August 19, 2009 Irvin E. Poston, who had a distinguished career at General Motors Corp (GM) and was responsible for numerous automotive plastics firsts, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from SPE® Automotive Division. The honor will be bestowed at the 39th-annual SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala, held November 12 in Livonia, MI and recognizes technical achievements of automotive industry executives whose work has led to significant integration of polymeric materials on vehicles.

August 19, 2009 The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) commends the decision of the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to extend the Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) program through March 31, 2010. This extension will serve to enhance much needed liquidity to secondary markets for equipment finance assets while continuing to unlock the equipment finance asset backed securities (ABS) market.

August 19, 2009 ATA announced that 8 of its member airlines have signed agreement with Rentech, Inc. and Aircraft Service International Group to purchase up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel fuel for use in ground service equipment at L.A. International Airport beginning in late 2012. Fuel is expected to have low carbon footprint and minimal particulate and other emissions while meeting or exceeding all applicable fuel standards.

August 19, 2009 Non-residential building construction experienced 5,900 job losses in July, which is slowing compared to 6,200 average monthly job losses of 3 previous months according to US Labor Department's August 7 employment report. On year-over-year basis, non-residential building construction decreased by 99,800 jobs (12.1%) to reach 727,800. Construction lost more jobs than any other major segment of the US economy in July. Overall, unemployment rate dropped from 9.5% in June to 9.4% in July.

August 19, 2009 According to sales data released by PTDA, Canadian manufacturers experienced increase in sales, while U.S. manufacturers had drop in sales in June 2009. U.S. manufacturers' sales fell by 2.8% in June 2009 when compared to May 2009 and 32.9% compared to same period last year. Orders in June 2009 decreased by 5.3% over May 2009 orders. Compared to May 2009, Canadian manufacturers' sales increased 7.6%, but were down 25.5% when compared to same period last year.

August 18, 2009 Sponsored by ASTM, Seminar on Environmental Requirements for Commercial and Navy Ships for Efficient Maritime Operations and Effective Environmental Stewardship will be held December 9, 2009 in Atlanta, GA. It will identify areas where environmental standards should be developed to fill gaps to improve maritime operations and simultaneously promote environmental stewardship. Participants will learn requirements for marine environmental protection of the IMO, USEPA, and USCG.

August 18, 2009 From September 23-24, 2009, IPC Midwest Conference and Exhibition will include IPC A-Line on show floor, with experts from 11 top suppliers available to demonstrate advanced electronics assembly. Surface mount as well as through-hole component mounting equipment will be demonstrated. Soldering, laser marking, and PCB production equipment will also be demonstrated as well as screen printer, pick and place system, stencils for solder paste deposition, and conveyors.

August 18, 2009 President Obama announced that he is directing National Security Council and National Economic Council to undertake comprehensive review of U.S. export control system. Administration study is intended to address issues that have long been raised by industry and others. In particular, AIA has long sought a review of technologies on the U.S. munitions list and implementation of better licensing caseload management models.

August 18, 2009 Designed to reduce likelihood of life-threatening or debilitating injuries, ASTM standard F1148, Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Home Playground Equipment, no longer allows home playground sets with swings that attach to upper body component. Change will eliminate potentially hazardous situations such as conflicts in circulation patterns and children falling from upper body component onto underlying or adjacent swinging component.

August 18, 2009 ASHRAE will award over $80,000 in scholarship money for the 2009-2010 school year to reduce financial strain on engineering students across the country. According to Victor Goldschmidt, chair of ASHRAE Scholarship Trustees, investment in relevant education prepares individuals to become effective citizens. It is ASHRAE's belief that aiding future leaders of the HVACR industry will, in-turn, benefit society as they lead the way in sustainable technology.

August 18, 2009 ASA Foundation has awarded its first Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations© certificate of completion to William Myers of APR Supply Company in Lebanon, PA. Students of course acquire command of most important concepts in distribution economics and importance of their role in company's profitability. Emphasizing team approach, course focuses on orderly flow of materials from receiving through stocking, picking, packaging, and delivery. Safety and security concerns are also covered.

August 18, 2009 As NAM VP for International Economic Affairs, Frank Vargo made a statement in response to the President's decision to launch a broad-based review of the US export control system. He insisted that "An efficient export control system that carefully focuses on truly sensitive and unique technologies without hampering other exports is essential." Vargo also cited the current system as restricting too many technologies, being costly, and creating delays/uncertainties for foreign customers.

August 18, 2009 According to RIA, North American-based robotics companies saw orders for new robots decline 36% in units and 47% in dollars through the first half of 2009. The second quarter, which saw declines of 43% in units and 51% in dollars over the same period in 2008, was also down 29% in units and 26% in dollars from the first quarter of 2009. RIA President, Jeff Burnstein, attributed weakness in orders received from automotive industry OEMs and suppliers as the major factor.

August 17, 2009 ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates honored Dr. Nicholas J. Carino with the 2009 Katharine and Bryant Mather Award. Based in Chagrin Falls, OH as a concrete technology consultant, Carino was recognized as an expert in the field of concrete technology and nondestructive testing. A member of ASTM International for 30+ years, his contributions in performing administrative and managerial duties enhanced the status of concrete technology as a discipline.

August 17, 2009 William Myers of APR Supply Company in Lebanon, PA has been awarded the first Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations© certificate of completion by ASA Education Foundation. Myers, who works in counter sales at one of their branch locations, is the first student to pass the final exam and earn his certificate. In learning how to do their job effectively, the course emphasizes team-based approach with focus on orderly flow of materials as well as safety and security.

August 17, 2009 Two graduate students will each receive $2,000 USD scholarship check at SPE Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition to help underwrite research in composites for ground transportation. Gregorio Manuel Velez-Garcia will use scholarship for development work on new method for predicting fiber orientation in fiber-reinforced, injection-molded thermoplastics, while Zeba Farheen Abdul Samad will use scholarship to continue work on aromatic thermosetting copolyester/carbon fiber composites.

August 14, 2009 Available as online flipbook, 2009-2010 Buyers' Guide includes links to AEC member company websites, facilitates direct inquiries through e-mail links, and offers full directory entries for all Extruder, Supplier, and Producer Members, along with Capabilities Charts for AEC member extrusion plants. Guide also provides interesting facts about aluminum and aluminum extrusions, and articles highlighting some of the best and latest applications for aluminum extrusions.

August 14, 2009 At conclusion of mediation process, FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association produced landmark labor agreement, which provides employees with greater flexibility in work schedules, childcare support, and new grievance review process. At the same time, agreement affords FAA flexibility to more effectively redeploy labor to congested airports using Controller Incentive Pay, and restores more equitable pay standard to benefit both new hires and veterans nearing retirement.

August 14, 2009 According to investor perception study released by BIO and Thomson Reuters, investors accurately forecasted rebound of biotechnology industry, but underestimated degree to which positive clinical trial data would drive sector higher. Although study participants indicated "an increase in positive clinical news" as second likely catalyst for rebound, they softened that view with assertion that overall research and development productivity in 2009-2011 would be the same as 2006-2008.

August 14, 2009 Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, Executive VP, Food and Agriculture for BIO, issued a statement concerning the signing of "Law for the Promotion and Development of Agricultural Biotechnological Businesses in Puerto Rico" by Luis Fortuno, govenor of Puerto Rico. Speaking for BIO, Lauritsen commended Puerto Rico's legislative assembly and governor for enacting and signing into law a bill that promotes agricultural biotechnology research and development.