U.S. durable good orders declined 2.4 Percent in August
Reliable Plant Magazine
New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $4.0 billion, or 2.4 percent, to $164.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced on September 25. This was the second decrease in the last three months. This followed a 4.8 percent July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders were down slightly. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.4 percent.More

Floating Turbines Open Wind Potential
Water World
In the scramble to harness ocean wind power,floating turbine technology may be the holy grail. Turbines that can be floated into position and anchored in deeper water are the solution to much of the politics that confronts shallow-water projects, according to proponents of the concept.More

E.U. countries to debate Opel aid doubts on Oct. 7
Reuters
The European Commission and officials from countries hosting Opel factories will discuss on Oct. 7 Germany's controversial plan to grant state aid for the ailing European carmaker. The meeting will make it easier for the Commission to decide whether Opel should receive aid after it is sold to a group led by Canadian automotive group Magna by General Motors, E.U. Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said.More

Ford set to grow in China; plant to open there by 2012
The Detroit Free Press
Ford Motor Co. has said it would spend $490 million on a new plant in China that could significantly increase Ford's production in the country after the plant opens in 2012. China has been a strong source of growth for rivals such as Volkswagen and General Motors Co. But Ford has just a 2 percent market share in China and lost $129 million on a pretax basis in its Asia Pacific operations over the first half of 2009.More

Energy bill would create 5,000 new jobs in South Dakota
The Associated Press via The Daily Republic
Transitioning to a clean energy economy with passage of an energy bill pending in the Senate would create 5,000 South Dakota jobs, break the nation's dependence on oil and help solve the climate crisis, the state director of Repower South Dakota said. Wind turbine blade manufacturer Knight & Carver stands to double or triple its current 60-employee base should the measure pass.More

New era for Michigan mining
Detroit News
Mineral companies are once again looking to the Upper Peninsula for a "new era in mining," which could begin with the opening of a new nickel mine this spring. Their interest has risen with commodities prices, and the value of nickel reached record highs just two years ago partially because of its value in new battery technologies.More

CAW tries to keep Ford in Canada
Manufacturing.net
Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza says there are ways for Ford to maintain its manufacturing footprint in Canada even it stops producing cars at the St. Thomas plant in southwestern Ontario. The union has proposed that Ford turn the plant into a parts assembly operation, or that it add new components to its existing parts plant in Windsor, Ont.More