DANIELSON, CT—Spirol International Corp., a leading producer of coiled spring pins, slotted spring pins, disc springs, inserts, shims and other fastening components, has received the 2020 General Motors Supplier Quality Excellence Award.

WASHINGTON—The latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business from the Institute for Supply Management indicates the U.S. manufacturing sector grew slightly in November, while the overall economy expanded for an 18th consecutive month.

CAMPBELL, CA—High-performance-rocket manufacturer Launcher recently purchased a Sapphire Velo3D 3D metal printer to specifically print engine turbopump parts in titanium, including fuel pumps, flight turbine housings and orbiter pressure vessels.

SAVAGE, MN—Beckhoff has opened an office in Orlando, FL, to support increasing demand for PC-based automation. The 2,850-square-foot office is strategically located to provide opportunities for training, seminars, sales and engineering support for customers throughout Florida.

HORSHAM, PA—Aegis Software, a global provider of manufacturing execution software, has signed an enterprise agreement with L3Harris Technologies to support 20 manufacturing sites and more than 5,500 end users with Aegis’ FactoryLogix platform.

DETROIT—Members of the United Auto Workers union have overwhelmingly approved picking their leaders by direct ballot elections, rejecting a system that many blamed for a bribery and embezzlement scandal in the union’s top ranks.

OTTAWA, OH—Whirlpool Corp. will invest more than $65 million over the next several years to expand its assembly plant here. The project is expected to create more than 100 jobs.

The investment will accommodate production of premium refrigeration products, including built-in refrigerators.

CADILLAC, MI—BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., a manufacturer of thermal technology for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles, is expanding its assembly plant here. The $11.2 million project is expected to create 30 jobs.

TAYLOR, TX—Samsung will spend $17 billion over the next three years to build a semiconductor fab here in an effort to expand its manufacturing capacity in the U.S. at a time of a global shortage of chips.

LISLE, IL—U.S. truck maker Navistar International Corp. said Dec. 1 that the omicron variant of the coronavirus would likely slow the recovery in the global supply chain.