NEW YORK—The domestic economic outlook among U.S. manufacturers is at its highest level in five quarters, according to the PWC Manufacturing Barometer survey. The majority of manufacturing executives surveyed expect revenue growth in 2013.
VERONA, MS—Refrigeration equipment manufacturer Tecumseh Products Co. is planning a multimillion dollar project to expand its assembly plant here so that it can reshore production from Brazil and France. The company plans to hire up to 150 employees over the next five years.
WATERLOO, ON—Onward Manufacturing’s assembly plant here was evacuated Friday after a worker who was fired allegedly returned to the building and starting pouring gasoline.
WASHINGTON—The purchasing managers index for manufacturing rose to 50.9 in June, up 1.9 points from May. According to the Institute for Supply Management, a PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below reflects contraction.
In The Great Gatsby, the central character is captivated by a green navigational beacon off in the distance that gives him eternal hope. Although Jay Gatsby wasn’t thinking about assembly lines, manufacturing has a similar green light and assemblers are equally optimistic these days.
ARDEN, NC—Tutco Inc. will expand its assembly plant here, adding 90 jobs and spending more than $500,000 on capital investments over three years. Tutco manufacturers open-coil heating elements.
Manufacturers, appliance designers and engineers are seeing viability in renewable energy offerings and also for metal welding equipment for renewable energy applications ranging from solar panels to wind turbine components.
MINNEAPOLIS—Despatch Industries, a manufacturer of industrial ovens and furnaces, has reduced lead times by 50 percent after implementing a kanban system and other lean methodologies.