In the Headlines: Investigation finds lack of preventive maintenance to blame for explosion
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.
Soybean processor to build $500 million plant in Ohio
The new facility will feature integrated crushing, edible oil refining, and lecithin production and packaging capabilities.
Toyota invests an additional $8 billion into battery manufacturing plant in North Carolina
The investment will be used to add eight additional battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) production lines.
Poultry processing facilities found to be violating child labor laws
In the facilities, minors used knives to debone and cut poultry. These children were also working longer and at times not permitted by the law.
Eaton breaks ground on $100 million expansion of Texas facility
The new 200,000-square-foot expansion, which will generate 200 new jobs for the surrounding area, will also free up capacity at its largest Wisconsin manufacturing facility.
Foundry fined $234K after 2 workers suffer finger amputations just 11 days apart
The foundry was cited for a total of two repeat and six serious violations.
Gulfstream completes $150 million expansion of Georgia manufacturing facility
The plant, which produces the Gulfstream G400, Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600, was expanded by 142,000 square feet.
REMADE spends $19.6 million to fund 14 projects to help U.S. industry shift toward a circular economy
The projects are designed to help America meet its energy, environmental, and economic goals and help the nation transition to a circular economy.
Canadian Solar invests $800 million to build solar PV cell facility in Indiana
The plant will have an annual output of 5 GW which is about 20,000 high-power modules per day.
Lack of preventative maintenance to blame for explosion that injured 3 workers
The investigation determined that the explosion suppression system of a bucket elevator, which did not receive proper maintenance, was non-functional and in a state of disrepair.
RTX to build $33 million manufacturing facility in Arkansas
RXT will partner with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to invest $33 million into the project and generate 30 new jobs for the surrounding area.
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
