LAFAYETTE, LA—Bell Helicopter has opened a $26 million assembly plant here to build a new small commercial helicopter.

BEIJING—Boeing predicts that China will add 6,330 new aircraft worth $950 billion to its commercial fleet by 2034—an increase of more than 310 planes from its last forecast a year ago.

NORCROSS, GA—Solar cell manufacturer Suniva Inc. will invest nearly $100 million to expand its headquarters here, creating up to 500 jobs. The project will triple manufacturing capacity at the facility.

COLUMBUS, IN—Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc. plans to spend $16 million to renovate and expand its forklift assembly plant here.

LANSING, MI—Employees at GM’s Lansing Grand River assembly plant get hands-on training on a mock assembly line.

MOLINE, IL—Deere & Co. has opened negotiations with the UAW over a labor deal covering 10,000 manufacturing jobs.

WASHINGTON—The Pentagon has awarded Oshkosh Defense a $30 billion contract to build nearly 55,000 joint light tactical vehicles for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps over the next 25 years.

WASHINGTON—Orders to U.S. factories for long-lasting manufactured goods rose in July. The Commerce Department said Wednesday orders for durable goods increased 2 percent in July after a 4.1 percent gain in June.

MARYVILLE, TN—Auto parts supplier DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee will invest $400 million to expand its assembly plant here. The project is expected to create 500 new jobs.

DETROIT—Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump slammed Ford Motor Co.’s plans to invest $2.5 billion in Mexican assembly plants and vowed to tax any vehicles made there.