Manufacturing

Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood has died

Forrest Wood, the founder of Ranger Boats who is often hailed as the founder of the modern bass boat, died Jan. 24. He was 87. Wood is survived by his…

Randy Southerland joins board of Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance

Randy Southerland, vice president and commercial loan officer for Arvest Bank in central Arkansas, has joined the board of directors of the Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance, effective this month….

Danfoss to close Arkadelphia plant, displace 170 workers

Danfoss announced plans to close its Arkadelphia manufacturing facility on Tuesday (Jan. 21) impacting 170 employees. The plant, which makes small capacity scroll compressors, condensing units and assembles high-pressure pumps,…

Industrial production fell, manufacturing output rose in December

Industrial production decreased 0.3% in December as increases of 0.2% in manufacturing and 1.3% in mining were outweighed by a 5.6% decline in utilities, according to the Federal Reserve. The…

Alternative Design adds to management team

Four new hires have been added to the management team of Siloam Springs-based metal fabricator Alternative Design Manufacturing & Supply Inc. James Austin has been hired as the project manager…

U.S.-Mexico-Canada gains U.S. Senate approval, awaits Trump’s signature

The U.S. Senate on Thursday (Jan. 16) voted to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), which sends the far-reaching new trade rules to President Donald Trump for his signature. The…

Phase 1 trade deal signed between U.S., China; a ‘needed step’ for Arkansas agri

A “Phase 1” trade deal was signed Wednesday (Jan. 15) by President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He that reduces some tariffs between the countries and seeks to…

New missile system work set for Lockheed’s Camden plant

Lockheed Martin’s Camden, Ark., plant will benefit from a $31.9 million missile system weapons contract between the company and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The contract is to…

Ferra Aerospace buys Rogers manufacturer

Ferra Aerospace, an Australian-based advanced machining and complex assembly company, has acquired Rogers manufacturer C&M Machine Holding Inc. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The facility at 207…

Gov. Hutchinson commits $2.1 million to support career and technology center

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has pledged $2.1 million in state funding for the new Fort Smith Public Schools career and technology center. Hutchinson said investment in the center is an investment…

Alcoa sells Arkansas waste treatment facility for $250 million

Alcoa Corp. has agreed to sell its Arkansas waste treatment facility in Gum Springs (Clark County) to Veolia ES Technical Solutions (VTS) in a transaction expected to close in the…

PMI falls 0.9 percentage points in December

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declined 0.9 percentage points to 47.2% in December, from November, as economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted for the fifth consecutive month and at…

Manufactured goods orders fell 2% in November

New orders for manufactured durable goods declined 2%, or by $5 billion, to $242.6 billion in November, from October, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau recently released…

Exports to Saudi Arabia increased by 421% in 2018

The total value of Arkansas exports rose 3.4% to $6.45 billion in 2018, from $6.23 billion in 2017, according to a new report. The World Trade Center Arkansas in Rogers…

Nucor expanding again in NEA with coil paint line

The Nucor board of directors has approved an expansion project which will add a coil paint line at the company’s sheet mill in Mississippi County. The new coil paint line…

Industrial, manufacturing production rose 1.1% in November

Industrial and manufacturing production increased 1.1% in November, from October, according to the Federal Reserve. The increase can be attributed to a rise in the output of motor vehicles and…

Conway-based manufacturer to expand, add up to 75 jobs

Conway-based SFI Arkansas announced Thursday (Dec. 12) plans to expand their facility and hire up to 75 new employees over the next 18 months. The new jobs would add to…

Manufacturing revenue to rise 4.8% in 2020, survey shows

Manufacturers are optimistic about growth in 2020, with all 18 manufacturing industries expecting revenue to rise, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Meanwhile, the U.S. economy is expected…

Laminated timber manufacturer to open plant in Conway, will support Walmart home office construction

Structurlam Mass Timber Corp., a company selected to help build Walmart’s expansive new corporate campus in Bentonville, will expand into the United States with a $90 million investment in an…

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…

Carnall, Spradling elementary schools in Fort Smith recommended for closure

Chandler Equipment invests $14 million into expansion

Mike Preston wearing a new hat in the business arena

Department of Agriculture implements rice in schools pilot program