Tagged: manufacturing

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Commentary
11:12 am
Wed May 9, 2012

Commentary: Slight increase in manufacturing jobs in Detroit

There’s a phenomenon that happens sometimes after a major stock market crash which is known by the ghastly name, “Dead Cat Bounce.”  We saw a lot of that back in the fall of 2008.

The Dow Jones averages would plunge 500 one day. The next day, they’d recover, say, 50 points, before falling even further later in the week. What was that brief rally all about? Well, it wasn’t about any real improvement in the market.

During a prolonged downturn, the averages sometimes rise briefly for a number of reasons; profit-takers who move in because they think a particular stock has fallen too far, for example.

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West Michigan
6:00 am
Mon March 26, 2012

"Office in pocket" doesn't scare this office furniture company

Steelcase, the world’s largest office furniture maker is celebrating 100 years in business. But sales of the metal filing cabinets Steelcase is named for are declining; same with traditional cubicles and other large pieces of office furniture. Steelcase is changing its identity.

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Auto/Economy
4:23 pm
Fri March 16, 2012

Steelcase celebrates 100 years of business Friday

Employees take pictures in front of the newly designed Steelcase truck celebrating 100 years.
Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio

Steelcase doesn’t manufacture much office furniture in West Michigan anymore, but it still has about 3,000 employees here. They gathered for the birthday celebration at the Grand Rapids headquarters for cake and a balloon drop.

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Changing Gears
11:22 am
Wed March 14, 2012

Meet the machine that makes most of the things in your life

This month, we’re taking a look at some of the hidden assets of the industrial Midwest – the parts of our economy that don’t often get noticed when we talk about our strengths.

We found one hidden asset right smack in the middle of our manufacturing sector. It’s a machine that’s in literally thousands of factories across the Midwest. And, though, you might not have heard of it before, the CNC machine – and the people who operate it – are at the core of our economy.

CNC stands for computer-numerically-controlled. And what the computerized machine does is it machines things. That sounds ridiculous unless you know that machine is not just a noun. It’s also a specific manufacturing process.

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Economy
4:08 pm
Tue February 14, 2012

Michigan-based solar technology company files for bankruptcy

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.'s "UNI-SOLAR" panels on the Governor's residence in Lansing, Michigan. Energy Conversion Devices filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy today.
Energy Conversion Devices /

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., a technology company based in Auburn Hills, Michigan filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today.

The company makes thin laminates that convert sunlight to energy and "has manufacturing facilities in Auburn Hills and Greenville, Michigan, as well as sites in Mexico and Canada," according to the Wall Street Journal.

Michael Schostak, the director of business development at Energy Conversion Devices, was quoted in the WSJ saying the company intends to find a buyer in the reorganization process.

From the WSJ:

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