Over the past six months UK small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have grown on average by six per cent despite the broader UK economy struggling, according to the latest SMB Index from HP.
HP’s survey of 1,000 SMBs, with between 1 and 50 employees shows that, compared to that of the previous six months, growth for UK SMBs has slowed slightly but optimism is still strong, with SMBs expecting to grow by up to 13 per cent over the next year. Optimism in the economy is also strong, with 66 per cent of SMBs optimistic about the year ahead. SMBs in Financial Services have grown the most (13 per cent), followed by Manufacturing (10 per cent). SMBs in Retail (4 per cent) and Professional Services (1 per cent) have seen the least growth. Nearly half of UK SMBs (48 per cent) are turning to social media to help grow their business and reach new audiences, with 56 per cent of sole traders recognising its value the most. However, although SMBs are finding social media beneficial for networking purposes (83 per cent), and as a mechanism for advertising (57 per cent), many SMBs are underestimating its true potential for business growth and lead generation.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/hp/48901/
IPS Group, Inc., an industry leader in intelligent parking technologies, celebrated a major milestone this month with its 100,000th parking meter being manufactured in the USA. The company’s success has benefited those locally by developing many multiple skill level jobs at its corporate headquarters based in San Diego, CA. The meter technology itself has also contributed positively to many cities across the U.S. and Canada by providing greater customer convenience, access to intelligent parking system data, and a highly cost effective solution to upgrade aging parking meter infrastructure.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54162-ips-parking-meter-manufacturing-milestone
Kubota Corporation today announced the grand opening of its new $73 million manufacturing facility at Kubota Industrial Equipment (KIE) in Jefferson, Ga. The 522,000-square-foot plant on the 88-acre site recently began production of Kubota’s 30- to 50-horsepower compact tractor models. The grand opening event was co-sponsored by Kubota Tractor Corporation, the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota tractors and equipment.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61142-kubota-kie-grand-opening-in-jefferson-ga-with-gov-deal-new-jobs
Blu® Homes, Inc. (“Blu”), the leading builder of beautiful, precision-engineered, green prefab homes, announced today that Woody Bell has been named senior vice president of operations. In his new role, Bell will oversee manufacturing at Blu’s Vallejo, California factory, a state-of-the-art 250,000 square-foot facility located in a former naval shipyard.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53070-blu-homes-welcomes-woody-bell-as-senior-vice-president-of-operations
Data released today by the Association of Global Automakers (Global Automakers) demonstrates that their members’ presence in the U.S. continues to grow.
“With $46 billion invested into U.S. operations, our members are an integral part of the U.S. automobile industry,” said Michael J. Stanton, president and CEO of Global Automakers. “They are providing jobs for Americans and an essential part of the country’s manufacturing base.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62780-global-automakers-new-data-showcases-u-s-economic-impact
Human labor is increasingly becoming superfluous in manufacturing operations as robots and fully automated processes take over. The latest technology-based production solutions reduce unit costs and are often the key to manufacturers’ future survival.
Michelin today marked the opening of its newest plant in North America, which will produce the innovative MICHELIN® X® TWEEL® Airless Radial Tire™ for commercial applications.
An idea first conceived by Michelin research engineers in the United States, the TWEEL is a revolutionary non-pneumatic tire that changed the configuration of a conventional tire, bringing together the tire and the wheel assembly into one solid unit. The TWEEL comprises a rigid hub connected to a shear beam by means of flexible, deformable polyurethane spokes, all functioning as a single unit.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7381451-michelin-open-s-first-manufacturing-plant-tweel-airless-radial-tire/
Call it a homecoming.
When Toyota introduced Lexus to the U.S. market in 1989, the Georgetown, Ky., plant – its first stand-alone vehicle manufacturing facility in America – was just in its second year of producing the Camry.
Fast forward 26 years and that same plant is celebrating the start of U.S. Lexus production. Today at a ceremony fit for a luxury brand king, the first-ever U.S.-produced ES 350 was unveiled before several thousand proud team members in Georgetown. And, just like a newborn foal at the nearby horse farms in Central Kentucky, the newcomer was brought into the world with plenty of TLC and hope for a bright future.
“This is really a proud moment for us and brings us full circle,” said Wil James, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. “To be the first wholly owned plant, building the number one best-selling car in America, the Camry, for 13 years in a row, and then to be selected to build the first Lexus is truly a tribute to our team members.”
For the past two and a half years, the Kentucky plant – Toyota’s largest in North America – has been gearing up to make the ES 350, Lexus’ best-selling sedan in the U.S. In all, $360 million was invested toward a new dedicated assembly line, adding 750 new jobs. Total capacity for the new line will be 50,000 vehicles.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7655351-lexus-kentucky-plant-es-350/
Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, today received the prestigious 2016 Deming Prize for its Pantnagar manufacturing facility. The Deming Prize is a global quality award and is the oldest and most widely recognized quality award in the world. This prize is awarded to companies that have established Total Quality Management (TQM) in their business operations. Ashok Leyland Pantnagar has become the first truck and bus plant in the world and also the only CV manufacturer outside of Japan to win the Deming Prize.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7980351-ashok-leyland-deming-prize/
Ball Aerospace successfully delivered the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1), NOAA’s next-generation polar orbiting weather satellite, to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Aug. 31, where it is scheduled to launch Nov. 10, 2017. This follows a successful pre-ship review with NASA at Ball’s Boulder, Colorado, manufacturing complex.
“The arrival of the spacecraft at Vandenberg is a tremendous milestone for the program and the culmination of excellent collaboration and hard work by the JPSS-1 team – NOAA, NASA, Ball, Harris, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman,” said Rob Strain, president, Ball Aerospace. “This advanced weather satellite will play a significant role in providing actionable environmental intelligence to decision makers in government and business, and to the general public.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7703951-ball-aerospace-noaa-jpss-1-weather-satellite/
As National Manufacturing Month begins, Whirlpool Corporation is celebrating its history and embracing progress in the manufacturing industry. Whirlpool Corporation is proud to be a Gold Supporter of Manufacturing Day 2017 and will be marking the day with a series of events in the local communities of its manufacturing plants across the country.
Whirlpool Corporation will invite select groups of high school and college students as well as community leaders to take part in a variety of activities at its U.S. plants. Programming will include: tours of the facilities, video presentations, and question-and-answer sessions. Whirlpool Corporation will also visit area schools, and employees will be involved with collaborative manufacturing-related class projects designed to educate students on the industry. Events are planned in the following cities: Amana, IA; Fall River, MA; Clyde, OH; Greenville, OH; Marion, OH; Ottawa, OH; Findlay, OH; Tulsa, OK; Cleveland, TN.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8182251-whirlpool-national-manufacturing-day-2017/
PROTO® Industrial Tools is pleased to announce that the company has introduced new products to its range of 1,500+ aerospace-compliant (AS) mechanics tools, all manufactured in the company’s Dallas facility.
From newly innovated intermediate sockets, wrenches, extensions, and ratchets, to torque tools and accessories, select PROTO® hand tools meet the specifications mandated by the SAE International group of engineers (SAE AS954G, AS955, AS4984A, and more). These hand tools meet both dimensional and plating specs to help promote productivity, safety, and durability suitable for most heavy industrial verticals. PROTO® engineers, manufactures, and tests its products in its own Dallas, TX facility to help ensure quality and precision manufacturing.
For users in industries like Aerospace, Oil and Gas, Petrochemical, Manufacturing, Automotive, and more, aerospace-compliant tools meet next-level durability and quality standards necessary to perform in extreme conditions. Over 1,500 PROTO® mechanics tools meet the required aerospace specifications needed to accommodate precise applications demanded in aviation, government, and military verticals.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8298951-proto-industrial-aerospace-compliant-tools/