ERLANGER, KY—Jacobs Automation, which makes modular assembly conveyors based on linear motors, is slated to create 26 jobs and invest more than $1.7 million to build a new facility here.

CHATTANOOGA, TN—Barely more than two years after it opened, the Volkswagen assembly plant here has produced its 250,000th Passat sedan.

DOUGLASSVILLE, PA—American Crane & Equipment Corp., a manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoists, has expanded its assembly plant here.

SWAINSBORO, GA—Nordson Corp.’s assembly plant here has been named Georgia’s midsize manufacturer of the year.

DEARBORN, MI—Ford will increase the production at its North American facilities by 200,000 units per year, which adds to an earlier capacity rise by 400,000 units in 2012.

SAN DIEGO—Systems integrator JOT Automation has designed a robotic assembly line to make insulin pumps for Tandem Diabetes Care Inc.

WINDSOR, ON—The Canadian Auto Workers union and Flex-N-Gate have agreed to a three-year contract for workers at the Tier 1 supplier’s assembly plant here. Flex-N-Gate makes frame rails for Chrysler vehicles.

CLEVELAND—ASG, a manufacturer of fastening equipment for the assembly market, has become the exclusive North American distributor for Fiam air tools.

NEWARK, DE—GE Aviation will invest $27 million to expand its assembly plant here to boost production of ceramic matrix composites, which are used to make advanced aircraft engine components. The move will create 70 jobs.

OAK RIDGE, TN—Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are studying ways to reuse electric vehicle batteries after they are spent.