WASHINGTON—U.S. manufacturers have long grumbled about labor shortages, but the past year has proven particularly frustrating.

MIRABEL, Quebec—Airbus is working to repurpose part of an aircraft assembly plant here that has been vacant since Bombardier ended production of the CRJ passenger jet.

COMMERCE, GA—SK Innovation, a manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles, has settled a legal dispute with rival LG Energy Solution, enabling SK to proceed with plans to expand its manufacturing operation here.

PARIS—GE Renewable Energy plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Teesside, in northeastern England, for the production of 107-meter-long offshore wind turbine blades.

DETROIT—Ford has teamed up with Hewlett-Packard to turn spent 3D-printed powder and parts into stronger, lighter, and more cost-effective vehicle parts for Ford’s Super Duty F-250 trucks.

WASHINGTON—President Biden’s expansive infrastructure proposal includes $50 billion for the American semiconductor industry. The funding will go toward production incentives and research and design, say administration officials.

WASHINGTON—Job growth boomed in March at the fastest pace since last summer, as stronger economic growth and an aggressive vaccination effort contributed to a surge in hospitality, construction and manufacturing jobs, the Labor Department reported last Friday.

ARaymond has introduced a new series of quick connectors that meet German VDA automotive quality standards. Used for heating and cooling lines, including thermal regulation of battery packs in electric and hybrid vehicles, the new VDA Low-Push Quick Connectors can be easily integrated into thermal management systems.

LOUISVILLE, KY—GE Appliances, a Haier company, has announced the startup of a new $80 million dishwasher manufacturing line at its supersite here.

WASHINGTON—Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers President and CEO Joseph McGuire recently sent a letter to President Biden, asking him to seek an immediate increase in global production of semiconductors to help appliance manufacturers maintain essential production levels.