Two companies have announced plans that could mean about 200 jobs at factories in northern Indiana’s Elkhart County, which
has been among the country’s hardest-hit places during the recession.
Fort Wayne officials are concerned they won’t be able to persuade Navistar against moving its truck design center to suburban
Chicago.
Bright Automotive and EnerDel are well known for their development of components for hybrid cars, but the region has several
other players poised to be big players in the sector. In fact, few realize that North America’s largest producer
of electric motors for hybrid vehicles is based northeast of Indianapolis, in Pendleton.
Indianapolis-based Hurco Cos. this morning reported another quarterly loss after sales dropped a staggering 64 percent. Hurco
lost $1.2 million, or 19 cents a share, in its fiscal third quarter ended July 31. The company had a profit of $5.8 million,
or 90 cents a share, during the same quarter last year.
Whirlpool Corp. said today that it will cut 1,100 jobs by closing a refrigerator factory in Evansville. The jobs will be eliminated
in mid-2010.
A filtration division of Columbus-based Cummins Inc. will move a large portion of its North American assembly operations to
a plant in Mexico to keep the business competitive, the company said today.
Aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney will close its plant on Kentucky Avenue within the next 18 months and gradually
let go all 100 of its employees.
West Lafayette furniture maker Chromcraft Revington Inc. narrowed its losses in the second quarter by shedding unprofitable
products, closing plants and reducing expenses, the company said yesterday.
Carbon Motors this morning officially selected Connersville for its proposed headquarters and
manufacturing operations.
A rally this morning in Connersville originally intended to help persuade a police car manufacturer
to locate a major factory there appears to be a celebration party.
After working in retail management for four years, Rich and Jodi Scheve decided to take business into their own hands—and
their own garage. Passing on business plans for Subway and South Bend Chocolate Co. franchises, the couple
skirted heavy franchise fees and started Twisted Wick Candle Co.
The city of Anderson soon will tap a new well to help accommodate demand from Nestle USA, which opened a Madison County plant
in May 2008 producing bottled, flavored Nesquik and liquid Coffee-mate, a water-based creamer. The
company already has launched an expansion slated for completion in 2011.
The Indiana Recycling Coalition scored big in the just-concluded session of the Indiana General Assembly with the passage
of House Bill 1589, which requires that electronics manufacturers help pay for recycling of their old televisions and computer
monitors.
The electronics accessories unit of Audiovox Corp. in Carmel is gaining from the rise in antenna sales ahead of the June 12
switch to all-digital TV broadcasting.
Local manufacturing stalwart Allison Transmission will have to restructure its more than $4 billion in debt or further cut
expenses if it’s going to weather the recession.
Indiana’s $86M incentive package to establish the Subaru plant in Lafayette was initially controversial.
Facing anemic demand and slumping sales, manufacturers are increasingly attempting to tap the U.S. Department of Defense for contracting opportunities.
Elkhart’s industries should shift to producing mass transit vehicles and manufactured housing for low-income, high-density neighborhoods.
United Auto Workers officials are hoping to find a way to keep open the foundry that has been associated with an east-side engine plant for 70 years, despite Navistar International Corp.'s plans to close both facilities by July 31.
While many central Indiana manufacturers are feeling the pinch of the downturned economy, locally based Sign Craft Industries
Inc. is posting record growth this year and projecting another robust year in 2009.
