TUSTIN, CA-LightWorks Optics Inc., an assembler of custom precision optical components, will open a new 14,000-square-foot office and manufacturing facility here. MORE
GEORGETOWN, KY-Toyota’s president told workers at the automaker’s assembly plant here that the company is at a “crossroads” and needs to rethink its operations to win customers back. MORE
NEWARK, DE-Hundreds of bidders from across the country have snapped up machinery, tools and other equipment from the closed Chrysler assembly plant here. MORE
SYRACUSE, NY-Bannon Automotive is targeting the former Ball Corp. factory in Lysander, NY, as the likely site for a new plant to assemble electric cars. Bannon expects to invest $26.5 million to equip the plant, and it plans to hire 250 people within three years. MORE
MIDLAND, MI-Projects involving Dow Chemical Co. are expected to get some help through state tax incentives. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority is expected to provide tax credits for two plants to manufacture solar shingles and lithium polymer batteries. MORE
HARBIN, China-China Green Material Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of starch-based, biodegradable consumer goods packaging, has acquired a new manufacturing facility and plans to expand its capacity by nearly 160 percent. MORE
NEW YORK-Alcoa is among 60 corporations pilot-testing a draft protocol for accounting and reporting greenhouse gas emissions across a product’s life cycle. Alcoa will test the protocol by measuring the climate change impact of its aluminum forged wheels. MORE
BANNOCKBURN, IL-One third of North American electronics manufacturing services providers will “very likely” or “definitely” add assembly capacity this year, according to a new survey by the IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries. In 2009, only 17 percent of EMS companies indicated intent to expand. MORE
WASHINGTON-The Senate easily approved a $15 billion Democratic plan to spur job creation, as lawmakers hastened to demonstrate that they were taking steps to improve the nation’s employment picture. MORE