LOUISVILLE, KY—GE Appliances will open a micro-factory, FirstBuild, at the University of Louisville this summer to accelerate the process of bringing new products to market.

DETROIT—GM has urged a local court to offer protection from certain lawsuits being filed against the company over a recall related to faulty ignition switches.

MILWAUKEE—Johnson Controls and German research institute Fraunhofer Gesellschaft are working together to develop next-generation cooling systems for vehicle batteries.

FLETCHER, NC—Automotive supplier Continental opened an 88,000-square-foot expansion of its assembly plant here. The $35 million investment will create approximately 40 new jobs. 

CHATTANOOGA, TN—The UAW withdrew its appeal of the outcome of a union vote at Volkswagen’s assembly plant here.

EL SEGUNDO, CA—The worldwide market for industrial machinery will reach $1.6 trillion this year, up from $1.5 trillion in 2013. This represents annual growth of 6.3 percent, more than twice the 2.9 percent increase seen in 2013. Strong growth is forecast to continue for the next four years, with revenue rising to $2 trillion by 2018.

AURORA, OH—Argosy Wind Power has moved its headquarters to a larger facility here to meet growing demand for its direct-drive wind turbines.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL—Northrop Grumman Corp. is investing more than $100 million in a new Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence here. The facility will eventually employ 400.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA—Auto parts manufacturer Torcomp LLC will break ground here later this month on a $9 million assembly plant, its first U.S. facility.

MINNEAPOLIS—A mechanical spider, a back-support device, and a walking cane were among the winners of Stratasys Ltd.’s 10th annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge.