The mainframe computers and enterprise systems produced at IBM’s operation in Poughkeepsie, NY are the backbone of cloud computing, e-commerce, online banking, social media and other attributes of the digital age that most people take for granted.

LEBANON, OH—Siemens has opened its first U.S. assembly plant here to manufacture industrial personal computers. By moving production of the computers to Ohio, delivery times to U.S. customers will be cut by 40 percent, Siemens officials said.

MBX Systems has had a clearly defined relationship with its independent software vendor (ISV) customers since the day the company opened for business in 1995. For more than 20 years, MBX has focused on designing and manufacturing custom hardware—so the ISVs can focus on developing and selling their software for mass or niche markets. The setup has benefitted both parties.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI—Cray Inc. plans to invest more than $20 million to build a new assembly plant here.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI—Supercomputer manufacturer Cray Inc. has doubled the size of its manufacturing space here.

LAKE FOREST, IL—William C. Lowe, the engineer who supervised the speedy creation of IBM’s first personal computer, died Oct. 19 here. He was 72.

WHITSETT, SC—Lenovo, the world’s second largest seller of PCs, officially opened a new assembly plant here today. The facility is adding 115 manufacturing jobs and is on track to be in full production by the end of June.

BEIJING—Foxconn Technology Group is considering expanding its existing manufacturing operations in the United States, in a move that could be linked with Apple’s plan to bring back Mac manufacturing to the country. MORE

Our guest blogger wonders whether Apple's recent decision to invest $100 million to manufacture iMacs in the United States is a token gesture or a sign of things to come.