Manufacturing

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Construction begins on new Toro facility in Ankeny

Ryan Companies US Inc. has started construction on a new facility for Toro Co. in Ankeny.

The 450,000-square-foot distribution center will employ about 20 people. Ryan Companies will build and own the building and lease …
By BPC Staff | Jun 19, 2012
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Sauer-Danfoss announces cash dividend

Sauer-Danfoss Inc. announced yesterday it will reinstate quarterly cash dividend payments.

The Ames-based engineering and design company suspended payments in 2009 during the recession, according to a release.

The board of directors also approved a …
By BPC Staff | Jun 7, 2012
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Productivity declines in the first quarter

Productivity cooled in the United States in the first quarter of 2012, signaling that companies may hire workers at a slower rate with labor costs continuing to rise. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that …
By BPC Staff | Jun 6, 2012
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Iowa group to attend wind energy conference

Leaders from the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Co. are in Atlanta this week promoting Iowa’s wind energy industry.

Kathy Evert, president and CEO of the company, will be representing the group at the Windpower 2012 …
By BPC Staff | Jun 5, 2012
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Iowa has gap to fill in ‘middle-skilled’ workers

Although half of the available jobs in Iowa fall into the category of “middle-skilled” labor – positions requiring a high school diploma or associate degree – only 33 percent of Iowa’s work force qualifies as…
By BPC Staff | May 23, 2012
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Group calls for currency manipulation rules

Manufacturing and industrial groups in the U.S. sent an open letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Trade Representative Ron Kirk today, urging them to include rules on currency manipulation in any negotiation involving the…
By BPC Staff | May 22, 2012
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Here’s a big deal

Eaton Corp. agreed to buy Cooper Industries plc, a maker of electrical distribution equipment, in a transaction valued at $11.8 billion to expand its power management business and tap into the U.S. housing recovery, Bloomberg …
By BPC Staff | May 21, 2012
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Mass layoff events fall to lowest level since 2006 in first quarter

Mass layoff events decreased to their lowest level since 2006 in the first quarter of 2012, according to numbers released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Private nonfarm employers initiated only 1,077 mass …
By BPC Staff | May 16, 2012
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ISU teams receive grants to research biofuels

The Iowa Energy Center has awarded three Iowa State University research teams a total of $938,000 in grants to support their work to find better ways to produce biofuels and chemicals.

The teams are all …
By BPC Staff | May 11, 2012
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Grand Avenue Bridge closing at Walnut Creek

After almost 100 years in operation, the Grand Avenue Bridge over Walnut Creek at 63rd Street is being retired, meaning commuters will have to find an alternate route until a new bridge is built.

The …
By BPC Staff | May 4, 2012
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