Toledo-made Jeep Wrangler gets extensive redesign for '11 model year, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, August 20, 2010
Toledo—Chrysler Group LLC released Thursday its first official images of the "refreshed" 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited SUVs, both made in Toledo.

Strickland looks to raise freight-truck weight limits, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, August 20, 2010
Columbus—Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration wants certain freight trucks to carry heavier loads on highways so that Ohio farmers and manufacturers can increase exports, a policy change unpopular with critics who say the added weight would further damage roads.

Contracts awarded for sewer, water at new mill, by Peter H. Milliken, Youngstown Vindicator, August 20, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—The Mahoning County commissioners awarded sanitary-sewer and water-supply installation con- tracts for service to the $70 million Patriot Special Metals mill under construction on South Bailey Road in North Jackson.

Mahoning Valley Society of Professional Engineers bestows new product award to Northern State's Metals, Youngstown Business Journal, August 20, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Northern State’s Metals Solar FlexRack, mounting hardware designed to hold solar panels, has been chosen as the Outstanding New Product of the Year by the Mahoning Valley Society of Professional Engineers.

Flex-Strut gets grant to fund expansion, Youngstown Business Journal, August 20, 2010
Warren, Ohio—Flex-Strut Inc. will receive a $180,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program to purchase machinery and equipment to operate an additional roll-forming line in the company's 102,000-square-foot facility in Howland Township.

This week's earnings reports:

• Smucker's first-quarter profit rises 5 percent, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 20, 2010
• Newell Rubbermaid hikes profits by making green products, by Peralte C. Paul, Cox Newspapers via Akron Beacon Journal, August 19, 2010
• La-Z-Boy sales weak for 1st fiscal quarter, Toledo Blade, August 18, 2010
• Hickok Inc. reports smaller third-quarter loss than year earlier, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 14, 2010

80-acre solar farm in Wyandot County offers glimpse at Ohio's energy future, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 19, 2010
Upper Sandusky, Ohio—A subsidiary of a large New Jersey utility has constructed a "solar farm" on more than 80 acres of county-owned land that grew soybeans until last year. Since April, the glass and silicon farm has "harvested" the sun.

• Sandusky opens largest solar farm in Ohio, by Nick Castele, WCPN IdeaStream, August 18, 2010
• Biggest solar facility in Ohio unveiled Thursday, by Steve Bennish, Dayton Daily News, August 18, 2010
  

Akron called good place to get things done, by Katie Byard, Akron Beacon Journal, August 19, 2010
Akron—Akron's relative smallness can be an asset when luring job-creating startup companies to the area. That's what Joe Kanfer, chief executive of privately held GOJO Industries Inc., told the Akron Roundtable at a Thursday luncheon.

GM unveils plan for initial offer of shares to public, Bloomberg News via Toledo Blade, August 19, 2010
Detroit—GM, 61 percent owned by the U.S. Treasury, didn't disclose the number of shares that will be sold in the initial public offering or the price in a statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

• GM files for long-awaited IPO, by Sharon Terlep and Dan Fitzpatrick, Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2010
• New GM: By the numbers, by Matt Phillips, Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2010

New GM engine project set with China partner, AP via Youngstown Business Journal, August 19, 2010
Shanghai, China—General Motors Co. and Chinese partner SAIC announced Wednesday plans for joint development of fuel-efficient small engines and transmissions, focusing squarely on the fastest-growing segment of China’s huge auto market.

Johnson & Johnson, bruised by recalls, revamps manufacturing, adds quality overseer, by Jonathan D. Rockoff, Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2010
New Brunswick, N.J.—Johnson & Johnson is reorganizing its manufacturing side and creating a new position reporting directly to the chief executive to ensure quality production across the company, Chief Executive William Weldon said in an interview Wednesday. (Subscription)

Smucker's rolling out dozens of new products, by Janet Cho, , August 18, 2010
Orrville, Ohio— Food manufacturer J.M. Smucker Co. is adding dozens of products to its pantry of best-selling brands, from single-serve coffees to sugar-free frostings to low-salt pickles.

• J.M. Smucker annual meeting: Company says expectation are met, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, August 19, 2010

Obama manufacturing czar touts recovery in Cleveland, by Nick Castele, WCPN IdeaStream, August 18, 2010
Cleveland—About 80 leaders in business and government came together in downtown Cleveland yesterday to discuss the future of the state's manufacturing. Speakers included Senator Sherrod Brown, Governor Ted Strickland and Ron Bloom, the senior manufacturing adviser to President Obama.

• Ohio's manufacturing sector needs policymakers' help to thrive, speakers say, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 17, 2010.
• Manufacturing summit focuses on the future, by Cristin Severance, Ohio News Network, August 17, 2010

Venture capital investment in Northeast Ohio rebounding from worst year in a decade, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 18, 2010
Cleveland—Venture capitalists and angel investors in the 21-county region have funneled $36 million into 39 deals through June, JumpStart Inc. reported Wednesday.

Ohio Gratings celebrating 40 years in business, Canton Repository, August 18, 2010
Perry Township, Ohio—Now best known for its product line and specialty niche grating capabilities, Ohio Gratings began as a fabricator of light-duty weld forge bar grating with three employees in an 8,000-square-foot facility. Over the company’s 40 years, it has expanded its product offerings to include aluminum, specialty carbon and stainless steel grating products.

GOJO chief to talk about incubator, Akron Beacon Journal, August 18, 2010
Akron—Joe Kanfer, who heads one of the area's largest privately held companies, GOJO Industries Inc., will talk to the Akron Roundtable Thursday about his and the city's work with an industrial incubator in Israel.

Consultants sought for regional strategy in advanced energy industry, Akron Beacon Journal, August 18, 2010
Cleveland—NorTech, a nonprofit economic development organization, is seeking proposals from consultants interested in being hired for a project designed to boost the area's participation in the advanced energy industry.

U.S. factory production in July increases twice as much as forecast, Bloomberg News via Toledo Blade, August 18, 2010
New York—Production jumped twice as much as forecast in July, signaling manufacturing is shouldering a U.S. economic recovery that is showing signs of moderating in the second half of the year.

Development Event Sept. 16 at YSU, Youngstown Business Journal, August 18, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—The reservation deadline is Aug. 23 for the “Developing Connections” networking event taking place from 8:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 16 at Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration.

Mentor finalizes agreement for business incubator, by Jacob Lammers, Mentor News-Herald, August 18, 2010
Mentor, Ohio—During Mentor Council's regular meeting Tuesday night, council members voted 7-0 to enter into an agreement with Mentor Economic Assistance Corporation (MEACO) and the Technology Garden LLC — partners in the business incubator program. Mentor and MEACO entities have agreed to subsidize up to 10 clients in the start-up phase.

Excitement in air as Parker Aerospace facility opens, by Brandon C. Baker, Mentor News-Herald, August 18, 2010
Mentor, Ohio—Parker Hannifin Corp. on Tuesday invited people from all of those segments to celebrate its newest symbol of growth, a 115,000-square-foot Mentor headquarters for Parker Aerospace's Gas Turbine Fuel Systems Division.

Ford's new pickup line: Like my tough V-6?, by Joseph B. White, Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2010
New York—This fall, Ford will introduce a 300 horsepower V-6 engine and a new six-speed transmission in its F-150 pickups—the No. 1 seller in a market where eight cylinders now rule.

Babcock & Wilcox part of nuclear cleanup project, AP via Canton Repository, August 17, 2010
Portsmouth, Ohio—Federal energy officials say hundreds of jobs will come to southern Ohio for the next phase of the cleanup of a former uranium plant built during the Cold War. Decontamination and other work will be done by Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, a joint venture led by Fluor Federal Services and Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. wins Los Angeles bus system contract, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 17, 2010
Akron—Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has been awarded a five-year contract to supply tires and tire-related services to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the nation's second- largest transit bus fleet.

Ohio exports are on the rise again after a terrible 2009, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 17, 2010
Cleveland—Six months into 2010, the value of Ohio exports reached $20.2 billion, a 29 percent increase over the first half of last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division.

GM recalls 250,000 crossover vehicles for seat belts that may not latch, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 17, 2010
Detroit—GM said the seat-belt buckle could be damaged when the seat back is returned to an upright position. That could make the buckle appear to latch when it isn't.

Vecor recycles waste from coal plants into building materials, by Emily Veach, Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2010
New York—Vecor Building Systems is using waste from coal power plants to make sustainable building materials. Vecor is taking refuse from coal-fired power plants and turning it into masonry. The Australian company plans to open a factory in China next year.

Industrial production rises 1.0 percent in July, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 17, 2010
Washington—The Federal Reserve said today that output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities increased 1.0 percent last month. But it says June's results were revised to a loss of 0.1 percent, reflecting the economy's sluggishness.

• Industrial production rebounded in July, by Luca di Leo and Victoria McGrane, Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2010 (Subscription)

Chevy Cruze needs edge, by Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press via Akron Beacon Journal, August 17, 2010
Detroit—Weeks before the first Cruze reaches a dealership, the automaker added a third shift to build the Cruze in Lordstown. GM won't reveal sales targets, but three-shift manufacturing will produce more than 300,000 cars a year, enough to make the Cruze one of the country's best-selling cars.

N. Baltimore meeting focuses on luring new factory, by Eric Schaadt, Findlay Courier, August 17, 2010
North Baltimore, Ohio—North Baltimore, Wood County and state leaders are scrambling to fill a void that will be created when the Continental Structural Plastics factory leaves for Indiana. State Rep. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, held a public forum Monday in the village's council room.

Ohio business tax rates 'much better', by Lou Wilin, Findlay Courier, August 17, 2010
Findlay, Ohio—"Ohio has become one of the lighter-taxing states in the nation, two members of Gov. Ted Strickland's Cabinet said Monday in Findlay. In our region, we have the lowest effective tax rate for businesses," said State Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel.

Toyota rethinks pedal design, by Mike Ramsey, Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2010
New York—The Wall Street Journal interviews Steve St. Angelo, Toyota's chief quality officer for North America, who says the company is studying the design and placement of its accelerator and brake pedals to see whether the current setup makes drivers more prone to hit the wrong one. (Subscription)

GM recalls 243,000 vehicles, by Neal E. Boudette, Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2010
Detroit—General Motors Co. on Tuesday said it is recalling 243,000 vehicles for damage to rear seat belts that could prevent them from latching securely.

Man claims to reinvent wheel, by Don Sherman, New York Times via Akron Beacon Journal, August 17, 2010
New York—A Wisconsin real-estate entrepreneur and car enthusiast wants to roll tire design into the 21st century. John Scott's idea is to tip a car's tires and wheels at a slight angle to improve ride, lateral traction, fuel efficiency and tread life.

GE Lighting introduces new form of compact fluorescent light bulb, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 16, 2010
Cleveland—GE Lighting has introduced the Reveal Glass Covered CFL, which is available in 9-watt, 15-watt and 20-watt bulbs. GE Lighting said while the outside appearance looks like a standard incandescent bulb, energy-efficient Reveal Glass Covered CFLs last eight times as long, or about five years, based on four hours use per day for the 8,000-hour rated life.

FDA clears Thermedx's surgical fluid, by Shannon Mortland, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 16, 2010
Solon, Ohio—Medical device maker Thermedx LLC has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance for its fluid warming machine and has begun marketing the device in the United States and Europe. (Subscription)

Government probing steering problems in 2010 Kia Soul, AP via Toledo Blade, August 16, 2010
Washington—The 2010 Kia Soul, a boxy vehicle that has been marketed to urban motorists, is being investigated by government regulators for potential loss of steering control.

Autos bolster jobs in a gloomy summer, by Joe Light, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2010
Washington—Auto makers normally close factories in the summer to perform maintenance. But this summer, some decided to keep plants running to rebuild depleted inventories after major shutdowns last year.

Fiat hopes to erase past failures in U.S. market, by Steven Cole Smith, Orlando Sentinel via Akron Beacon Journal, August 15, 2010
Orlando, Fla.—Italian automaker Fiat is recruiting dealers to sell Fiat products in 41 states with sales beginning for the Fiat 500 in December, and for a convertible version of the 500 in 2011.

Automakers bridge gap between engineering, assembly to enhance ergonomics, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, August 15, 2010
Dearborn, Mich.—Long-term efforts at Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., and Chrysler Group LLC have made ergonomic engineers a type of "marriage counselor" who settle disputes between designers and assembly-line workers. Experts say the results are showing up both in the factory and on the showroom floor.

Incoming GM CEO known as pragmatic leader, 'attacker', New York Times via Akron Beacon Journal, August 14, 2010
Detroit—Having held top jobs at a string of companies and more recently working for a buyout fund with a mandate to spot opportunities, Daniel F. Akerson has a knack for parachuting in, surveying the landscape and making operational and financial changes.

• New GM CEO: Brash, blunt, demanding, by Sharon Terlep and Joann S. Lublin, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2010