FORT ERIE, ON—Airbus Helicopters is expanding its assembly plant here, adding 40 jobs.

WESTMINSTER, SC—Automotive valves supplier US Engine Valve will invest $29.5 million to expand its assembly plant here. The project is expected to create 125 new jobs.

VICTOR, NY—Electronics manufacturing services provider Redcom Laboratories Inc. has installed a new high-speed surface mount assembly line at its headquarters here.

MORAINE, OH—DMAX Ltd. will invest $60 million to redesign its diesel engines so they meet future emissions requirements. The investment retains approximately 500 jobs at the joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu.

NASHVILLE, TN—The Doerfer Cos. will integrate Universal Robotics’ software for artificial intelligence and 3D vision to create flexible parts feeders for automated assembly.

SEATTLE—Since late last year, Boeing 787 Dreamliner fuselage sections from North Charleston, SC, have arrived at the final assembly line in Everett, WA, seriously incomplete with wiring and hydraulics lines missing, according to multiple sources in the factory.

LONDON—Manufacturing executives are more optimistic about economy than they were at this time last year, according to a PWC’s quarterly manufacturing barometer. Sixty-eight percent of executives are optimistic about the U.S. economy in 2014 and 47 percent are optimistic about the global economy.

SEABROOK, NH—Connector manufacturer Ardent Concepts has installed a new automated assembly system at its factory here.

CHATTANOOGA, TN—Workers at Volkswagen’s assembly plant here will vote Feb. 12-14 on whether they wish to be represented by the UAW.

BERLIN—Eurozone manufacturing activity hit a 32-month high in January, driven by Germany and recovering France.