#manufacturing industry news

[newsbuck]

By subscribing to Manufacturing Industry News platforms, engaging in online communities, following influential figures, attending conferences, and utilizing RSS feeds and news aggregators, you can ensure you are well-informed about the latest trends, developments, and current affairs in the manufacturing industry.

[reasonsforhope]

"Nasir Mansoor has spent 40 years fighting for Pakistan’s workers. Whether demanding compensation on behalf of the hundreds of people who died in a devastating 2012 factory fire in Karachi or demonstrating against Pakistani suppliers to global fashion brands violating minimum wage rules, he’s battled many of the country’s widespread labor injustices.

Yet so far, little has improved, said Mansoor, who heads Pakistan’s National Trade Union Federation in Karachi... Regulations and trade protocols look good on paper, but they rarely trickle down to the factory level. “Nobody cares,” Mansoor said. “Not the government who makes commitments, not the brands, and not the suppliers. The workers are suffering.”

Change on the Horizon

But change might finally be on the horizon after Germany’s new Supply Chain Act came into force last year. As Europe’s largest economy and importer of clothing, Germany now requires certain companies to put risk-management systems in place to prevent, minimize, and eliminate human rights violations for workers across their entire global value chains. Signed into law by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in January 2023, the law covers issues such as forced labor, union-busting, and inadequate wages, for the first time giving legal power to protections that were previously based on voluntary commitments. Companies that violate the rules face fines of up to 8 million euros ($8.7 million)...

...As governments come to realize that a purely voluntary regimen produces limited results, there is now a growing global movement to ensure that companies are legally required to protect the people working at all stages of their supply chains.

The German law is just the latest example of these new due diligence rules—and it’s the one with the highest impact, given the size of the country’s market. A number of other Western countries have also adopted similar legislation in recent years, including France and Norway. A landmark European Union law that would mandate all member states to implement similar regulation is in the final stages of being greenlighted.

Although the United States has legislation to prevent forced labor in its global supply chains, such as the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, there are no federal laws that protect workers in other countries from abuses that fall short of forced labor. That said, a proposed New York state bill, the Fashion Act, would legally require most major U.S. and international brands to identify, prevent, and remediate human rights violations in their supply chain if passed, with noncompliance subject to fines. Since major fashion brands could hardly avoid selling their products in New York, the law would effectively put the United States on a similar legal level as Germany and France...

The Results So Far

As of January, Germany’s new law applies to any company with at least 1,000 employees in the country, which covers many of the world’s best-known fast fashion retailers, such as Zara and Primark. Since last January [Jan 2023], German authorities say they have received 71 complaints or notices of violations and conducted 650 of their own assessments, including evaluating companies’ risk management.

In Pakistan, the very existence of the German law was enough to spark action. Last year, Mansoor and other union representatives reached out to fashion brands that sourced some of their clothing in Pakistan to raise concerns about severe labor violations in garment factories. Just four months later, he and his colleagues found themselves in face-to-face meetings with several of those brands—a first in his 40-year career. “This is a big achievement,” he said. “Otherwise, [the brands] never sit with us. Even when the workers died in the factory fire, the brand never sat with us.” ...

-via The Fuller Project, April 2, 2024. Article headers added by me.

Article continues below, with more action-based results, including one factory that "complied, agreeing to respect minimum wages and provide contract letters, training on labor laws, and—for the first time—worker bonuses"

With the help of Mansoor and Zehra Khan, the general secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, interviews with more than 350 garment workers revealed the severity of long-known issues.

Nearly all workers interviewed were paid less than a living wage, which was 67,200 Pakistan rupees (roughly $243) per month in 2022, according to the Asia Floor Wage Alliance. Nearly 30 percent were even paid below the legal minimum wage of 25,000 Pakistani rupees per month (roughly $90) for unskilled workers. Almost 100 percent had not been given a written employment contract, while more than three-quarters were either not registered with the social security system—a legal requirement—or didn’t know if they were.

When Mansoor, Khan, and some of the organizations raised the violations with seven global fashion brands implicated, they were pleasantly surprised. One German retailer reacted swiftly, asking its supplier where the violations had occurred to sign a 14-point memorandum of understanding to address the issues. (We’re unable to name the companies involved because negotiations are ongoing.) The factory complied, agreeing to respect minimum wages and provide contract letters, training on labor laws, and—for the first time—worker bonuses.

In February [2024], the factory registered an additional 400 workers with the social security system (up from roughly 100) and will continue to enroll more, according to Khan. “That is a huge number for us,” she said.

It’s had a knock-on effect, too. Four of the German brand’s other Pakistani suppliers are also willing to sign the memorandum, Khan noted, which could impact another 2,000 workers or so. “The law is opening up space for [the unions] to negotiate, to be heard, and to be taken seriously,” said Miriam Saage-Maass, the legal director at ECCHR.

Looking Forward with the EU

...Last month [in March 2024], EU member states finally approved a due diligence directive after long delays, during which the original draft was watered down. As it moves to the next stage—a vote in the European Parliament—before taking effect, critics argue that the rules are now too diluted and cover too few companies to be truly effective. Still, the fact that the EU is acting at all has been described as an important moment, and unionists such as Mansoor and Khan wait thousands of miles away with bated breath for the final outcome.

Solidarity from Europe is important, Khan said, and could change the lives of Pakistan’s workers. “The eyes and the ears of the people are looking to [the brands],” Mansoor said. “And they are being made accountable for their mistakes.”"

-via The Fuller Project, April 2, 2024. Article headers added by me.

[dvrknessabides]

Dreamers and Dogs

The Rail Yards, Albuquerque

[grainelevator]

Southern Ontario right before the snow comes

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

In late May, 19 Republican attorneys general filed a complaint with the Supreme Court asking it to block climate change lawsuits seeking to recoup damages from fossil fuel companies.

All of the state attorneys general who participated in the legal action are members of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), which runs a cash-for-influence operation that coordinates the official actions of these GOP state AGs and sells its corporate funders access to them and their staff. The majority of all state attorneys general are listed as members of RAGA.

Where does RAGA get most of its funding? From the very same fossil fuel industry interests that its suit seeks to defend. In fact, the industry has pumped nearly $5.8 million into RAGA’s campaign coffers since Biden was elected in 2020.

The recent Supreme Court complaint has been deemed “highly unusual” by legal experts.

The attorneys general claim that Democratic states, which are bringing the climate-related suits at issue in state courts, are effectively trying to regulate interstate emissions or commerce, which are under the sole purview of the federal government. Fossil fuel companies have unsuccessfully made similar arguments in their own defense.

RAGA’s official actions — and those of its member attorneys general — closely align with the goals of its biggest donors.

The group, a registered political nonprofit that can raise unlimited amounts of cash from individuals and corporations, solicits annual membership fees from corporate donors in exchange for allowing those donors to shape legal policy via briefings and other interactions with member attorneys general.

A Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) analysis of IRS filings since November 24, 2020 shows that Koch Industries (which recently rebranded) leads as the largest fossil fuel industry donor to RAGA, having donated $1.3 million between 2021 and June 2024.

Other large donors include:

• American Petroleum Institute (API), the oil and gas industry’s largest trade association

• Southern Company Services, a gas and electric utility holding company

• Valero Services, a petroleum refiner

• NextEra Energy Resources, which runs both renewable and natural gas operations

• Anschutz Corporation, a Denver-based oil and gas company

• American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a major trade organization

�� Exxon Mobil, one of the largest fossil fuel multinationals in the world

• National Mining Association, the leading coal and mineral industry trade organization

• American Chemical Council, which represents major petrochemical producers and refiners

Many of these donors are being sued for deceiving the public about the role fossil fuels play in worsening climate change: many states — including California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island — as well as local governments — such as the city of Chicago and counties in Oregon and Pennsylvania — have all filed suits against a mix of fossil fuel companies and their industry groups. In the cases brought by New York and Massachusetts, ExxonMobil found support from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who filed a friend-of-the-court brief in defense of the corporation.

Paxton has accepted $5.2 million in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry over the past 10 years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets and reviewed by CMD.

Fossil Fuel Contributions to the Republican Attorneys General Association Includes aggregate contributions of $10K or more from the period November 2020 to March 2024.

Note: This funding compilation does not include law firms, front groups, or public relations outfits that work on behalf of fossil fuel clients, many of which use legal shells to shield themselves from outright scrutiny. For example, Koch Industries, through its astroturf operation Americans for Prosperity, has deployed a shell legal firm in a major Supreme Court case designed to dismantle the federal government’s regulatory authority.

CARRYING BIG OIL’S WATER

This is far from the first time RAGA members have banded together to try to defeat clean energy and environmental regulations. In 2014, the New York Times initially reported on how RAGA circulates fossil fuel industry propaganda opposing federal regulations.

The Times investigation revealed thousands of documents exposing how oil and gas companies cozied up to Republican attorneys general to push back against President Obama’s regulatory agenda. “Attorneys general in at least a dozen states are working with energy companies and other corporate interests, which in turn are providing them with record amounts of money for their political campaigns,” the investigation found. That effort, which RAGA dubbed the Rule of Law campaign, has since morphed into RAGA’s political action arm, the nonprofit Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF).

Since then, RAGA’s appetite to go to bat for the industry has only grown.

In 2015, less than two weeks after representatives from fossil fuel companies and related trade groups attended a RAGA conference, Republican AGs petitioned federal courts to block the Obama administration’s signature climate proposal, as CMD has previously reported. Additional reporting revealed collusion between Republican AGs and industry lobbyists to defend ExxonMobil and obstruct climate change legislation.

There was also the 2016 secret energy summit that RAGA held in West Virginia with industry leaders, along with private meetings with fossil fuel companies to coordinate how to shield ExxonMobil from legal scrutiny. Later that year, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey — aided by 19 other Republican AGs — successfully brought a case before the court that hobbled Obama’s signature climate plan.

Morrisey is currently leading the Republican effort to take down an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation that targets coal-fired power plants.

Often, the attorneys general bringing these cases share many of the same donors who backed the confirmation of Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices, as pointed out by the New York Times.

And in 2021, Republican attorneys general from 19 states sent a letter to the U.S. Senate committees on Environment and Public Works and on Energy and Natural Resources hoping to persuade senators to vote against additional regulations on highly polluting methane emissions, a leading contributor to global warming.

Since 2022, RLDF’s “ESG Working Group” has been coordinating actions taken by Republican AGs against sustainable investing. Communications from that group obtained by CMD show that it was investigating Morningstar/Sustainalytics and the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. Republican AGs announced investigations into the six largest banks for information on their involvement in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance later that year.

LEGACY OF RIGHT-WING ACTIONS

It’s not only about fossil fuels. Attorneys general who are members of — and financially backed by — RAGA have a long track record of pursuing right-wing agendas. In Mississippi, Attorney General Lynn Fitch helped bring the legal case that ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade. In Texas, Paxton has attempted to overturn the Affordable Care Act and sued the federal government over Title IX civil rights protections, and safeguards for seasonal workers, among other policy irritants to the far Right. With support from fellow Republican AGs, he also led one of many efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

In recent years, other pro-corporate major donors have included The Concord Fund, which is controlled by Trump’s “court whisperer” Leonard Leo, Big Tobacco, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform.

[sleepyleftistdemon]

An ID card that appears to belong to a Chinese prisoner was found inside the lining of a coat from the British brand Regatta, raising concerns that the clothing was manufactured using prison labour.

The waterproof women’s coat was bought online by a woman in Derbyshire in the Black Friday sale. When it arrived on 22 November, she could feel a hard rectangular item in the right sleeve, which restricted the movement of her elbow.

After cutting into the coat to remove the item, she discovered what looked like a prison identification card, with a mugshot of a man apparently in a prisoner’s uniform in front of a height chart, and the name of the prison in China.

“You don’t expect it from [Regatta]. It’s a UK brand that’s up there with Next, with M&S, that you put your children in their clothes … and this happens, and it just makes you feel really uneasy and uncomfortable,” said the woman, who does not wish to be named.

The card was found inside a plastic holder embossed with the words: “Produced by the Ministry of Justice prisons bureau.”

...

According to Regatta’s 2023 modern slavery statement, “forced or imprisoned labour is prohibited” in its supply chain and it is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, a membership organisation that requires adherence with certain guidelines, including a ban on “forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour”. The statement also says 70 factories were audited in 2022-2023, although it is unclear how many were in China.

[night-for-night]

work - jsq, jc & kearny, nj - vivitar ps 1-2-3 & 400 speed color film - developed at eliz digital & scanned with minolta dimage dual iii

[pinkblanc]

R. Wallace & Sons Manufacturing Company

Wallingford, Connecticut (1893)

[metalmanauto]

Metalman Auto files draft papers with SEBI to raise funds via IPO

The IPO consists of a fresh issue of Rs 350 crore and an offer for sale of upto 12.64 million shares by its existing shareholders and promoters.

Metalman Auto Ltd has submitted a Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise capital through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The IPO includes a fresh issuance of shares worth Rs 350 crore and an offer for sale of up to 12.64 million shares by the company’s current shareholders and promoters.

The proceeds from the fresh issue will be allocated as follows: Rs 25 crore will be used to partially finance the capital expenditure for the procurement of plant and machinery at the Pithampur manufacturing unit 2. The company also plans to utilize Rs 240 crore to repay a portion of its existing debt. As of June 2024, Metalman Auto Ltd has a total debt of Rs 314.43 crore.

The firm operates nine manufacturing units across five states in India, strategically located near OEM customers to ensure efficient production and supply. Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors are the lead managers for this issue.

Metalman Auto Ltd is a leader in the metal fabrication, finishing, and assembly sector in India, specializing in the production of metal components for two-wheelers (including both electric and internal combustion engines), three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, agri-vehicles, and off-highway vehicles. Additionally, the company manufactures aesthetic components for white goods, such as panels for washing machines, and offers contract manufacturing services for two-wheeler electric vehicle (2W EV) OEMs.

[aurosoulart]

I feel like I’ve been posting a ton lately (because there’s a lot goin on!!!!) but FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH TWITTER: Figmin XR just published our AWE competition video!!!

❗ PLEASE like/retweet it if you want to help us with our company mission of using AR (augmented reality) to reduce material waste. ❗

we’re an indie team of 4 people competing against large companies, so we’re relying pretty much entirely on word of mouth to spread the word about what we’re doing. we’re also competing against the AI and web3 (crypto) crowd, which are unfortunately still big in the tech industry

we’re competing in multiple award categories at AWE and will be relying on public votes, so literally any and all visibility helps us immensely right now. 🙏

I’ll be posting the video to @figminxr later, so don’t stress if you’re not on twitter. I’ll be sharing more info about the competition in the post as well!

[stephinechrist14]

[newsbuck]

How to Stay Updated on the Latest Manufacturing Industry News

The manufacturing industry is a dynamic and ever-evolving sector that plays a crucial role in the global economy. Staying informed about the latest manufacturing industry news, trends, and current affairs is essential for professionals, business owners, and enthusiasts alike. In this blog post, we will explore effective strategies to help you stay updated on the latest manufacturing industry news, enabling you to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions. So, let's dive in!

1. Subscribe to Manufacturing Industry News Platforms

One of the most straightforward ways to stay updated on manufacturing industry news is to subscribe to reputable news platforms dedicated to this sector. Websites and online portals like Manufacturing.net, IndustryWeek, and Manufacturing Global provide up-to-date information, articles, and insights on the manufacturing industry. By subscribing to their newsletters or following them on social media, you can receive regular updates and stay informed about the latest developments.

2. Engage in Online Communities and Forums

Engaging in online communities and forums is an excellent way to stay updated on Manufacturing Industry Trends and news. Platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, and specialized manufacturing industry forums offer spaces for professionals to share their experiences, discuss current affairs, and exchange valuable insights. By actively participating in these communities, you can gain access to firsthand information, engage in discussions, and expand your network within the industry.

3. Follow Influential Figures and Thought Leaders

Identify influential figures and thought leaders in the manufacturing industry and follow them on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. These individuals often share their expertise, opinions, and the latest industry news. By following their accounts, you can receive real-time updates, industry analysis, and gain valuable insights into emerging trends and technological advancements shaping the manufacturing sector.

4. Attend Industry Conferences and Events

Attending industry conferences and events is an excellent way to stay updated on the latest manufacturing industry news while networking with industry professionals. Events like Hannover Messe, Fabtech, and Manufacturing Technology World provide platforms to learn about new technologies, industry trends, and network with experts. By attending these events, you can gain valuable knowledge, access industry-specific resources, and establish connections that keep you updated on the pulse of the manufacturing industry.

5. Utilize RSS Feeds and News Aggregators

RSS feeds and news aggregators can be powerful tools to streamline your access to the latest Manufacturing Industry News. By subscribing to relevant RSS feeds or using news aggregator apps like Feedly, Flipboard, or Google News, you can consolidate news from multiple sources into a single, customized feed. This allows you to conveniently browse and consume news articles, blog posts, and updates related to the manufacturing sector.

Conclusion

Staying updated on the latest manufacturing industry news is crucial for professionals and enthusiasts alike. By subscribing to manufacturing industry news platforms, engaging in online communities, following influential figures, attending conferences, and utilizing RSS feeds and news aggregators, you can ensure you are well-informed about the latest trends, developments, and current affairs in the manufacturing industry. So, make it a priority to stay updated, embrace continuous learning, and keep your finger on the pulse of this ever-evolving sector.

[eats-the-stars]

Consider Machines Over Customers

don’t know how useful this is, but for people who hate the customer interaction part of their jobs, like, if you think that is the worst part of your job, consider looking for a job that does not involve you interacting with customers. the hard part is that all the “basic job that you don’t need a college education to get” kind of jobs that I could think of to look for on job sites were like call center work and waitress and hotel staff and front desk work and retail and, you know, customer service positions. so I was searching job sites with those key words and did not know about a lot of other options. namely...machines. yes, that’s right. turns out there are so many machines out there and they all need people to operate them. there’s also warehouse stocking jobs but i haven’t tried one of those so I can’t endorse or diss them. BUT...I am working a machine operating job right now and I actually love machines. they are great. they also have yet to yell at me about an expired coupon. i mean, sometimes they do complain about thread breakage or refuse to read a positioning mark that is RIGHT THERE, but still...I love machines. I also do not have to see customers at all. like, I know the orders go to customers eventually, but I do not need to help them place the orders or receive the calls when their package does not arrive on time. I just need to fill the order and I’m done. whatever happens next is out of my hands. actually...the delivery workers might be another “customers are not my problem” option. they pick up orders from us and I think they just need to whip those at the front doors of customers, but they don’t actually need to talk to them.

just...the main point is that I spent a long time stuck thinking that all the “non-career” jobs I could get required customer interaction. unless you were, like, a cook in the back or stocking jobs, and i can’t cook or lift that much. so my advice is...just try getting creative with the keywords you plug into job sites. I hit on my current job by pure chance, no idea why it showed up when I was typing in stuff like “front desk” and “call center representative.” If you want machine stuff, try typing in “manufacturing” or “assembly” or “operator” or “production.” I am mostly just throwing this out there into the void in case it helps anyone. I spent way too long doing customer service and hating how draining it was and how much I would dread going to work. but now I am shocked that I actually do not mind going to work. it is tiring, but only physically, and otherwise actually enjoyable. so...consider machines over customers.

[medicinemane]

.

[binalairsystem]

BINAL AIR SYESTM

With the valuable assistance of skilled team of professionals, we are engaged in manufacturing an extensive range of high quality Industrial Blower.

Available with pressure of 50 mm w.g. up to 2000 mm w.g, our offered range is used in chemical processing plants, textiles, ceramic and cement industries.

For More Information Visit Our Website https://binalairsystem.com/index.html

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Mass shootings in the United States have become a painfully common occurrence, yet gun makers are protected by federal law.

In 2005, Congress passed a shield law that prevents manufacturers from being held liable. Despite this, Highland Park Fourth of July victims are suing the industry.

"I think it's very important for victims to take on the gun industry because we are not going to get change on the federal level," said victims' attorney Antonio Romanucci.

On behalf of the victims, attorney Romanucci is taking on the industry as a way to circumvent the federal law. Victims are using an Illinois consumer protection law to sue Smith & Wesson over deceptive marketing practices. The gun manufacturer is the maker of the AR-15 assault rifle used in the Highland Park mass shooting.

"We are claiming the killer, the shooter here, in this instance, was groomed by Smith & Wesson as a boy, a child, as a teenager," Romanucci said.

Romanucci said gun-makers directly market and advertise to kids, especially through video games. Sandy Hook victims used a similar tactic against gun-maker Remington. Earlier this year, Remington agreed to pay victims $73 million in a settlement, but, the firearms industry said the Highland Park case is an uphill battle.

"The bottom line is the responsibility of those crimes and horrendous effects of those crimes lie with the individual who criminally misused that firearm," said Mark Oliva with the Firearm Industry Trade Association.

Romanucci acknowledged it will be a difficult case, since advertising is protected under free speech.

"When you take a case on in this magnitude, it's like taking on the tobacco industry 50-60 years ago," Romanucci said.

Also rare is suing the shooter's father. Shooting suspect Robert Crimo III was 19, and Robert Crimo Jr. sponsored his son's firearm application shortly after a suicide attempt and death threats to his family.

"This is somebody who basically gave these weapons of mass destruction to his son, knowing there was a mental health-type history with this child, who became an adult," Romanucci said.

Besides the civil suit against him, Robert Crimo Jr. faces criminal charges. He is charged seven counts of felony reckless conduct.