These shops saved themselves from dependence on the declining automotive sector thanks in part to their commitment to large-scale machining capacity.

Cincinnati: Automated material handling solutions provider Intelligrated will open a 5,050-square-foot research and development lab at its St Louis engineering and manufacturing facility. The Alvey Robotics Lab will focus on applying new robotic innovations, as well as offering access to equipment testing and demonstrations before installation. Research and development in Intelligrated’s Alvey Robotics Lab will focus on the advancement of robotics in automated material handling applications, including palletizing, depalletizing, case packing and picking and placing, Intelligrated said.

H.C. Starck, one of the leading manufacturers of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, has reported continued growth in all of its business units through the first quarter of 2011.

OTTAWA: General Dynamics Canada is accelerating its research and product development efforts in underwater submarine warfare capabilities with a new centre of excellence in Halifax. The Ottawa-based developer and manufacturer of electronic defence systems said the Underwater Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (UW ISR) Centre of Excellence will expand its development of anti-submarine warfare, mine avoidance and mine counter measures as naval fleets around the world re-establish this critical capability in the face of new threats

Existing magnets for EV motors use neodymium, a rare-earth metal mostly produced in China, as well as iron and boron.

With the development of its mobile OMAX JetMachining centre, the company meets the specific requirements of the oil field maintenance, high rise steel construction, shipbuilding, commercial industries supporting government programs, and any other commercial businesses needing to easily transport waterjet equipment on a regular basis.

OTTAWA— With a new majority government in place, Canada could carve out a winning economic performance in coming years, according to a new report from the Conference Board of Canada.

BEIJING: Air China now offers flights from Chengdu in China’s interior to Shanghai.

TORONTO: GreenField Ethanol plans to make next generation ethanol a commercial reality with the launch of G2 Biochem, a collaboration involving international partners that will make transportation fuel from agricultural waste, energy crops and forest biomass. Novozymes , a bioinnovator that develops enzymes in Denmark and Andritz , an Austrian manufacturer of large industrial equipment, is hooking up with Greenfield Ethanol , a Canadian ethanol producer with headquarters in Toronto, to commercial its cellulosic process technology

According to Taiwanese media reports, five complete machinery manufacturers joined forces with more than 40 auxiliary manufacturers to officially establish the M-Team alliance within the machine tool industry in Taiwan to promote product upgrade and shorten delivery.Initiated by Taiwan’s Corporate Synergy Development Center, the M-Team alliance was first launched five years ago with Victor Taichung and Yeong Chin Machinery (YCM) as the alliance leaders.