In the Headlines: Investigation finds children working at warehouse
The manufacturing industry is in a perpetual state of change. New technologies, policies, regulations, and company initiatives keep altering the role and perception of manufacturing in America. Every day, there’s a new plant, industry acquisition, research report, or law, and staying up to date on the latest information can prove difficult. Here’s what’s happening this week, in case you missed it.
MxD introduces playbook to help address cybersecurity in 3D printing
The organization claims that the playbook will help manufacturers incorporate cybersecurity requirements into their product design and documentation.
Battery materials company invests $650 million to build graphite anode manufacturing facility in North Carolina
Construction will begin in 2024, and production will begin in 2026.
Arms manufacturer to pay $630K in back wages after discriminating against job applicants
The money will be used to resolve alleged hiring discrimination against 286 Black and women applicants who attempted to secure employment at the company’s Mississippi facility.
Eaton invests $85 million to increase manufacturing capacity at Mexico facility
The project will also generate 300 new jobs for the surrounding area.
Ultium Cells fined $270,091 for 19 safety violations following battery plant explosion
The company has been cited for 17 serious and two other-than-serious violations.
Nucor breaks ground on $2.7 billion sheet steel mill in West Virginia
When operational, the new facility will be able to produce up to three million tons of sheet steel annually.
Distribution center to pay $30,276 for employing children as young as 12 years old
The investigation, which was conducted in August, found that the warehouse and distribution center employed two children under the age of 14 for months.
Snack manufacturer to establish industrial pretzel bakery in Kentucky
The food company will invest $137 million into the project, generating 350 jobs in the process.
Metal fabricator fined $275,890 following fatal accident for exposing workers to over 30 safety violations
The company was investigated three times following the death of a worker at their Oklahoma manufacturing facility.
JCB invests $265 million to build manufacturing facility in Texas
The company has also received a Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant of $5,684,350 and a Veteran Created Job Bonus of $42,000.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn
