
US factory orders slipped in April, investment weak
Demand for heavy machinery, iron and steel, and commercial airplanes declines.
Wholesale sales falls 1.2% in September: StatsCan
Machinery, equipment and supplies subsector posts largest drop, down by 4% to $10.9 billion.
Alberta taps climate levy fund to help farmers reduce GHG emissions
Province will spend $10 million to expand existing programs to encourage the use energy efficient equipment and solar power.

Benefits of vibration monitoring
Vibration measurements relate to the probability of equipment bearing failure.
Wholesale sales fall 2.2% in February: StatsCan
Machinery, equipment and supplies subsector posted the biggest drop.
German union seeks 5% raise for millions of workers
Demands come ahead of negotiations starting March 9 for automotive and machinery workers.

Rolls-Royce plans $600M upgrade at Indianapolis plant
Renovation will reduce its costs by replacing infrastructure and equipment dating back to World War II.
Private sector capital spending to drop 7% in 2015: StatsCan
Manufacturers plan to increase spending by 2.7% to $17.5 billion.
EDC predicts Alta. exports will bounce back in 2016
Forecast predicts 25% drop in energy exports and a 23% drop in natural gas exports this year.
Fibreglass manufacturer loaned $310K to expand in NB
Expected to create up to 40 new jobs over four years.
Feds eliminate remaining machinery, equipment tariffs
Latest round of tariff cuts expected to generate $450 million in tax savings for manufacturers.
Soucy Group gets $9M for productivity, product development
Repayable contributions will be used to expand factories, acquire manufacturing equipment.
Big biz urges Tories to spend anticipated surplus carefully
A national labour strategy, levelling the corporate tax field and ratifying trade deals must be priorities.
Flaherty releases details on capital cost allowance extension
The measure has been used by about 25,000 Canadian businesses to buy new machinery.

Manufacturers are primed for business growth in 2013
PLANT’s 2013 Business Outlook Survey shows senior executives are investing and banking on higher profits.
GM invests $220 million in Ohio plants
Automaker updating plants and preserving jobs to build next generation Chevy Cruze.
US cuts machinery and equipment spending
Demand for capital goods tumbles 4.5%
StatsCan reports $2.7 billion trade surplus
Merchandise exports rise 4.5 per cent in November while imports up only 0.8 per cent, increasing Canada’s trade surplus by $1.5 billion.
Canadian auto industry investment down sharply
Mexico by contrast gets $3B worth in last six months
Canada scores first trade surplus since January
Canada recorded its first trade surplus in months in September as exports grew 4.2%, while imports declined 0.3%, reports Statistics Canada.

Manufacturing a key driver in 2011: CIBC
The manufacturing sector is in position to start to take over driving Canada’s economic growth from “an exhausted consumer and restrained government,” says a CIBC World Markets Inc. forecast.