Manufacturing

Then & Now: Values attracted David Mann to Central States career

Editor’s Note: The following story appeared in the Nov. 25 issue of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. “Then & Now” is a profile of a past member of the Business…

Tariffs not yet hurting holiday spending

Consumers are not letting tariffs or other economic fears put a damper on their holiday spending this year, according to Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation (NRF)….

Manufacturing sector contracted at faster pace in November

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell 0.2 percentage points to 48.1% in November, from October, as economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted for the fourth consecutive month and at…

Manufactured goods orders increased 0.6% in October

New orders for manufactured durable goods rose 0.6%, or by $1.5 billion, to $248.7 billion in October after declining 1.4% in September, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census…

Major layoff at Tenaris manufacturer

About 100 workers have been told they will be laid off at the Tenaris manufacturing facility in Hickman, on the edge of Mississippi County. A timetable for the layoffs was…

Radius Aerospace begins $24 million project to expand titanium components plant

Hot Springs-based manufacturer Radius Aerospace, formerly a Triumph Group Division, broke ground Monday (Nov. 25) on a $24 million expansion of its titanium components plant and will add 65 employees…

Hot Springs aerospace firm acquires UK operations

Hot Springs-based Radius Aerospace, Inc. announced it has acquired Doncasters Group Limited’s Aerospace Forming and Fabricating Business in Sheffield and Shrewsbury, located in the United Kingdom. The new division will…

Industrial production fell 0.8% in October

Industrial production and manufacturing production decreased by 0.8% and 0.6%, respectively, in October, from September, according to the Federal Reserve. Much of the decline can be attributed to the 7.1%…

Record sales posted by Tyson Foods, but net income down 33%

Springdale-based Tyson Foods posted record sales of $42.405 billion in fiscal year 2019, up 5.87% from the prior year. But net income fell $1 billion short of last year at…

Company expanding Eudora distribution center with $10 million in upgrades, 125 new jobs

Superior Group of Companies announced a “significant” expansion and upgrades to its Eudora, Ark., distribution center. The company will invest $10 million in the next three years and add 125…

Big River Steel closes deal with U.S. Steel, values Osceola mill at $2.3 billion

Privately held Big River Steel in Northeast Arkansas has closed on its deal announced last month to make United States Steel Corp. a minority stakeholder of the company’s scrap recycling…

Fourth-quarter net income expected to be lower at Tyson Foods, revenue higher

Tyson Foods will report fiscal 2019 earnings on Tuesday (Nov. 12) and the fourth quarter results ending Sept. 30. Wall Street expects per share net income of $1.29 per for…

Then & Now: Misty Orpin promotes Black Apple cider brand

Editor’s Note: The following story appeared in the Oct. 28 issue of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. “Then & Now” is a profile of a past member of the Business…

Family-owned Purkeys in Lowell sold to California’s Mission Critical Electronics

Mission Critical Electronics (MCE), a California company that makes electronic power products, has acquired Lowell-based electrical products manufacturer Purkeys Fleet Electric. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Purkeys…

Business coalition says trade war could cost Arkansas nearly 20,000 jobs; Gov. Hutchinson responds

As Gov. Asa Hutchinson wraps up his fourth Far East trade mission, a new report released Wednesday (Nov. 6) by a coalition of U.S. trade groups says the ongoing trade…

Pakko previews forecast, says manufacturing jobs growing faster than others

Manufacturing employment in Arkansas has been growing faster than in the rest of the economy the past 18-20 months, while overall job growth has occurred mostly in Northwest Arkansas, central…

State Chamber crowd primed for changing workforce, industry landscape

“The world is changing too fast.” That’s one of a litany of concerns that Ted Abernathy outlined for about 600 statewide business leaders on Wednesday (Nov. 6) at the Arkansas…

Ball Metalpack to close Springdale plant, lay off 76 workers

Steel can manufacturer Ball Metalpack plans to close its Springdale plant and cut 76 full-time positions there by the end of the second quarter of 2020. The company will gradually…

Manufacturing sector contracted at a slower rate in October

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose 0.5 percentage points to 48.3% in October, from 47.8% in September, as economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted for the third consecutive month…

Injection molding manufacturer creating 90 jobs in Little Rock port

HMS Mfg. Co. announced plans Wednesday (Oct. 30) to open a new 550,000 sq. ft. injection molding facility in the Port of Little Rock. HMS Mfg. Co. expects to create…

Manufacturing

Talk Business & Politics staff

George Jared