Kennametal Inc announced on January 17 that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement with the UK-based Deloro Stellite Group from Duke Street Capital for approximately 277 million euros.Deloro Stellite is a global manufacturer and provider of alloy-based critical wear solutions for extreme environments involving high temperature, corrosion and abrasion. With annual sales of approximately 220 million euros, the company employs approximately 1,300 people across seven primary operating facilities globally, including locations in the US, Canada, Germany, Italy, India and China.Kennametal says Deloro Stellite delivers value-added, tailored wear solutions for customers in Kennametal’s current end markets of oil/gas, power generation, transportation, and aerospace, through proprietary metal alloys and materials expertise as well as specialized engineering design and fabrication capabilities.”Deloro Stellite has a long-standing history of providing exceptional value to customers in demanding environments and we are pleased they have agreed to join the Kennametal team,” commented Carlos Cardoso, Kennametal Chairman, President and CEO. “The addition of this world-class surface technology and materials science expertise will enhance the range of productivity solutions provided to our customers in extreme wear environments.”The acquisition remains subject to customary regulatory approval and negotiated conditions of closing, but Kennametal expects it will close in 60 to 90 days.

LATROBE, Pa. —Kennametal Inc

DETROIT —Chrysler will add 1,250 jobs at two Detroit factories next year. The Detroit-based automaker will add 1,100 people to its Jefferson North factory—where it assembles the Jeep Grand Cherokee—to build a diesel model for North America next year.

TORONTO —Canada’s largest private sector union is calling on Ottawa to review the purchase of Canada’s only locomotive manufacturing plant by U.S.-based Caterpillar Inc.  back in 2010. The Canadian Auto Workers union says hundreds of jobs at the Electro-Motive plant in London, Ont., are potentially at stake. In a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, CAW president Ken Lewenza said the future of the plant is in peril

TSAWWASSEN, BC: A newly completed overpass crossing Deltaport Way at 41B Street in Delta, BC has made the route safer and more reliable and will ultimately benefit trade with the Asia Pacific region, says Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

Purchasingb2b November/December 2011 print edition The Occupy Wall Street protest has spread to other cities in the world, including Toronto, my hometown. I’m not surprised that people are disenchanted with the “system”—this is a case of same-as-it-ever-was.

DELTA, BC: Construction has been announced for the 80th Street overpass in Delta, BC, a project along the Roberts Bank rail corridor (RBRC). The overpass is a funding partnership worth $20 million, with the Government of Canada contributing $7.2 million, the province of British Columbia $2 million and Port Metro Vancouver $4.8 million. The corporation of Delta is also providing $1.8 million for construction and $6 million to acquire lands

Uncertain times aren’t the time to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm — they’re a time to refine your business and reinvest. This statement seems to be born out by a recent national survey conducted by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). The survey found that nearly 60 per cent of Canadian manufacturing companies are planning to spend more money on manufacturing equipment this year compared to 2010

US consumers rebounded in July to boost spending by the most in five months. The increase is likely to ease fears that the U.S. economy is on the verge of another recession

If you’ve ever wanted to design and build your own concept car, Boston-based Local Motors is giving its customers that chance. Unlike a traditional automotive company, the niche car maker operates on an “open-source” model. Amateur and professional community members submit their original car concepts to Local Motors’ design competition for other members to comment and vote on