Global manufacturing loses momentum, fueling worries, by Sara Murray and Michael S. Arnold, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2010
New York—An index based on a survey of U.S. purchasing managers suggested that factory output expanded for the 11th month in June, but at a slower pace than the month before. Similar pullbacks occurred in China and the euro zone last month, according to separate indexes released Thursday. Japan was one of the few places where the factory sector has gained steam. (Subscription)

Toyota to recall 138,000 Lexus vehicles in U.S., AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 2, 2010
Tokyo—Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it intends to recall 138,000 Lexus vehicles in the United States to fix faulty engines in the latest quality problem to afflict the world's No. 1 automaker.

• Toyota knew of faulty engine parts 2 years ago, by Yuri Kageyama, AP via USA Today, July 7, 2010

Factory orders fall 1.4 percent in May, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 2, 2010
Washington—The Commerce Department said Friday that orders for manufactured goods decreased 1.4 percent in May. It was the biggest drop since March 2009.

Government investigating Mazda, BMW for steering loss, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 2, 2010
Washington—The investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration involve more than 290,000 Mazda3s from the 2007-2009 model years and nearly 50,000 Z4s from the 2003-2005 model years.

I.D. Images acquires Specialty Tape & Label of Chicago, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 2, 2010
Brunswick, Ohio—I.D. Images said in a statement that it will keep Specialty Tape's Chicago operations running, in order to expand its geographic footprint.

Factory jobs return, but employers find skills shortage, by Motoko Rich, New York Times, July 1, 2010
Bedford, Ohio—Plenty of people are applying for the jobs. The problem, the companies say, is a mismatch between the kind of skilled workers needed and the ranks of the unemployed.

Hawk Corp. is looking for a buyer, by Shaheen Samavati, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 2010
Cleveland—Chief Executive Ronald Weinberg said the company is hoping to boost shareholder value. He said becoming a private company also would save the company money, since it is costly to comply with government regulations on publicly-traded companies. The company has been public since 1998.

GM adds four states to electric car rollout list, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 2010
Austin, Texas—Texas, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will join the states where General Motors will roll out its electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, GM CEO Ed Whitacre announced Thursday.

Manufacturing slows in June, still shows growth, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 2010
New York—The Institute for Supply Management said Thursday that its manufacturing index slipped in June, but was still at a level that suggests growth in the industrial sector.

Babcock & Wilcox unit receives federal funding for solar power project, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 1, 2010
Barberton, Ohio—Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Inc. in Barberton and eSolar Inc. of Pasadena, Calif., said they have been selected to receive up to $10.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to design, build and test a molten salt power plant using concentrated solar power.

'Tech belt' officials aim for $130M in federal funds, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 1, 2010
Cleveland—A group trying to spur the creation of a “tech belt” from Cleveland to Pittsburgh is swinging for the fences with one of its first initiatives: a $130 million grant application aimed at turning the region into a hub for green building technologies. (Subscription)

Ferro Corp. appoints Thomas R. Miklich as chief financial officer, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 1, 2010
Cleveland—Specialty chemicals company Ferro Corp named Thomas R. Miklich as vice president and chief financial officer. Miklich succeeds Sallie B. Bailey, who is leaving the company after more than three years in that job.

Bill would hold foreign manufacturers liable for product injuries, Dayton Daily News, July 1, 2010
Washington—A U.S. House subcommittee has approved legislation that would hold foreign manufacturers legally accountable to American consumers injured by dangerous or defective products.

Scientific panel reviewing unintended acceleration, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 30, 2010
Washington—A National Academy of Sciences panel held its first meeting to review the potential causes of unintended acceleration in vehicles across the entire auto industry. The 12-member panel is expected to report its findings in the fall of 2011.

Lubrizol Corp. board authorizes expansion of share repurchase program, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 30, 2010
Cleveland—Although the repurchase program does not include a specific timetable or price targets, Lubrizol said it expects the program will be completed over the next 24 months.

Simbionix, USF Health receive grant to develop hysterectomy surgical simulator, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 30, 2010
Cleveland—Simbionix is headquartered in Israel but bases its U.S. operations in Cleveland and provides simulation training products for medical professionals.

Alternative energy gets jump-start, by Gloria Park, Politico.com, June 30, 2010
Washington—Under the bills introduced in the House and Senate last month, five to 15 “deployment communities” would be established across the country to begin creating an “electric vehicle infrastructure.”

New day dawns for Valley, by Marly Kosinski, Warren Tribune-Chronicle, June 29, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Ground was broken for the new V&M Star Steel plant Monday in Youngstown and on hand to turn dirt were U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, V&M Star Steel President Joel Mastervich, Vallourec Chairman Phillipe Crouzet and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.

• Area officials celebrate V&M groundbreaking, Youngstown Business Journal, June 29, 2010
• V&M Star’s $650M expansion gets rolling, by Grace Wyler, Youngstown Vindicator, June 29, 2010
• Trade ruling assisted mill, by Marly Kosinski, Warren Tribune-Chronicle, June 29, 2010
• Work to start at V&M, by Joe Gorman, Warren Tribune-Chronicle, June 28, 2010

Bonne Bell cutting 40 jobs from Westlake factory, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 29, 2010
Westlake, Ohio—The Bonne Bell Co. is outsourcing its mixing and pouring operations to a manufacturer in Minnesota, cutting some 40 jobs by the end of September.

Cleveland Foundation awards $2.8 million to development groups that want to transform Northeast Ohio's economy, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 29, 2010
Cleveland—Cleveland Foundation doled out $2.8 million in economic development grants Tuesday, to support projects to erect wind turbines on Lake Erie, increase minority-owned businesses and nurture a cutting-edge electronics industry.

Tesla Motors shares rise in IPO debut, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 29, 2010
New York—Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. gained more than 40 percent in their public trading debut on Tuesday after the electric car manufacturer raised more money than expected in its initial stock offering.

GM execs say foreign markets are key to growth, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 29, 2010
Detroit—GM told potential investors on Tuesday it will be the first global automaker to sell more than 2 million vehicles in China this year, portraying itself as poised for overseas growth a year after exiting bankruptcy protection.

Ford to give Explorer upgrade for stability, AP via Toledo Blade, June 29, 2010
Dearborn, Mich.—Ford Motor Co. is upgrading the electronic stability control system on its 2011 Ford Explorer to help the SUV perform better if a driver takes a curve too quickly.

Findlay, Ottawa plants to add jobs, by Lou Wilin, Findlay Courier, June 29, 2010
Findlay, Ohio—Nissin Brake Ohio on Monday was awarded a $229,183 state tax credit over five years to add 37 jobs at its Findlay factory. And Silgan Plastics Corp., an Ottawa company, was granted a state tax break to add 30 jobs.

Private-public effort hailed as new jobs come to Painesville, by Nick Carrabine, Painesville News-Herald, June 29, 2010
Painesville, Ohio—On Monday, Troy and State Rep. Mark A. Schneider, D-Mentor, announced 50 new manufacturing jobs and an additional 12 supervising positions that will be available within the next 12 to 18 months at Core Systems LLC in Painesville.

• Core Systems to hire 62 workers to build parts for Whirlpool and Maytag washers, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 28, 2010
  

GE Lighting signs licensing agreement with Rambus Inc. for patented technology, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2010
Cleveland—The companies said the initial focus of their licensing agreement will be to create a flat-panel LED lighting system for architectural and commercial lighting for global markets.

Tegam Inc. to make PPM Instruments' instrumentation products under license, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2010
Geneva, Ohio—Tegam said it will move the manufacturing and support of the acquired products to its plant in Geneva and will offer the products through existing sales offices and distributors worldwide.

Eaton Corp. to create solar photovoltaic system for Albuquerque VA operation, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2010
Cleveland—The diversified manufacturer said the scope of the $20 million contract includes designing and installing a 3.2-megawatt photovoltaic system throughout the site, as well as implementing a building-integrated system to help reduce demand from the local utility grid.

Tesla bets on electric car, by Dan Strumpf, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, June 29, 2010
New York— Tesla Motors Inc. begins selling stock to the public today. The sale's success depends on how much investors are willing to bet on a car company that has never made a profit, sells a single vehicle and expects to lose money until at least 2012.

U.S. auto sales seen slowing with recovery in doubt, by Tom Krisher and Dee-Ann Durbin, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, June 29, 2010
Detroit—Forecasters expect U.S. sales of cars and light trucks to slow for June after months of improvement. It's another sign that people are beginning to doubt the economic recovery with unemployment still high.

Is manufacturing coming back to the U.S.?, by Jack Stack, Small Business Blog @ New York Times, June 23, 2010
New York—The CEO of SRC Holdings makes the case for onshoring your manufacturing supply chain to take advantage of just-in-time delivery and better quality controls.

UT report envisions solar industry, research recharging area economy, by Christopher D. Kirkpatrick, Toledo Blade, June 28, 2010
Toledo—The 150-page report, The Relevant University: Making Community and Economic Engagement Matter, has been showing up this month in the mailboxes of elected officials and opinion leaders across northwest Ohio.

Lubrizol in enviable position: gobs of cash, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 28, 2010
Wickliffe, Ohio—The Wickliffe-based producer of lubricant additives and specialty chemicals accumulated the huge cash stash in part because of a monster 2009 — a year most companies would prefer to forget. (Subscription)

Cardboard market activity indicates economy trending upward, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 28, 2010
Cleveland—Judging by the current robust activity at box and pallet makers, the local economy may be gaining steam as shipping picks up. (Subscription

Babcock & Wilcox fires up new ideas, by Katie Byard, Akron Beacon Journal, June 28, 2010
Barberton, Ohio—Rich Killion, president and chief operating officer of Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Inc., spoke at a luncheon last week celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Barberton Community Development Corp. He said the power-generation company is tapping into demand for green energy with solar, biomass technologies.

NAM releases strategy for global competitiveness, National Association of Manufacturers, June 28, 2010
Washington—The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) today unveiled a comprehensive strategy for U.S. competitiveness. The “Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and a Competitive America,” prompts political leaders to consider the big picture – what it will take for manufacturers in the United States to succeed in the global marketplace.

Honda endures worst two-year stretch ever, by Dan Gearino, Columbus Dispatch via Youngstown Vindicator, June 28, 2010
Marysville, Ohio—The recession and the turmoil it sparked followed a time of almost nonstop growth for the Japanese company, which until then had avoided the forces that crippled many of the state’s manufacturers.

Local BP-Husky refinery awaits promised improvements, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, June 27, 2010
Toledo—More than 2 1/2 years have passed since BP PLC and Husky Energy Inc. first announced a partnership to pump tens of thousands of barrels of heavy oil each day from the rugged tundra of northern Alberta to BP's Toledo refinery in the suburb of Oregon.

Sherman International Corp. considering new steel mill in Mahoning Valley, by Raymond L. Smith, Warren Tribune-Chronicle, June 27, 2010
Warren, Ohio—Efforts to obtain funds needed to clean a brownfield area may convince the owners of the Sherman International Corp. to build a new steel mill on the ashes of the former Sheet and Tube plant, potentially bringing hundreds of jobs to the Mahoning Valley.

Toyota docks executive pay, shelves bonuses, New York Times via Toledo Blade, June 26, 2010
Toyota City, Japan—At its annual shareholders' conference, Toyota disclosed it had docked the pay of its top management by 10 percent to help atone for the company's recent safety problems, which have led to the recalls of more than 9 million vehicles worldwide.

UT to add $1M facility for algae biofuel work, Toledo Blade, June 26, 2010
Toledo—By early next year, the University of Toledo's Scott Park Campus for Energy and Innovation will be home to a nearly $1 million facility to research and develop algae biofuels in hopes of accelerating the alternative fuel's commercialization.