Supply Chain

• Know your place, embrace relationships: Nelsen exec Oct 14, 2011

  Successful operations management requires a keen eye for developing people, as well as knowing processes and who you are, according to a Nelsen Steel Co. executive.

• Marlin exec. lays out plan for economic revival Oct 14, 2011

  Drew Greenblatt says he knows how to revive the U.S. manufacturing sector.

• US-China deficit hits record high Oct 13, 2011

  The U.S. trade deficit with China reached a record $29 billion in August, up from $27 billion in July and up from $28.2 billion in August 2010, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Peabody Energy in joint deal to market coal in Asia Oct 13, 2011

  Peabody Energy Corp. is collaborating with a coking coal importer to tap into the Asian market.

• Chrysler, UAW reach tentative labor deal Oct 13, 2011

  Chrysler Group LLC and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union have reached a tentative labor agreement.

• Construction market said charting slow revival Oct 13, 2011

  Steel companies supplying the construction sector can expect a mixed picture as the market grows slowly into 2012 and beyond despite steep cuts anticipated in public construction spending, according to one economist.

• Titanium engine mart sees challenges ahead Oct 13, 2011

  Titanium looks to be on a roll in aircraft engines through most of this decade, but its share of the market appears likely to decline in the long run.

• PEAMCoal’s Macarthur deal to close Oct. 28 Oct 13, 2011

  An offer to buy all the shares of Australia-based Macarthur Coal Ltd. is expected to close Oct. 28, with the buyer urging shareholders to sell their stock.

• Miners must share risk with steel mills: McKinsey analyst Oct 13, 2011

  Steelmakers’ margins are coming under increasing pressure as a result of high and volatile raw material costs, creating the need for a more even distribution of risk ownership along the supply chain, said Sigurd Mareels, director at management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.

• Automakers require flexibility: Ward’s Oct 13, 2011

  To get back on track, the Detroit Three automakers had to take some drastic steps that left them lean and mostly profitable, but there are potential risks that go along with reductions in capacity, models and inventories, according to John Sousanis, director of information content for Ward’s Automotive Group.

• Battery shipments exceed 10M in August Oct 12, 2011

  North American shipments of replacement and original automotive batteries exceeded 10 million in August, according to the latest data from Chicago-based Battery Council International.

• Cliffs’ W.Va. mine back in operation Oct 12, 2011

  The Pinnacle Mine in West Virginia, owned by Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., has resumed production after being closed for more than four months.

• New Millennium Iron plans TSX listing Oct 12, 2011

  New Millennium Iron Corp. has received conditional approval to list its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

• Mazda starts Mexico plant construction Oct 12, 2011

  Mazda Motor Corp. began laying the cornerstone of its $500-million light vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing complex in central Mexico Tuesday.

• Washington prepares to vote on trade, jobs bills Oct 11, 2011

  Three major votes were scheduled for Tuesday evening in Washington that could determine the future of the nation’s infrastructure growth, jobs and trade relations.

• Xstrata buys Lossan deposit as part of push into Canada Oct 11, 2011

  Xstrata Coal is buying Cline Mining Corp.’s Lossan coal deposit in British Columbia in its latest push into the Canadian metallurgical coal market.

• Ferguson hired for Arch Coal sales post Oct 11, 2011

  Arch Coal Inc. has appointed Matt Ferguson to serve as senior vice president of Arch Coal Sales Inc., while John Ziegler will become senior director of compensation and benefits.

• VSQ wire partnership targets Asian markets Oct 10, 2011

  American Spring Wire Corp. (ASW) will partner with Bekaert Corp. in supplying engine valve spring-quality (VSQ) wire to Asian markets.

• Steel exec, philanthropist William Dietrich dies Oct 10, 2011

  William S. Dietrich II, a retired steel industry executive who recently gave record endowments to two major universities, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 73.

• US, Canada drill rig activity up strongly Oct 10, 2011

  The number of drill rigs running in the United States jumped by 22 last week, led by Texas (up eight), Oklahoma (up six) and Louisiana (up four), while Canadian drilling activity rose by 12 rigs compared with the previous week.

• Venchurs launches new biofuel division Oct 07, 2011

  Venchurs Inc., which specializes in packaging, kitting and supply-chain management for automotive suppliers, has launched a new division focused on compressed natural gas (CNG) and biofuel conversions for the commercial and fleet vehicle industries.

• Copper service centers see orders rise Oct 06, 2011

  Service centers are seeing more orders from customers seeking to lock in lower copper prices, but the increased business may not offset losses from plunging inventory values, sources told AMM.

• Accuride's Fabco bought by private equity firm Oct 06, 2011

  Wynnchurch Capital Ltd., a Chicago-based private equity firm, has acquired Fabco Automotive Corp., a Livermore, Calif.-based manufacturer of engineered, specialty gearbox, axle and transfer case products.

• CBSA revises Aug. shipment data Oct 06, 2011

  The Copper and Brass Servicenter Association (CBSA) has issued a revision of data it released earlier regarding August shipments of 300 Series brass and rod.