Posts For August 5, 2010

UMA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

RIO TINTO'S FIRST-HALF PROFIT SOARS
August 5, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net

Mining giant said first-half profit more than tripled amid strong iron ore demand from China and higher commodity prices as the world economy climbed out of recession ... continue

RIO TINTO ALCAN STEPS UP CANADIAN PLANT MODERNIZATION
August 5, 2010 – LateWire from Manufacturing.net

Mining giant says it will close and dismantle two of the Kitimat smelter's pot lines to clear the way for future buildings as it steps up pace of a major modernization project ... continue

RETAILERS POST ONLY MODEST GAINS FOR JULY

August 5, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net
Sluggish consumer spending raises worries about the health of the back-to-school season as Americans step up saving amid a stalling economic recovery ... continue

OUTSOURCING MAY LEAD TO FAILURE IN TOUGH TIMES AND IN GOOD, SHOWS UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH

August 5, 2010 - PR Newswire

In tough times, many companies slash staff and turn to outsourcing, yet that strategy may doom their products.
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NEW CLAIMS FOR JOBLESS BENEFITS RISE UNEXPECTEDLY

August 5, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net
Initial requests for jobless benefits rose last week to their highest level since April, a sign that hiring remains weak and some companies are still cutting workers ... continue

MANUFACTURERS DISPEL "MYTHS" ABOUT MANUFACTURING AND TAX INCREASES

August 5, 2010 – NAM Shopfloor blog

NAM "disagrees with Treasury Secretary Geithner's comments this afternoon at an event sponsored by the Center for American Progress and the American Action Forum in which he stated it is a 'myth' that tax increases would hurt small businesses. Nearly 68 percent of all manufacturers are organized as S-Corporations or other entities taxed at the individual rate. This means they pay individual tax rates on their business income."

The posting also notes that "Since 2007, these manufacturers organized as S-Corporations have lost more than 850,000 jobs – 42 percent of the total jobs lost in the goods-producing sector." Furthermore, "Manufacturers have been hit hard especially as a capital-intensive business. Manufacturer's equipment is expensive, they have more employees and higher payroll costs, so the money flowing through their business tends to be higher."

GERMAN INDUSTRIAL ORDERS RISE IN JUNE

August 5, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net
Foreign demand for vehicles helped boost German industrial orders 3.2 percent on the month in June, more than twice economists' forecast of a 1.4 percent increase ... continue