Engineered Design Insider Features — The Latest Features from EDI Weekly

Manufacturers optimistic but worker recruitment not keeping pace with social media

2012-05-30T20:23:53Z

Manufacturers are using recruiting tactics more suited to attract baby boomers than Gen Y workers, according to survey by PwC. They need to start using non-traditional channels to attract the workers they need.

Industrial manufacturers are mostly optimistic about Canada’s economic prospects in the coming twelve months, according to a PwC barometer report for first quarter 2012. The survey found 76 per cent of Canadian industrial manufacturers surveyed are optimistic, up 19 points from last quarter.

In all, a quarter of those who market abroad are also more optimistic about the prospects for the world economy over the next year, four points higher than the previous quarter. In fact, Canadian-based industrial manufacturers that sell abroad reported stabilized international sales in first-quarter 2012, with 22 per cent reporting an increase in sales.

Unmanned surveillance craft for Canada's Arctic goes ahead

2012-05-30T19:57:00Z

"Polar Hawk" will fly at 60,000 feet with a range of 22,000 kilometres, designed for Arctic surveillance.

Northrop Grumman Corporation and L-3 MAS announced plans today to join forces on a long-endurance unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for Canada to maintain continuous surveillance of its Arctic territories.

Dubbed "Polar Hawk™," the system will be designed to fly at 60,000 feet, well above challenging weather and commercial aviation. With a range of 22,000 kilometres, it will be able to stay aloft for more than 33 hours, in harsh weather conditions. Its capabilites will allow it to cover vast expanses of the Earth's surface monitoring land, ice, littoral and open water environments throughout the Arctic.

Germany sets new solar record: 22 Gigawatts of electricity produced

2012-05-29T22:05:41Z

Though it costs them more on their electricity bills, the majority of Germans are willing to pay to reduce the country's dependence on nuclear energy.

Germany set a new record for solar power last weekend when its solar power plants produced 22 gigawatts of electricity, nearly half of the country’s total power needs. The record-breaking generation of photovoltaic power was equal to the output of 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity.

Following the Fukushima disaster in Japan, the German government declared its intent to replace all of its nuclear power capacity with renewable energy by 2022. So far, eight nuclear plants have been closed and nine more will follow.

Auto industry researchers get $22 million in funding for new projects

2012-05-29T21:19:15Z

New funding was announced today for research projects intended to lead to cleaner technologies and safer vehicles in Canada. The announcement was made by the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence in Montreal. The $22 million in funding will support 40 automotive R&D projects at Canadian universities in partnership with more than 100 public and private sector companies. Contributions from Canada’s auto sector make up $12 million of the total research money committed; the remaining $10 million will come from the government.

The projects include finding ways to protect passengers in side crashes with trucks, helping senior drive safely, and advancing electric vehicle technologies. Approximately 200 academic researchers will contribute to the 40 projects slated for funding. The projects will also provide training opportunities for about 400 graduate students, working on advanced material research, biofuels, clean diesel, children’s vehicle safety, in Aboriginal communities and improvements to manufacturing processes. A full list and summaries of projects is available at www.auto21.ca.

Bombardier hoping to crack the Chinese market with Q400 NextGen aircraft

2012-05-28T22:59:09Z

Bombardier Q400 NextGen in Georgia, part of its world tour that has now taken the aircraft to Beijing. China will be the world's second largest market for new aircraft in the coming years.

China is the latest stop on Bombardier’s world tour to promote its Q400 NextGen airliner, following demonstration flights and static displays in Russia. The plane will take media, government officials and potential customers on demonstration flights in China, Japan and Mongolia.

Bombardier has big hopes for tapping the Chinese market, which it predicts will be the world’s second largest market for new aircraft, following the United States. The company forecasts that China’s fleet of 20- to 149-seat aircraft will grow by 300 per cent over the next twenty years, with the strongest demand seen in the 100- to 149-seat segment (1,440 units).

Heavy equipment operators on strike in Windsor area

2012-05-28T22:37:52Z

Stiking heavy equipment operators say contractors pressed an illegal position in demanding that overtime be paid only after 55 hours of regular work, not, as now, after 50 hours.

Heavy equipment operators in Southwestern Ontario, represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, are on strike. The workers had been working without a contract since April 30, 2012 and moved into a legal strike position May 19, 2012. Talks with the Heavy Construction Association of Windsor broke down May 24, 2012.

The operators work on all types of heavy construction equipment, including excavators, backhoes and bulldozers. They're involved in road, sewer and watermain, bridge and general excavating projects.

Oil and Gas industry looking to fill 9,500 jobs by 2015: report

2012-05-25T22:33:06Z

(Marketwire) Canada's oil and gas industry will need to fill a minimum of 9,500 jobs by 2015, according to a report to be released May 29, 2012, by the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada. The report, Canada's Oil and Gas Labour Market Outlook to 2015, states that between now and 2015, Canada's oil and gas industry is at risk of losing about three per cent of its workforce overall, because of persistently low natural gas prices. However, two primary factors - growth in certain operations and age-related attrition - will offset most job losses and in fact contribute to industry hiring needs.

Ontario wants feds to help develop chromite mine in Ring of Fire

2012-05-24T21:54:46Z

Chromite, source of the metal chromium, used in manufacturing stainless steel. Ontario's Ring of Fire contains one of the world's largest depostits of the mineral, and the province wants the Ottawa to help finance development of the region to extract and process it.

A major new mining development in northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire needs help from the federal government to proceed, according to Ontario’s premier, Dalton McGuinty. McGuinty met privately with Stephen Harper two days ago to discuss the project, which would develop large deposits of chromite, used in the production of stainless steel.

McGuinty told the prime minister that the project is too big for the province to finance on its own, with the need to build an access road, estimated to cost in the area of $600 million, to extend electricity transmission and to invest in skills and training for First Nations communities. The premier said he invited the prime minister “to give some thought as to how we might partner together” to take advantage of this new opportunity “in our backyard.”

Bearings plant closure bad news for hard-hit St. Thomas, Ontario

2012-05-24T21:31:15Z

The Timken Company, which has made roller bearings for heavy trucks and industrial applications in its St. Thomas, Ontario plant since 1946, is closing next year. Approximately 190 workers will lose their jobs. The company is headquartered in Canton, Ohio, and production will move to the company’s operations in Ohio and the Carolinas.

The reason given for the shutdown is changes in the company’s customer base, which have led to the plant’s operating at less than 20 per cent capacity in recent times. Lower demand for the type of bearing made at the St. Thomas plant means that the products can be made more cost-effectively at other facilities, according to the company.

“With similar capacity available at plants located closer to customers, this is a necessary step to improve our service and competitiveness across North America,” said Timken's director of global manufacturing, Richard Boyer.

CANDU workers at SNC-Lavalin accuse company of bullying

2012-05-23T22:29:08Z

The Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) has accused SNC-Lavalin’s Candu Energy division of behaving as if Canada were a “third-world country” by unilaterally stripping employees of working conditions and imposing new conditions on its nuclear workforce. SPEA says the company is trying to “bully” members into working under the worst terms of employment in the nuclear industry.

“This tactic may work in Libya but not in Canada,” said Peter White, president of SPEA.

SPEA represents the designers and support workers for CANDU reactors in Canada and abroad. Formerly Atomic Energy of Canada Limited until it was sold to SNC-Lavalin, the nuclear division of SNC-Lavalin will lose more highly skilled workers, according to SPEA. Already, more than 200 employees have left the company, White said in a statement, and more will go.