Combilift Announces New $50 Million in Irish Plant

Combilift is hoping the “luck o’ the Irish” helps them strike gold when they build a new $50 million manufacturing facility in County Monaghan, Ireland. The facility is slated to open in 2017. Combilift –which has its US headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina — is doubling down on its home-grown investment with the announcement of … Read more

Two Major Forklift Makers Face Off in Court Tomorrow

A lawsuit filed by Clark forklifts against Japanese giant Toyota will finally get its day in court tomorrow. The jury trial in the case of Clark Materials Handling Co. versus Toyota Material Halding USA Inc. (TMHU) is slated to begin Tuesday morning in front of US District Judge Max O. Cogburn, of the Western District … Read more

Cotton-Based Insulated Packaging Offers Green Alternative

When temperature-sensitive products such as food or medications are shipped, most packagers today rely on polystyrene foam coolers. But the problem with polystyrene is that it is non-biodegradable. So after the product is shipped, the packaging it arrived in can end up in a landfill for hundreds or even thousands of years. Now a Nebraska … Read more

US Ranked 6th in Global Economic Optimism for 2015

NEWS ANALYSIS — The following is the latest in series of news analysis articles taking a closer look at some of the most important economic questions facing businesses today. How optimistic are you about the prospects for the US economy during the coming year? While many of the most recent economic indicators are show positive signs … Read more

Canadian Workplace Safety ‘Blitz’ Finds 3,263 Violations

A workplace safety blitz sponsored by Canada’s equivalent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in inspectors writing 3,263 orders for violations, including 130 stop work orders, according to a report issued last week. Investigators from the province of Ontario’s Ministry of Labor conducted 841 inspections at 701 workplaces between Sept. 15 and Oct. … Read more

Hitachi Poised to Benefit from Romanian Building Boom

Ever since 1989, when Romanians overthrew the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu, the economy of the former Communist country has struggled find traction under democracy. Today, the Romanian construction market is undergoing a boom, as investors pour money into such projects as new roads, dams, mining, quarries, recycling and forestry projects. Hitachi’s European division announced recently … Read more

West Coast Ports Shut Down in Latest Labor Brinksmanship

Owners of all 29 West Coast ports threatened to shut down cargo loading and unloading over the weekend in the latest salvo in ongoing contract battle between dock workers and port owners. This time, it was the owners who called for operations to be halted. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents port management in labor … Read more