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Is U.S. Manufacturing Creating Jobs?
In June, U.S. manufacturing added 15,000 jobs, following a decline of 8,000 in May. For the overall U.S. economy, including manufacturing, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 298,000 last week, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 305,000, the Labor Department said. Read more

Hydro Making Plans To Exit Magnesium Market
Norsk Hydro ASA is weighing plans to close its magnesium smelter in Bécancour, PQ, if a buyer cannot be found, and may exit the global magnesium market all together. The Canadian plant is the largest magnesium smelter in the world. Read more

Three PLs Struggle With Image
TNT Logistics and parent TNT NV remain positive about performance and plans to sell off the logistics unit. Meanwhile, at DHL, the industry is watching closely as John Allan moves the Exel integration forward. Read more

Airgas Renegotiates Credit Line
Airgas Inc. is contemplating several acquisitions, according to a company statement. To help fund those acquisitions, the company has amended and restated its senior credit facility with a syndicate of banks. Read more

IndustryWeek Web Forum

Join the discussion in the IndustryWeek Forums -- covering the latest in manufacturing. The forum is open!

Are U.S. Manufacturers Gullible?
"Free trade can only work when its fair trade. We have one of the largest open markets in the world that many foreign countries take advantage of to dump their cheep products thus decimating our own manufacturing base, yet many of our products are shut out of other countries thru tariff and other protections."
Read more.

Readers Discuss GM's Latest Results
"Again, the 2Q numbers are in and GM is spinning a 3.2 billion loss as "good news". amazing - whats even more amazing is Wall Street appears to be buying it."
Read more.

Government Wastes Small Business Loans On Wal-Mart
"Oh the irony that some of the most anti-competition and anti-small business outfits got these loans - Microsquash and Walmart? shows once again that money and connections means everything to congress, and the will of the people nothing."
Read more.

Participate in this and other discussions at forums.industryweek.com.

Increased Profitability Through Customer-Focused Service
Manufacturers earn 24% of their revenues from the aftermarket, and it accounts for 45% of gross profits. Hear Wharton professor Dr. Morris Cohen, author of the recent Harvard Business Review article "Winning in the Aftermarket," describe the unique challenges of the aftermarket supply chain and a roadmap for improving the service business. During this August 9 IndustryWeek Webcast, you'll also learn from Joe Chamberlain, vice president of service supply chain at KLA-Tencor.

Click here to register.