Dana Corp. shutters Dover, Ohio, plant
TOLEDO, OHIO - Dana Corp. has closed a Dover, Ohio, plastics extrusion plant and shifted production to a new line in Paris, Tenn., as part of a restructuring.
The company had about 12 employees in Dover making fuel tubing, underground fuel vapor pipe and other products for the Hose & Tubing Products Division, which is part of Dana's Plumley Division. About 10 people now are staffing the lines in Paris, said spokeswoman Cindy Hopkins. The workers transferred from other jobs.
Dana's rubber extrusion group in Paris will manage the four lines in the plastic extrusion unit, which now is housed in an 18,500-square-foot building adjacent to the rubber lines.
``The addition ... will accelerate manufacturing efficiencies and provide a greater focus on future technology and innovative products,'' Philippe Jean, vice president and general manager, said in a May 1 news release.
Toledo-based Dana, which had a loss of $298 million on sales of $10.3 billion last year, has announced it is closing 30 plants and cutting 11,000 jobs as part of its overhaul.
Coke seeks buyers for sites Down Under
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Sydney-based Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd., a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co., is negotiating to sell its PET bottling plants in Australia and New Zealand.
The company supplies all of its own PET bottles.
Managing Director Terry Davis said at CCA's April 24 annual meeting in Sydney that the company is ``in advanced discussions with a number of parties,'' and that any sale will be combined with a long-term agreement for the ongoing supply of PET bottles.
According to the company, the plants have a book value of A$140 million (US$76 million).
CEO buys Munekata Ireland from parent
FINGLAS, IRELAND - Munekata Ireland Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Brian Nangle acquired the custom injection molder from parent Munekata Co. Ltd. on May 1. Terms were not disclosed.
Munekata Ireland employs 200 in Finglas, operates 16 Toshiba injection molding machines with clamping forces of 310-1,430 tons and reported sales of 23 million euros ($20 million) for the year ended March 31.
Nangle said Osaka, Japan-based Munekata Co. Ltd. is focused on building business in China and other Eastern markets. The Ireland operation molds television and electronics cabinets for the European market. Customers include Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba and Alps.
The management buyout will ``offer benefits to the employees in Ireland, as decisions regarding future development will now be made here,'' Nangle said in a news release.
Man charged in trade secrets theft case
WORCESTER, MASS. - A Westminster, Mass., man was charged April 24 with attempting to steal trade secrets from AlphaGary Corp., a compounder in Leominster, Mass.
According to the grand jury indictment presented in U.S. District Court in Worcester, Jeffrey A. Forgues, 39, attempted to buy formulation trade secrets relating to AlphaGary's plastic wire and cable insulation, on or about Jan. 27, 1999.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne M. Kempthorne, who did not return several telephone calls. Forgues' lawyer, John Wall, had no comment.
AlphaGary President Robert Gingue said Forgues never worked at his company, and added: ``We protect our technology very seriously and will continue to provide any assistance needed [to authorities].'' He would not comment further.
NEX gets boost from Reifenhauser line
TURNER FALLS, MASS. - New England Extrusion Inc. will increase blown film capacity more than 30 percent by installing a new Reifenhauser production line by August.
The line is No. 11 for the firm. Marketing manager Melissa Gardiner said it will boost the company's total annual capacity to about 66 million pounds. NEX plans to use the line for three-layer polyethylene film, mainly for food and medical packaging. Rolls will be made up to 47 inches wide.
NEX will install the system at its Turners Falls headquarters plant, where it operates a research and development center. The firm did not disclose cost of the expansion, which will not entail adding more floor space. NEX also runs a film plant in Milton, Wis.
The firm reported sales of $39.3 million for 2000.