Plant opening stirs Industrial policy debate, by Jonathan Weisman and Alex P. Kellogg, Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2010
Holland, Mich.—Compact Power Inc., Holland's second advanced battery plant half-funded by $151 million from the stimulus, will manufacture batteries for the Chevrolet Volt. It is only a part of a $2.4 billion federal commitment to the fledgling industry, financed under the economic stimulus.

Shearer’s Foods starts second phase of plant expansion, by Matthew Rink, Akron Beacon Journal, July 16, 2010
Massilon, Ohio—The snack maker has begun a 52,000-square-foot addition to its new facility on the 30-acre site at the Northeast Ohio Commerce Park. The expansion will result in an initial 31 new, full-time jobs with a payroll of $1 million.

Ford, Chevy help U.S. outperform foreign cars, Bloomberg News via Toledo Blade, July 16, 2010
Detroit—Ford Motor Co.'s Taurus and General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Camaro helped U.S. automakers outperform imported vehicles for the first time since 1997 in J.D. Power & Associates' annual study of vehicle appeal.

Northeast Ohio's multi-million dollar hardwood furniture industry looks to expand its reach, by David C. Barnett, WCPN IdeaStream, July 16, 2010
Cleveland—The Holmes County chamber of commerce has listings for about 450 furniture companies, ranging in size from 5 – to – 25 employees. Holmes County is said to have the largest concentration of Amish in the world, and the area furniture business brings in close to $280 million each year.

This week's earnings reports:

• General Electric posts first quarterly profit gain since 2007, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 16, 2010
• Alcoa moves to 2nd-quarter profit on improved demand, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 12, 2010
  

B&W, Bechtel to build nuclear reactors, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, July 15, 2010
Akron—The two companies call the alliance Generation mPower, named for B&W's mPower light reactor that it unveiled in June 2009. Each reactor will produce 125 megawatts of power, capable of supplying upward of 100,000 homes.

GOJO to cut 150 jobs at Falls facility, by Katie Byard, Akron Beacon Journal, July 15, 2010
Cuyahoga Falls—GOJO is cutting back on production because customer demand for the company's skin care and hygiene products — which jumped amid the peak of the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic — has slowed.

Eaton Corp. acquires EMC Engineers Inc. of Denver, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 15, 2010
Cleveland—Eaton said EMC Engineers provides energy efficiency services for governmental, educational, commercial and industrial facilities.

Chevy Volt will carry 8-year battery warranty, AP via Toledo Blade, July 15, 2010
Detroit—General Motors Co. is guaranteeing the battery in its Chevrolet Volt electric car for eight years or 100,000 miles in an effort to inspire confidence in the new technology.

Industrial production edges up 0.1 percent in June, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 15, 2010
Washington—The Federal Reserve said today that output at the nation's mines and utilities rose in June, offsetting the loss of factory output. It was the fourth straight monthly increase for overall production.

Automakers boost fuel economy, AP via Toledo Blade, July 15, 2010
Detroit—To improve gas mileage, automakers are tweaking cars, especially midsize sedans, and trucks between model years.

Obama touts investment in Michigan battery plant, AP via Toledo Blade, July 15, 2010
Holland, Mich.—Seeking to boost economic spirits, President Barack Obama on Thursday hailed the construction of another car-battery plant as a symbol of a made-in-America rebound from desperate times.

Cruze production to accelerate slowly, emphasizing quality first, by Grace Wyler, Youngstown Vindicator, July 14, 2010
Lordstown, Ohio—About 5,100 hourly workers began production on the Chevy Cruze on Monday as the plant’s 1,200 new workers joined the line with the addition of a third shift. The assembly plant now operates with three 10-hour shifts, and the fabrication plant is running eight-hour shifts.

Novelis to move 62 Cleveland-area workers to Atlanta in headquarters consolidation, by Arielle Kass, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 14, 2010
Cleveland—Novelis, an aluminium rolling and recycling company that announced an office consolidation in February, said 62 of the company's 191 full-time employees accepted offers to transfer to Atlanta. An additional 70 will be laid off and 59 are not impacted by the move.

Eaton Corp. agrees to supply equipment for Chinese aircraft maker's new jets, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 14, 2010
Cleveland—Eaton Corp., Shanghai Aviation Electric Co. and Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China have signed a letter of intent for Eaton to supply the cockpit panel assemblies and dimming control system for Commercial Aircraft's C919 aircraft program.

Government continues Toyota investigation, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 14, 2010
Washington—The government said Wednesday it had not reached any conclusions about whether Toyota drivers may be to blame for their vehicles suddenly accelerating, a problem that has led to millions of recalled cars and trucks since last year.

Cap and trade can't pass, so Sen. George Voinovich recommends developing affordable clean coal, by Stephen Koff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 14, 2010
Washington—two coal-state senators, George Voinovich of Ohio and John Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, propose the government offer $20 billion over the next decade for continued development of affordable carbon capture-and-sequestration technology. And offer tax credits to utilities that use that technology.

Delegates from Ohio tout China trade visit, by Julie McKinnon, ToledoBlade, July 14, 2010
Toledo—After a nine-day trade mission to China last month, state officials and delegates - including two from northwest Ohio - are following up on contacts made with Chinese companies primarily focused on renewable energy and transportation.

Chevrolet Volt will carry longer battery warranty, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 14, 2010
Detroit—According to an AP source, GM will announce this afternoon that it will guarantee the battery in the Chevrolet Volt electric car for a longer period than its conventional car warranties.

Nissan production hitch caused by European siupplier chip shortage, by Daisuke Wakabayashi and Yoshio Takahashi, Wall Street Journal, July 14, 2010 (Subscription)
Tokyo—A Nissan Motor Co. production hitch that idled four of its five Japanese assembly plants this week can be traced back to a European supplier, according to a person familiar with the matter, in an example of the drawbacks of lean manufacturing methods.

Summit County wants Chrysler to repay $7.9 million in tax abatements, by Alison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
Twinsburg, Ohio—Summit County says Chrysler owes it $7.9 million because the auto maker is closing its Twinsburg Stamping Plant this month, violating terms of two tax abatement deals.

Chrysler delays Toledo expansion; hundreds of local jobs hinge on plan, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, July 13, 2010
Toledo—Plans by Chrysler Group LLC to add vehicles and expand production at its Toledo North Assembly Plant have been delayed while the automaker decides how a plant in suburban Detroit fits into its long-term product plans.

Ohio has ‘manufacturing spine’ to grow jobs with rebirth of rail travel, by Jim DeBrosse, Dayton Daily News, July 13, 2010
Dayton—Ohio could create thousands of new manufacturing jobs if rail service can get the push it needs from the proposed 3C Corridor Passenger Rail Project and the federal Surface Transportation Act, according to Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Ohio Secretary of Transportation Jolene Molitoris, who brought their pro-rail message Monday, July 12, to Dayton.

Dutch investment group eyes Youngstown, by Dan O'Brien, Youngstown Business Journal, July 13, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—n arm of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs is looking to strike an agreement with an area business that could break wide open that company's presence in the European market.

Automakers tweak midsize cars to boost gas mileage, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
Detroit—To improve gas mileage, automakers are tweaking cars and trucks between model years, especially in the cost-conscious and popular market for midsize sedans.

GE offers $200 million fund for power projects, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
San Francisco—GE and four venture capital firms will solicit ideas from entrepreneurs, researchers and startups over the next 10 weeks. Awards from the competition will be announced in November.

• GE to make faster electric-vehicle battery charger, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
  

Korea's LG Chem wins Ford Focus battery pack deal, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
—Ford Motor Co. has picked a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based subsidiary of Korean battery maker LG Chem to supply battery packs for an electric version of the Ford Focus that will hit showrooms sometime next year.

White House to highlight electric car developments, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
Washington—President Barack Obama will travel to Holland, Mich., on Thursday for the groundbreaking of a Compact Power Inc. factory, which received $151 million from a federal stimulus program to open the $303 million plant. The factory is expected to manufacture lithium ion cells and employ about 450 people by 2013.

Crash data suggest driver error in Toyota accidents, by Mike Ramsey and Kate Linebaugh, Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2010 (Subscription)
New York—The U.S. Department of Transportation has analyzed dozens of data recorders from Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles involved in accidents blamed on sudden acceleration and found that at the time of the crashes, throttles were wide open and the brakes were not engaged, people familiar with the findings said.

• Toyota crash data suggests driver error, report says, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010

Campbell Soup Co. expands line of V8, Reuters via Toledo Blade, July 13, 2010
Camden, NJ—Campbell's biggest manufacturing complex, a 730-acre site in Napoleon, Ohio, which houses two plants, will help produce the new V8 drinks.

GM sends Volt on trip to show what it can do, AP via Toledo Blade, July 13, 2010
—Folks in Austin will be among the first consumers in the nation to be able to buy the 2011 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid electric car when the vehicle goes on sale this year, General Motors Co. said. The car won't be available nationwide for at least two years.

Downtown furniture fair tests Cleveland's plan to create a District of Design, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 12, 2010
Cleveland—The Cleveland Furniture and Millwork Fair 1.0 features seminars aimed at helping local craftsmen, especially the Amish, build their business and design capacity. The fair culminates more than three years of pitching by Edward "Ned" Hill of Cleveland State University and Daniel Cuffaro of the Cleveland Institute of Art, who believe the region's strength in consumer product design can be leveraged to make Cleveland the "Milan of the Midwest."

Eaton Corp. inks joint venture for work on Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China aircraft, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 12, 2010
Cleveland—Eaton Corp. and the Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. unit of Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China have signed a joint venture agreement to work on aspects of Commercial Aircraft's C919 single-aisle commercial aircraft program.

GE Lighting names executives to two key posts, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 12, 2010
Cleveland—GE Lighting named Jaime A. Irick president and CEO of GE Lighting Solutions and announced that Brian Sroub joined the company in the newly created global role of chief marketing officer for GE Lighting.

All systems go for launch of Cruze this week, by Grace Wyler, Youngstown Vindicator, July 12, 2010
Lordstown, Ohio—Production of the highly anticipated Chevrolet Cruze begins today when the General Motors plant here comes back online after a two-week hiatus. The plant’s 1,200 new workers will join the team today, as the plant starts full production with three shifts, a long- awaited ramping up for GM’s new compact car.

• A lot riding on Chevy Cruze, by Mhari Saito, WCPN IdeaStream, July 12, 2010

Area manufacturers dubious of double dip, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 12, 2010
Cleveland—Ask local manufacturers whether they think we'll have a double-dip recession and the answer might depend on whether they've been watching the news or talking to their customers. (Subscription)

NASA Glenn mobilizes moon power grid plans, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 12, 2010
Cleveland—To figure out the best way to build a power grid on the moon, Jim Soeder and Joe Shaw want to build a similar one that will help power the western portion of NASA Glenn Research Center in Brook Park. (Subscription)

State Industrial Products CEO values work ethic, fairness to customers, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 11, 2010
Cleveland—In its weekly "Talk with the Boss" feature, the PD talks with Hal Uhrman, chief executive of State Industrial Products Corp., which makes cleaning and sanitizing products. The privately held company, nearly a century old, does about $120 million in annual sales.

PT's demise has lessons for partners of Chrysler, AP via Toledo Blade, July 10, 2010
Detroit—Yesterday, the last Cruiser rolled off the assembly line in Mexico, finally killed off after years of falling popularity. Chrysler Group LLC sold just 18,000 last year, compared with nearly 145,000 in 2001.

Shelby solar business nearly ready, by Jami Kinton, Mansfield News Journal, July 10, 2010
Shelby, Ohio—The Ohio Energy Office approved the grant for a solar energy production facility in Richland County. Ebeling Engineering will produce solar energy equipment for installation at client businesses.