SPRING HILL, TN—GM has begun producing the hot-selling Chevrolet Equinox at its assembly plant here, signifying the facility’s rebirth since it was idled in fall 2009.

OTTAWA, OH—Whirlpool executives thanked employees at the company’s appliance assembly plant here for their efforts in improving the facility.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—McCune Solar Works is in the final stages of negotiations to assume operations of the former Schott Solar assembly plant here. McCune plans to resume production at the plant next year, employing 130.

LITHIA SPRINGS, GA—Medline Industries is spending $35 million to expand its assembly plant here by 50 percent, less than a year after it opened. The company plans to hire additional workers to support the new assembly lines.

HERNDON, VA—Northrop Grumman Corp. has contracted with KUKA Systems to design an automated assembly line to make training jets for the U.S. Air Force.

CHICAGO—Forty-eight percent of small and midsized manufacturers expect their revenues for the second half of year to increase, according to a new survey.

WASHINGTON—U.S. sales of machine tools totaled $3.1 billion through the first seven months of 2012, a 5.4 percent increase compared with same period in 2011.

CHARLOTTE, NC—Bosch Rexroth Corp. has introduced an app that enables engineers to access the company’s line of linear motion, hydraulic, pneumatic, controls and tightening systems through their iPhones or iPads.

LONDON—Automakers are using digital planning, smart manufacturing and other high-tech tools to improve flexibility and reduce time to market.