Supply Chain

• VW to build Golf in Mexico as part of $5B plan Feb 01, 2013

  Volkswagen AG will produce the next-generation Golf at its Volkswagen de México manufacturing facility in Puebla, Mexico, beginning in the first quarter of 2014.

• Haynes’ profits slide as doldrums linger Feb 01, 2013

  Haynes International Inc. posted lower-than-anticipated earnings for its fiscal first quarter and the steel alloy manufacturer expects lower volumes and weaker pricing will continue to impact the company in the current quarter.

• GM consolidating, building $200M test site Jan 31, 2013

  General Motors Co. will invest $200 million to construct a 138,000-square-foot test wing at its global powertrain engineering headquarters in Pontiac, Mich.

• Honda sees North America revenue improvement Jan 31, 2013

  Honda Motor Co. Ltd. recorded a 26.3-percent year-over-year increase in revenue in its North America segment in its fiscal third quarter.

• Profitable CarTech mulls acquisitions Jan 31, 2013

  Carpenter Technology Corp., which posted a 39.8-percent jump in earnings in its fiscal second quarter, is looking for acquisition opportunities.

• Whirlpool cost-cutting initiatives help boost earnings Jan 31, 2013

  Appliance manufacturer Whirlpool Corp. posted global net income of $401 million in 2012, up 2.8 percent from $390 million the previous year despite a 2.8-percent decline in sales to $18.14 billion.

• O’Neal Steel promotes Stephen Jan 31, 2013

  National service center chain O’Neal Steel Inc. has named Jeff Stephen vice president of sales and marketing.

• Commerce invites requests for trade reviews Jan 31, 2013

  The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) is offering interested parties the opportunity to request administrative reviews of various anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders with February anniversary dates.

• Nissan’s Tenn. plant starts energy-efficient paint line Jan 31, 2013

  Nissan North America Inc. has started up a new 250,000-square-foot paint line in Smyrna, Tenn.

• Chrysler net income soars; sees even brighter future Jan 31, 2013

  Chrysler Group LLC’s net income soared to nearly $1.67 billion last year from $183 million in 2011, driven by a 19.6-percent increase in revenue to more than $65.78 billion on an 18-percent increase in global vehicle shipments.

• ArcelorMittal México to upgrade Tultitlán facility Jan 30, 2013

  ArcelorMittal México plans to remodel its Tultitlán facility in central Mexico to process steel products for the domestic market, commercial director Guillermo Rey said at AMM’s 18th annual Mexican Steel Forum in Monterrey.

• Ford to use ultra-high-strength steel Jan 30, 2013

  Ford Motor Co. plans to manufacture its vehicles using ultra-high-strength steels or alternative materials such as carbon fiber by 2020 to reduce vehicle weight and cut fuel consumption.

• Norfolk Southern plans $2 billion in upgrades Jan 30, 2013

  Norfolk Southern Corp. plans to spend $2 billion on capital improvements to its rail transportation network in 2013.

• No slowdown issued to supply chain: Boeing Jan 30, 2013

  Despite the lithium-ion battery failures that have grounded most of Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliners, the company has not issued any production slowdown orders to its supply chain, the aerospace giant’s top executive said this week.

• SHFE's crude oil contract to transform trade Jan 30, 2013

  The commodity futures trade in China will be transformed by the Shanghai Futures Exchange’s (SHFE’s) proposed crude oil contract as the exchange looks at how to facilitate offshore involvement, according to Sebastian Pang, head of energy APAC ex-Japan at Newedge Financial Singapore Pte Ltd.

• US metal shipments, orders fall in Dec. Jan 30, 2013

  U.S. metal producers’ shipments and new orders fell in December from the previous month, but the full-year totals were higher than in 2011.

• Caterpillar looks for uptick to generate orders Jan 30, 2013

  The long-term outlook for the global mining sector is positive despite a recent downturn in demand, according to heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc.

• CarTech, U.S. Steel in auto tie-up Jan 30, 2013

  Carpenter Technology Corp. and U.S. Steel Corp. have finalized a formal cooperation agreement to develop a new "lightweighting" steel alloy for automotive applications.

• Ford upbeat despite European drag on sales, earnings Jan 29, 2013

  Ford Motor Co. expects to manufacture 770,000 cars and light trucks in North America this quarter, up 4.8 percent from fourth-quarter production of 735,000 vehicles, and expects its global output to rise 4.8 percent to 1.57 million vehicles.

• GM plans $600M upgrade of Fairfax facility Jan 29, 2013

  General Motors Co. plans to invest $600 million at its Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Plant in Kansas City, Kan., including the construction of a 450,000-square-foot paint shop, installation of a stamping press and other upgrades.

• Tony Butera named ASD’s Steel Man of the Year Jan 29, 2013

  Survivors in the rough-and-tumble world of steel are often described as gamblers and horse traders. Tony Butera, a cofounder of Voss Industries, has in fact gambled and owned racehorses during a career that has so far spanned 62 years.

• Voss Industries sees business continuing to gain strength Jan 29, 2013

  Despite plenty of competition, Voss Industries is humming along and looking to hire more staff, the company says.

• Steel Dynamics net income doubles in 4th qtr. Jan 29, 2013

  Steel Dynamics Inc.’s fourth-quarter net income more than doubled to nearly $60.6 million from $30.2 million a year earlier, primarily due to a strong performance by its metals recycling division and improved demand for steel sheet from automotive and manufacturing.

• Alcoa fastener unit, Chinese aircraft firm Comac ink pact Jan 28, 2013

  Alcoa Inc.’s fastening systems unit has inked a new strategic agreement with Commercial Aircraft of China Ltd. (Comac).