Building a Wind Turbine Supply Chain

Add comment September 30th, 2009

Workshop being offered…  Workshop

U.S. Chamber Analysis: House Health Care Bill Would Hurt Employers

2 comments September 30th, 2009

“The proposed bill would launch more than a trillion dollars in new spending and create a massive new bureaucracy,” says Randy Johnson, senior vice president of the Chamber’s Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits division. “While much has been written about pending legislation in the House of Representatives, we believe that this analysis is one of the few that really digs down into many unexplored issues that will greatly affect the employer community.”   Climate

See the full analysis  here

The Next Youth-Magnet Cities

2 comments September 30th, 2009

 Interesting to read about what will draw the college graduates…the 10 U.S. cities most likely to emerge as “youth magnet” cities after the recession—popular target destinations among young, college-educated, often single people setting out to start a career, find a mate or both… Hip

Possibly an opportunity for your company

Add comment September 29th, 2009

The U.S. Army is conducting a briefing to Industry in support of the anticipated Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Program. The unclassified Industry Day is scheduled on October 16, 2009 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time with check in from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM at the Hyatt Regency (600 Town Center Dr.) in Dearborn, Michigan.

The goals of this meeting are threefold:

1) to familiarize participants with the GCV requirement

2) to promote understanding of the proposal requirements

3) to promote discussion of synergistic capabilities among potential program participants. During the Industry Day, a method of receiving feedback and responding to questions from industry regarding the GCV requirement will be announced.

The GCV program is a Development program addressing the Armies effort to develop a next generation combat vehicle. A solicitation will not be released prior to this Industry Day nor will a draft solicitation be presented at this event.

Separate, pre-registration is required for Industry Day attendance.

Participants must register prior to 09 Oct 2009 by sending an e-mail to DAMI_GCV@conus.army.mil. The e-mail must contain the name of the firm, the firms CAGE code, firms principal line of business, and the names and citizenship of the individual(s) from the firm planning to attend.

Attendance will be limited to no more than four individuals per firm/organization. Registration at the Combat Vehicles Conference and TACOM LCMC APBI is not required to attend the Ground Combat Vehicles Industry Day.

Point of Contact: Mr. Greg Donahoe, TACOM LCMC Contracting Officer, greg.donahoe@us.army.mil, Phone:(586) 574-4113

Eigerlab Programs Upcoming

Add comment September 29th, 2009

Attend CHIP class, learn about Government contracts, Patents OSHA and much more…see it here…  eigerlog-20090928.pdf

China’s Wind Farms Come With a Catch: Coal Plants

Add comment September 29th, 2009

China’s ambition to create “green cities” powered by huge wind farms comes with a dirty little secret: Dozens of new coal-fired power plants need to be installed as well.

Part of the reason is that wind power depends on, well, the wind. To safeguard against blackouts when conditions are too calm, officials have turned to coal-fired power as a backup.  Read the rest here..  Wind

So if China can build more coal plants, why must we Cap & Trade?

Rockford Manufacturers Submit Proposal to 2016 Olympic Bid

Add comment September 28th, 2009

I was thinking, how could Rockford manufacturers participate in the 2016 Olympics if Chicago wins the bid the Friday?  Some things came to mind, but I’m sure there are many others:

They need hammers to build all the new dorms and stadiums….Estwing!

Some nice souveniers from Heartland Wooden Boxes & the Sock Monkey!

Don’t forget the cylinders to lift up all the building cranes…Rockford Linear is here!

For some snacks…how about Chicklets, Old Salty and Mrs. Fischer’s Potato Chips!

For a great sandwich…get the Uncle Nick’s gyros…best in the whole world!

I’ll bet there are many more products manufacturers here in Rockford that we could add to the list.  Post your comments here!!

Good luck, Chicago, on Friday!!

Scott Christiansen Abraham Lincoln and Manufacturing….

Add comment September 27th, 2009

Today was a great day in Rockford when the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission of Winnebago County unveiled “Iron Determination” a Lincoln Sculpture by John W. McClarey and cast by a local craftsman (Adams) in nearby Mt. Morris, IL. Christiansen says this bust, in the Courthouse Square, is our connection to Lincoln and the powerful things he did while in office as our 16th President. Today was full of history about the times Lincoln was in our region and how he loved the Rock River Valley but more than that how he is the only President to hold a patent for his own invention. The Honorable Scott H Christiansen so cleverly wove his comments to include our rich manufacturing history and to speak of how rich it will be in the future. I hope someone makes his comments available past today as they were excellent! In the meantime slip downtown and be inspired by this man who, years after his death, points us to the future and the success it can hold.

Manufacturing Mentors Needed

Add comment September 27th, 2009

The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association is looking for volunteers from the local manufacturing community to serve as mentors for the student bus trip to FabTech at McCormick Place in Chicago on Wednesday, November 18, 2009.  Below are more details.

If you are interested, please contact:

Audrey Perteete Long
Education Products Manager
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International
Phone: 815-227-8206
Email: audrey@fmanet.org

Foreign Ownership of Local Firms

Add comment September 26th, 2009

Here is a changing view from Britain about foreign ownership of local (UK) firms…  ownership