Category Archives: What’s New

Educational Advancement in the Manufacturing Sector


Posted by Avery Webster

Working in the manufacturing industry can be a great way to open your career up to advancement with a little additional training and commitment to learning. The great news to anyone who works on the manufacturing floor is the new message from local educational institutions, including community colleges and technical schools: working as a skilled laborer doesn’t have to be a dead-end job. Rather, these types of positions can become careers–the opportunity for educational advancement is abundant with the help of skilled professionals that teach advanced manufacturing skills to workers.

While some manufacturing professionals have had difficulty finding work in recent years because of the recession and and outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, the one area of the manufacturing job market that seems to be abundant is in the area of specifically skilled labor, which is both higher paying and offers higher levels of job security.

What do interested parties need to do to advance their manufacturing careers? A good place to start is your local community college–many of these colleges have basic and advanced trade training programs that can help you start in a more in-demand field or climb higher in a sector you already have experience in. Another resource are local intern programs, which may be temporarily lower paying but offer the specific skills you need to advance. If you don’t have these resources at your disposal or find them to be inaccessible because of cost or hours, many technical schools offer similar programs during the evenings and at a low cost.

The bottom line for workers and the economy is this: the opportunity to seek advanced training and education in specific skills means better jobs, better job security and a stronger manufacturing job market for everyone. It also means that seeking manufacturing work straight out of high school and skipping college may be a more lucrative option for recent graduates–and educational alternative in a nation where college educations are becoming less practical and more expensive at the same time.


Australian Manufacturing Hopes for Government Assist


Posted by Avery Webster

As economies around the world continue to recover from the slump that left many countries with high debt, low employment, and sluggish (if any) growth, Australia is no exception and their industrial sectors–particularly manufacturing–are at an all time low. Australian manufacturing companies are hoping for government assistance to stimulate the growth within their sector and bring new life to the commodity supply in the country and overall production–something that may also help the country’s modest, but meaningful, exports.

As in many other developed countries, manufacturing is an important part of the Australian economic climate and especially the country’s job market–Manufacturing jobs account for just under 9% of the nation’s employment.

In order to raise awareness of the innovations and potential for growth within the sector, manufacturers from around the continent will be gather in Sydney this week to participate in National Manufacturing Week. Specific categories of industry, including sustainable factories, and automation technologies, will be among the dozen featured.

This convention comes after a multi-corporation plan introduced by manufacturing companies within all industries and from all geographic regions in March, which seeks to address their growing concerns over the collapse of the manufacturing market while encouraging reform that they claim will benefit the manufacturing companies and employees who work for them.

Tomorrow the Australian government will be issuing a new budget, and many experts and manufacturing-interest advocates are hopeful that it will include the much needed financial assistance for the manufacturers of Australia.


4 Reasons to Consider Cardboard Pallets


Posted by Avery Webster

For a long time, wooden pallets were the only options for manufacturers and other companies who required large scale shipping as part of their day to day operations. Wooden pallets pose many obstacles to these companies, including financial costs and inconveniences, but still prevailed because of their monopoly on the market when it came to moving an entire lot worth of goods via rail or truck, or storing large amounts of product in warehouses or on the manufacturing floor.

A new product has come to our attention, and we think it’s one worth considering as the alternative to traditional plywood pallets (finally!). These innovate pallets are made of 100% recycled cardboard. Pallets that are lightweight, fully recyclable and cost less to ship? Sounds like a cost-cutting solution if ever we hear of one! Need another reason to try cardboard shipping pallets? Here’s a few more:

  1. Environmental Footprint - Wooden pallets can be used a few times, but then they need to be retired because of cracks, splintering and general wear and tear. For those pallets, a few uses means heading to the dump or being burned in an incinerator that releases the toxic chemicals, used to seal and treat the wood, into the air. Not only that, the process used to produce wooden pallets uses huge amounts of energy to harvest trees, process lumber and assemble the pallet each time a new pallet is needed. Paper pallets are made from 100% recycled paper and are 100% recyclable—cutting back the use of new products and the energy necessary to create a sturdy industrial pallet.
  2. Storage & Convenience – One of the great things about cardboard shipping pallets is that they are sent to you with the final stage of assembly (which is relatively easy, just watch this video about the use and assembly of cardboard shipping pallets) they take up less space than fully assembled pallets. You can even continue to customize them after you order by using the same triangular supports with different sizes of flat cardboard bases.
  3. Cost – The shipping costs associated with ordering a large number of wooden pallets is huge—they are large, bulky and heavy. Paper pallets, while still sturdy enough to hold an industrial load, are lighter to ship (10 lbs each rather than the 40 lbs wooden counterpart!) and take up far less space in initial transit.
  4. Ease of Use – Assembling these pallets has been likened to assembling a cardboard box: EASY! And once they’re assembled, paper industrial pallets can be carried with little effort to a staging area in preparation for loading. They still work with forklifts and other pallet moving devices, so there’s no disadvantage to choosing this design.

Corning Announces Increased Dividend and $1.5 Billion Stock Buyback


Posted by Staff

CORNING, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) Board of Directors today declared a 50% increase in the company’s quarterly common stock dividend. Corning’s quarterly dividend will rise to $0.075 per share of common stock held, versus $0.05 per share previously. The fourth-quarter dividend will be payable on Dec. 16, 2011 to holders of record Nov. 16, 2011.

“The company has turned into a consistent cash generator and we are confident in our ability to sustain a higher dividend payout to our shareholders. With the announcement today, our dividend yield will be approximately 2.5% based on our current share price.”

The board also authorized a stock repurchase program for purchasing up to $1.5 billion of the company’s common stock from time to time through open market or private transactions. The stock repurchase authorization expires at the end of 2013.

“We are taking action consistent with the long-term outlook and strength of our businesses,” Wendell P. Weeks, chairman, chief executive officer and president, said. “The company has turned into a consistent cash generator and we are confident in our ability to sustain a higher dividend payout to our shareholders. With the announcement today, our dividend yield will be approximately 2.5% based on our current share price.”

“In our opinion, the company’s current stock price represents a significant discount to the real value of Corning’s businesses. We understand the short-term concerns relative to the recent macro events, such as a slowing worldwide economy, and specific concerns about the display supply chain’s recent short-term correction. The board’s decision to repurchase shares reflects our belief that the long-term value of our businesses is substantially greater than our current share price,” he said.

“We believe our future free cash flow prospects are excellent, driven by business performance and lower capital spending starting in 2012, as some major projects are finished. Corning’s board also is committed to using the company’s free cash flow going forward to enhance shareholder returns,” Weeks explained.

“The board’s actions are consistent with the company’s financial priorities that we outlined for investors in 2006,” Weeks added. “The first priority is always to protect the corporation. The second priority is to invest in our growth opportunities, internally and externally, to deliver shareholder value. The third priority is to return money to shareholders either as dividends or through share repurchases, to enhance shareholder returns.”

James B. Flaws, vice chairman and chief financial officer, said the company expects to begin the repurchase program during the fourth quarter.

Corning will announce its third-quarter financial results on Oct. 26. “As discussed at recent investor conferences, our display business is experiencing a significant supply chain correction, as well as some loss of share, primarily in Korea. This is likely to result in equity earnings that are at least 30% lower sequentially,” Flaws said.

The company expects the display industry supply chain to remain cautious, due to the uncertainty in the worldwide macro environment. As a result, Corning’s weaker display glass volume may continue in the short term, which could increase pricing pressure.

“This cautiousness contrasts with the continued strong retail environment for LCD products,” said Flaws. “In many ways, the supply chain behavior is similar to the 2008 correction, when inventory was dramatically reduced despite continued consumer demand. However, this time around, Corning is in a stronger position due to the emergence of Corning® Gorilla® Glass, which can significantly help us manage glass tank utilization. And, as in the past, we have additional levers available to us if further capacity management is required.”

Corning also said the performance of its Telecommunications, Environmental Technologies, and Life Sciences segments remained strong during the third quarter.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

About Corning Incorporated

Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on 160 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and metrology.


Guardian Auto Glass opens Orange County location


Posted by Michael Richards

PRWeb – Mon, Aug 8, 2011

Guardian Auto Glass, LLC announced today the opening of their new store in Orange County, California. The store provides automobile glass repair and replacement services.

Worthington, OH (PRWEB) August 08, 2011

Guardian Auto Glass, LLC announced today the opening of their new store in Orange County, California. The store provides automobile glass repair and replacement services and is located at 1715 Wilshire Avenue, Suite 721, Santa Ana, Calif., 82705, Phone: 714-835-5338.

The new Orange County location has been formed using the local ownership/management model which Guardian Auto Glass LLC utilizes as it expands its footprint throughout the country.

The Orange County owner/management team consists of Dorothy Cramer and Glenn Schild, both with considerable retail auto glass experience. Dorothy Cramer has more than 12 years experience as a customer service representative, sales representative and sales manager, all in the Southern California market. Glenn Schild started in the glass industry in 1993 as a technician and progressed to operations management responsibilities in Montana and Utah, and for the past few years in California.

“We are excited to begin operations in Orange County with a great team headed by Dorothy and Glenn, and look forward to expanding our presence in Southern California,” said Jerry Ray, vice president and managing partner of Guardian Auto Glass.

Guardian Auto Glass LLC was formed in 2010 between Guardian Glass Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Industries Corp., and LRST LLC to manage and grow the retail auto glass business of Guardian. This is the sixth new location Guardian Auto Glass has announced since the first of the year.

Guardian Auto Glass LLC is seeking owners, qualified sales professionals and operations managers who seek ownership and/or employment opportunities in their markets, throughout the US. All inquiries will be treated confidentially and should be directed to LRST(at)Guardian(dot)com.

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Amy Hennes
Guardian Industries
(248) 340-2109
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