ABB to Make Robots in the US
ABB announced today it will start production of robots in the United States, making it the first global industrial robotics company to fully commit to and invest in a North American robotics manufacturing footprint. The company made the announcement at the opening of a new robotics plant at an existing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, where it already has about 500 highly skilled employees. Production is to commence immediately. The new plant is ABB’s third robotics production facility, alongside Shanghai, China, and Västerås, Sweden, and will manufacture ABB robots and related equipment for the North American market. The United States is ABB’s largest market with US$7.5 billion in sales.
Charleston Harbor to be Deepened
Today the US Army Corps of Engineers released the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the Post-45 Harbor Deepening project, recommending that the Charleston Harbor be deepened to 52 feet. "The Port of Charleston's ability to handle post-Panamax vessels 24 hours a day without tidal restriction is critical to the future competitiveness of our state port system," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "Completion of our harbor deepening project to 52 feet ensures that SCPA will continue to grow above the market average and remain a top ten port, facilitating trade and economic development for our entire state, region and nation.
Cavotec Wins Saudi & Singapore Orders
Cavotec strengthens US presence with ThyssenKrupp, Robbins orders for advanced cable & hose reels. The Cavotec engineering group has illustrated its rapidly growing presence on the critical US market with two important orders from leading industrial groups – ThyssenKrupp and The Robbins Company – for advanced cable and hose reels for applications in Saudi Arabia and Singapore. For ThyssenKrupp, Cavotec will manufacture explosion proof (Zone 21) Atex cable and hose reels, medium voltage cables, one Brevetti stainless steel circular power cable chain and related materiel. The equipment will be used to power indoor stacker and reclaimer machines that will handle coke and sulfur at an application in Saudi Arabia.
Brunswick Buys North Carolina Boat Plant
Brunswick Corporation will expand its manufacturing presence in North Carolina with the purchase of a boat manufacturing facility in Navassa, N.C., near Wilmington, from KCS International, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Navassa site will offer Brunswick additional and needed capacity to build larger boats -- a growing market segment -- as well as the ability to manufacture several brands of cruisers at the facility, increasing production flexibility, productivity and efficiency. In a related action, Brunswick will close its Salisbury, Md., plant and transfer cruiser production to the new North Carolina facility.
