fleet of tanker aircraft.

Therm-O-Disc: Grant will create high-salary jobs, by Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal, May 1, 2010
Mansfield, Ohio— Therm-O-Disc of Mansfield, and its technology partner NexTech Materials Ltd., in Lewis Center, has won a $1 million grant for the Hydrogen Sensor Manufacturing Technology project.

Toxic emissions targeted, by Jack Torry, Columbus Dispatch, May 1, 2010
Washington—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed action would reduce mercury emissions by more than 50 percent from tens of thousands of industrial boilers across the country.

Honda recalls 167,000 Acura TSX cars for potential fire issue, AP via Toledo Blade, May 1, 2010
Washington—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that high temperatures under the hood could cause the power steering hose to crack and leak power steering oil. A Honda spokesman says one minor fire has been reported but no injuries.