DETROIT—GM is investing $24 million in electrical generation equipment that will allow the company to use more landfill gas at its assembly plants in Fort Wayne, IN, and Orion, MI. The new equipment will generate more than 14 megawatts of electricity from landfill gas, saving a combined $10 million in energy costs each year at the facilities.

Given the global marketplace, shouldn't manufacturing and test equipment be equipped with user-friendly controls with different language options?

ROCHESTER, NY—Perseverance and creativity enabled a 75-year old GM assembly plant here to go landfill-free. The journey took four years and included seven attempts to recycle a challenging oily filter sludge generated from a machining operation.

COLUMBUS, OH—Kerry Ketchem, 62, an automotive engineer, has been sentenced to eight years in prison on three counts of felony theft involving a scheme to steal catalytic converters from an assembly plant.

DETROIT—With its membership tumbling sharply and a long-running effort to organize foreign-owned makers still in limbo, the UAW is looking at the possibility of raising its dues by 25 percent—its first hike since 1967.

TROLLHATTAN, SWEDEN—The new owners of Swedish car maker Saab, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, will restart production of the 9-3 sedan here.

Using software to optimize assembly processes is passé. Manufacturers now have the tools to ensure error-free production, increase line flexibility and minimize PC dependence.

 Safety standards have changed significantly in response to advances in manufacturing technology. 

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the fifth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 53rd consecutive month, according to the latest data from the Institute for Supply Management.

A wealth of new technologies was on display at The Assembly Show.