Manufacturing accelerates for first time in 6 months
The pickup in factory activity suggests the economy is improving modestly after a sluggish start to the year. Still, growth remains slow, held back by a range of factors.
Manufacturing
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Optical Disc Solutions closing its Richmond CD, DVD plant
Optical Disc Solutions Inc. will close its doors at the end of June, idling nearly 40 workers.
JONES: Is computer literacy required for innovation?
In driving today’s innovations, we sometimes take for granted that computers are woven into just about every aspect of our personal lives and businesses.
CHRISTIAN: How are innovative mind-sets created?
Countless examples of business successes are the by-product of mistakes, blunders and miscalculations.
Great Indy Innovations
Central Indiana has been the birthplace of groundbreaking innovation felt nationwide–even worldwide.
BAGGOTT: Which innovation does agriculture need most?
The reality is that food and agriculture present us with a greater opportunity for entrepreneurship and wealth creation than the Internet did back in 2000.
PELLEGRINO: Where do entrepreneurs go wrong when innovation is a core value?
The optimism bias creates a common expectation and perception of innovation value versus real value.
Indy’s Golden Age in 1920s shows way forward
In the 1920s, Indianapolis was one of the most innovative cities in the nation. But after “the dark tragedy of the roaring twenties,” Indianapolis lost its edginess for decades and only recently has begun to regain it.
Employers spark innovation with creative work spaces
When some employers want their people to innovate, they try putting a new twist on the old desk-computer-cubicle combo.
Co-working perks include collaboration
I recently spent a few hours at the newest, oldest and biggest co-working spaces to see what all the hype is about.
Pace-setting firms share advice on diving into change, accelerating innovation
IBJ picked the brains of Indianapolis-area firms and organizations known for liquid thinking to discover how they open the spigot on innovation.
Baggott launches food-tech company ClusterTruck
Chris Baggott, one of ExactTarget’s three co-founders, said the main ingredients of the new startup are food trucks, delivery-only kitchens and Uber drivers. He predicts it will be a $1 billion company.
GM plans $1.2B in upgrades for Indiana truck plant
The project announced Tuesday includes new painting facilities, an expanded body shop and improvements to the truck assembly area at the factory near Fort Wayne that has about 3,800 workers.
Business investment climbs as factories thaw from winter
Orders to U.S. factories for long-lasting manufactured goods fell slightly in April. But a category that reflects business investment climbed for a second month, a hopeful sign that the key sector is starting to revive.
GM poised to reveal big investment at Fort Wayne-area plant
GM previously said it was considering upgrading the truck assembly plant to build its next generation of pickup trucks. The Allen County Council voted in October to approve a 10-year tax abatement that would save GM more than $15 million on a possible $1 billion investment in equipment and related improvements.
Steel Dynamics to make $100M Mississippi expansion
Indiana-based Steel Dynamics Inc. said it will invest $100 million to add more steel-finishing capacity at its mill in Columbus, Mississippi, and add 40 employees to the current 630 at the plant.
IUPUI professor’s winning car design mimics human rib cage
IUPUI professor Andres Tovar recently won an international automotive design competition by using advanced technology to mimic Mother Nature’s own blueprints.
Manufacturer plans major expansion, 131 new jobs
The world’s largest manufacturer of automobile emission-control systems plans to expand its North American headquarters in Columbus, adding 131 workers by the end of 2017, the company announced Wednesday.
Stanley Black & Decker plans 136-job expansion in Greenfield
The company plans to invest $7.7 million in its Greenfield factory, which will lift production to an estimated 1.2 million power tools annually.
Indiana Limestone Co. back on solid ground after bankruptcy
All 166 employees were laid off on May 2, 2014, but Wynnchurch Capital quickly bought the business for $26 million and hired back 120 of the company's former stonecutters. Since then, the operation has added 43 workers.