In the Headlines: Manufacturer fails to follow required safety measures, leading to workplace injury
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.
Fastener manufacturer invests $77 million to build first U.S. production facility in Michigan
Construction on the 365,000-square-foot facility will begin in 2024, with production starting in the fall of 2025.
Steel fabricator to invest $6.5 million to expand Tennessee facility, creating 19 jobs
The expansion will include three new furnaces, a cutting mill and a powder coat system.
Maddox Industrial Group partners with Metalforms to expand into Gulf Coast region
The company will partner with Metalforms LLC, an industrial fabrication, services, and heat transfer solutions expert, on the project.
Sawmill fined $1.4 million after teen worker is trapped in stick stacker machine and dies
An OSHA investigation has determined that Florence Hardwoods LLC allowed minors to perform maintenance on equipment.
Automotive parts supplier invests $1.47 million to modernize North Carolina facility
To help fund the project, DMA Industries will receive a performance-based grant of $70,000 from the One North Carolina Fund.
Report: Domestic production of energy efficiency products has fallen 10% since 2007
Since 2007, the percentage of energy-efficient products that were produced domestically and used in the U.S. dropped from 84% to 79%.
Hose manufacturer fined $390K after worker suffers severe crushing injuries
The industrial rubber hose manufacturer, which has a history of workplace safety issues, failed to follow lockout/tagout procedures at its facility in Ohio.
Custom food manufacturer spends $51 million to expand Tennessee facility
The expansion will include adding 200,000 square feet of new space, which will be used for manufacturing, storage, staging and shipping.
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
