Metals & Machinery

Japanese machinery orders fall

Japanese core machinery orders fell 3.7 percent in January, as demand from non-manufacturers weakened, the government has said

Teesside Cast Products mothballing to begin

The mothballing of the Corus steel plant in Redcar is due to begin today

Caterpillar joins climate coalition exodus

The firm joins oil companies ConocoPhillips and BP America in quitting the USCAP coalition

Corus plant to be mothballed by the end of the week

The mothballing of the Teesside Cast Products blast furnace at Redcar, where some 1,700 jobs are due to be lost, will begin at the end of the week

ThyssenKrupp posts first quarter profit as demand for steel grows

ThyssenKrupp AG has reported a quarterly profit for the first quarter of 2009/2010 as the steelmaker benefits from reduced costs and increased demand

ThyssenKrupp Executive Board Chairman and CEO, Dr. Ekkehard Schulz

ArcelorMittal profits rise as demand grows

ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel company, says it made a profit in the three months to December 2009 as demand for steel continues to grow

Rio Tinto appoints Managing Director, China

Rio Tinto has appointed Ian Bauert as Managing Director, China, with immediate effect

Chevron to make sweeping cuts in global restructuring

Up to 1,400 UK jobs are reportedly at risk as Chevron tells staff it is planning a restructuring that would involve sweeping cuts

Karl-Ulrich Köhler to join Corus as new COO

Corus announces the appointment of Dr Karl-Ulrich Köhler as its new Chief Operating Officer

De Beers plans $1bn rights issue

De Beers’ rights issue is seen as an attempt to cut debts, Manufacturing Digital understands

De Beers is the world's largest diamond producer

Caterpillar announces acquisition of South Korean parts maker JCS

The seal manufacturer will support Caterpillar’s strategy for continued growth in key emerging markets in Asia Pacific region, the company says.

Deere reports Q4 loss

Deere and Company today reported a $223 million loss for the fourth quarter as sales of farm and construction equipment slump in the downturn.

Steelmakers want ore-marketing plan blocked

European steel industry asks Commission to block JV of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto

Aggreko shows confidence in south-west with £520,000 investment

Aggreko, the global leader in temporary power and temperature control solutions, is bucking the recessionary trend by investing £520,000 in new specialist delivery vehicles for its Bristol service centre to further improve its operations throughout the south-west.

Konecranes acquires Dynamic Crane Systems

Konecranes has acquired 100 percent of the share capital in South African crane and service company Dynamic Crane Systems.

CXT Industrial crane at a steel service center

ThyssenKrupp AG makes managerial changes

Hans Fischer appointed new Chairman of the Management Board for the Steel Americas business unit.

Record iron production for miner BHP Billiton

Mining giant BHP Billiton says iron output rose by a record amount in the third quarter

Caterpillar sees “encouraging signs” of economic recovery

Caterpillar, the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment, has said it sees "encouraging signs" of economic recovery.

Caterpillar global mining F-Series Mining Truck

Xstrata has “no intention” of making Anglo bid

Swiss-based miner Xstrata has announced that it has "no intention" of making an offer for rival Anglo-American.

Alcoa returns to profitability

U.S. aluminium-maker Alcoa has announced a surprise profit for the third quarter after three consecutive quarterly losses.

Anglesey Aluminium metal plant to close next month

Smelting operations at Anglesey Aluminium's plant in Holyhead will come to an end in September, leading to 390 job losses.

Machinery order outlook bodes ill for Japan

Japanese manufacturers forecast a sixth straight quarterly fall in machinery orders in July-September, suggesting they remain wary of expanding their production capacity despite signs of a global economic recovery.

A man walks past a show window in Tokyo June 10, 2009. Japanese manufacturers forecast a sixth straight quarterly fall in machinery orders in July-September, suggesting they remain wary of expanding their production capacity despite signs of a global economic recovery. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

BHP Billiton Q4 may beat guidance

BHP Billiton is set to unveil a recovery in Australian coal exports in its June quarter production report on Wednesday as improving global steel output boosts demand for metallurgical coal.

A pedestrian walks past the head offices of BHP Billiton in central Melbourne October 16, 2008. REUTERS/Mick Tsikas

Vedanta eyes steel manufacturing-paper

India-focussed mining group Vedanta Resources is planning to expand to steel manufacturing with a partner, the Mint newspaper reported on Friday.

Redrock unveils new TH320

Manufacturing Digital takes a look at the new Redrock three tonne TH320 telehander, a machine “designed to perform”.

SA manufacturing keeps on falling

South Africa’s manufacturing output shrank by 17.1 percent year-on-year in volume terms in May, a sign that recession continues to cripple South Africa’s manufacturing industry.

G8 leaders agree on emission cuts by 2050

Global leaders attending the G8 summit have agreed to cut their carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

Alcoa's loss smaller than expected

Alcoa Inc posted a third consecutive quarterly loss on Wednesday, but cost cuts helped the largest U.S. aluminium maker beat Wall Street estimates by a large margin, sending its stock higher.

A worker walks in front of an Alcoa Fjardaal aluminium smelter potline, in Fjardaal, eastern Iceland, April 16, 2007. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

China holds Rio exec as spy; iron ore deal said done

Chinese authorities are detaining Rio Tinto Ltd's top iron ore negotiator on suspicion of espionage and stealing state secrets, Australia said on Wednesday, threatening to strain already fraying ties.

A employee is seen at Rio Tinto Limited Shanghai Representative Office in Shanghai July 8, 2009. REUTERS/Aly Song

Rio wraps up rights issue

Global miner Rio Tinto wrapped up one of the world's biggest rights issues on Friday, saying its Australian shareholders had taken up 94.76 percent of their entitlements to the new shares.

A bull dozer works on a mound of salt at Rio Tinto's Dampier Salt Limited production facility at Port Hedland, about 1,600 km (960 miles) north of Perth, Australia May 27, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

Boart Longyear sells SA manufacturing operations

The deal will see its manufacturing operations in Roodepoort sold to Tranter Energy & Mining.

Chinalco likely to back Rio rights issue

China's state-owned Chinalco is likely to participate in global miner Rio Tinto Ltd's $15.2 billion rights offer, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters on Wednesday, in a sign China was keen to retain its interest in the world's top iron ore miner.

A security guard stands in position in front of the company's and Chinese flags outside the headquarters of Aluminum Corp of China (Chinalco) in Beijing June 5, 2009. REUTERS/Christina Hu

ArcelorMittal South Africa to raise prices in August

The steelmaker said the raise is in response to “global trends”.

Corus cutting 2,000 UK steel jobs

The jobs will mostly go in at the steelmaker’s Scunthorpe and Rotherham plants.

Xstrata eyes Anglo merger

Mining giant Xstrata has approached its rival Anglo-American about the possibility of a merger.

Rio dumps Chinalco for BHP tie-up

Miner Rio Tinto scraps planned $19.5 billion tie-up with China's Chinalco, turning instead to an iron ore joint venture with rival BHP Billiton.

Share price indicators for Rio Tinto (C) are displayed on the Australian Stock Exchange board in Sydney May 15, 2009. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz

Rio, Chinalco may revise $19.5b deal before June 14

Chinese state-owned metals firm Chinalco may revise its planned $19.5 billion (11.9 billion pound) investment in miner Rio Tinto before a June 14 deadline to avoid further delays in Australian government approval, two sources close to the deal said on Thursday.

Picture shows the main pit at a Rio Tinto iron ore mine at Tom Price, about 1,300 km (800 miles) north of Perth May 28, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

Japan factory output jumps

Japanese factory output jumped in April and manufacturers forecast further gains ahead, but the tentative recovery in the industrial sector has yet to spread to the rest of the economy, with unemployment hitting a 5-1/2-year high and the country stuck in mild deflation.

Government steps in to prevent steel job losses

Trade unions and employers from the steel industry are said to be encouraged by the speed of the government’s response to the threat of thousands of jobs at a Teeside steel plant.

Rio Tinto head to meet investors on Chinalco

The chairman of miner Rio Tinto will meet shareholders in the UK and Australia over the next three weeks to test their appetite for the company's planned $19.5 billion (12.8 billion pound) tie-up with China's Chinalco, the Australia Financial Review said on Monday.

Rio Tinto's new chairman Jan du Plessis answers a question during a news conference after the company's annual general meeting in Sydney April 20, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

Corus’ Teeside plant mothballed

Move threatens nearly 2,000 jobs and comes after the plant's main customer walked away from a purchasing agreement.

Rio Tinto still wants to do Chinalco deal

Global miner Rio Tinto has not talked to Chinese state-owned metals firm Chinalco about revising a planned $19.5 billion (12.9 billion pound) tie-up, and still believes the deal makes sense.

Rio Tinto Chairman Paul Skinner (R) and CEO Tom Albanese, CEO speak at a news conference following the Rio Tinto AGM in central London April 15, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Canada tells U.S. Steel to keep output commitments

Canada is formally demanding that U.S. Steel Corp stick to production commitments it made when it bought Canadian steel firm Stelco Inc, Industry Minister Tony Clement said on Wednesday.

Makita Manufacturing Europe pursues expansion

Firm to build a 38,000-square foot extension at its power tools warehouse in Telford, Manufacturing Digital understands.

Xstrata coal output up 7.7 percent

Mining group Xstrata posted a 7.7 percent rise in first-quarter production of coal, its most profitable commodity, but output of many other products declined amid weak demand and low prices.

ArcelorMittal reports $1bln quarterly loss

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker, has seen its second quarter sales almost halve with the global recession hitting demand for steel.

CEMEX expects further cost savings

Cement manufacturer expects to deliver additional $200 million in cost savings by the end of 2009.

Rio Tinto’s Q1 aluminium output falls

Rio Tinto says first-quarter aluminium output fell 6 percent, while its iron ore production dropped by 15 percent.

Alcoa sees second quarterly loss

Aluminium producer Alcoa has reported a second consecutive quarterly loss as metal prices slump and global demand falls in the economic downturn.

Rio Tinto to cut jobs and output

Mining giant Rio Tinto says it will cut Australian jobs and scale back production

Alstom enters RWE supply contract

Alstom has be awarded a contract worth around 500 million euros by RWE Power AG.

Flowserve and Al-Rushaid open facility in Saudi Arabia

Flowserve Corp and Al-Rushaid Group have announced the opening of the largest pump manufacturing, repair and testing facility in the Middle East.

Lewis Kling on Flowserve's new development

Rio Tinto shares down on Chinalco deal

Shares in Rio Tinto plunged nine percent in Australia following increased opposition to the $19.5 billion deal with Chinese metals group Chinalco.

ArcelorMittal denies share sale rumours

The world’s biggest steelmaker ArcelorMittal has denied a report that it was considering a five billion euro ($6.5 billion) share sale.

Owner of ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal

Downturn hits steel industry

Manufacturing Digital discovers how the steel industry’s leading players are coping as the global credit crunch hits the demand for steel.

United Tech lowers profit target, cutting 11,600 jobs

United Technologies Corp, whose products range from elevators to jet engines, plans to cut 11,600 jobs as it adapts to an economy that has grown worse than it expected just three months ago.

The Sikorsky H-92 Cyclone helicopter is a military version of the S-92, built by a division of U.S. conglomerate United Technologies. REUTERS/Sikorsky/Handout

U.S. Steel to idle southern Ontario operations

U.S. Steel Corp is temporarily shutting down most of its operations at a pair of plants in southern Ontario, in a move that will affect about 1,500 workers.

ArcelorMittal records first quarterly loss

ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steelmaker, reported a loss of $2.6 billion for the fourth quarter, hit by a slump in demand and falling prices amid the global economic slowdown.

Caterpillar offers 2,000 workers early retirement

U.S. heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc on Wednesday offered voluntary early retirement packages to about 2,000 production workers.

Whirlpool quarterly profit falls 76 percent

Whirlpool Corp reported a 76 percent drop in quarterly profit as sales crumbled worldwide, and the world's biggest appliance maker said earnings would fall further in 2009, sending its shares down more than 9 percent.

Whirlpool products in an undated photo. REUTERS/Whirlpool Corporation/Handout

Workers set to lose jobs at Dyson parts factory

Talks aimed at saving 89 skilled jobs at a factory which makes parts for Dyson cleaners have collapsed, according to the union Unite.

Invensys says H2 will be broadly in line with H1

Engineering firm Invensys said its second-half performance would be broadly in line with the first half, with orders for transport projects helping offset difficult conditions for its controls business.

Nippon sees recovery in 2 years, Toyota deal delay

Japan's Nippon Steel believes the global steel industry may need two to three years to recover from the current downturn, its chairman said.

Renold to axe 350 staff as new orders fall

Industrial chain maker Renold said it was axing 350 staff to cut costs, after new orders fell in its third quarter on a constant currency basis with December showing a significant decline.

Spectris sees more challenging 2009

Precision instrument and controls maker Spectris said on Thursday it expects 2009 will be more challenging than 2008, which it sees meeting expectations. Spectris, whose products have helped reduce noise made by Pirelli tyres and Japan's Bullet Train, said it expects full-year sales growth, including positive effects from currency and acquisitions, of 19 percent, with operating margins of around

Alcoa reports fourth-quarter loss

Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc , which is slashing 15,000 jobs, posted a fourth-quarter loss on Monday, as the global economic crisis sent revenue plummeting on lower demand and declining metal prices.

People leave the Alcoa Business Services Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania February 13, 2007. REUTERS/Jason Cohn

Alcoa says to cut 13,500 jobs

Alcoa Inc said on Tuesday it would slash more than 15,000 jobs, halve capital spending and sell four businesses as it reduces aluminum production in the face of the global economic downturn.

Alain Belda, chairman of Alcoa Inc. speaks to the media during a news conference in Montreal, Quebec, May 7, 2007. REUTERS/Shaun Best

Alcoa to slash jobs and sell 4 units

Alcoa Inc said on Tuesday it would slash more than 15,000 jobs, halve capital spending and sell four businesses as it reduces aluminium production in the face of the global economic downturn.

Alcoa's headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is seen February 13, 2007. REUTERS/Jason Cohn

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