Industry Buzz

• Eaton Corp. takes cautious approach as economy recovers
  Eaton Corp. is starting to consider expansion plans after enduring layoffs and furloughs that helped it survive the economic downturn. CEO Alexander "Sandy" Cutler said the company is eying China, Brazil and other international markets. In this Q-and-A, Cutler addresses what the future holds for the company. Although the U.S. economy has shown improvements lately, Cutler notes that Eaton is adding back resources cautiously. The Wall Street Journal (11/16)

• Caterpillar raises concerns about proposed OTC rules
  Plans to boost regulation of over-the-counter derivatives could slow the economy's recovery and curtail job creation at large manufacturers, Caterpillar executives said. Draft legislation that would put in place stricter rules for OTC contracts was presented in the Senate last week. Critics of the proposed legislation noted that the Senate proposal contains more restrictions than House versions. Financial Times (free content) (11/15)

• Displaced Caterpillar workers eligible for federal program: Displaced Caterpillar workers in Mossville, Ill., are eligible for a federal program that provides help with health insurance payments and job retraining. The Cat employees are among 3,400 workers from companies in eight states eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance. The workers were laid off in January after Caterpillar announced a plan to move its small-engine manufacturing plant to Texas. However, at the time, the company said the layoffs and the relocation were not related. Peoria Journal Star (Ill.) (11/13)

• Snap-on division completes regional headquarters
  Snap-on Business Solutions last week unveiled its $16 million data center and regional headquarters in Richmond, Ohio. The 105,000-square-foot building will allow the company to consolidate office space for 300 employees who work for the high-tech arm of the toolmaker and distributor. Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) (11/13)

Trends and Innovations

• Proposed plant in Wisconsin to produce sulfur-free diesel from biomass
  Flambeau River Biofuels will build a facility in Park Walls, Wis., that will use biomass to make 18 million gallons a year of sulfur-free diesel and paraffin wax through the Fischer-Tropsch process, company executive Bill Johnson said. The plant, valued at $270 million, will generate fuel that is not classified as biodiesel "because it isn't made from a fat or seed," he added. New Jersey-based Honeywell will handle the design for the proposed site under an $18 million contract with Flambeau. Finance and Commerce (Minneapolis) (11/13)

• Column: Questions surround future of workers' pay
  Wages and benefits for workers who have remained employed have declined during the past 18 months, writes Tom Petruno. It's unclear whether that downward pressure will continue, he writes. However, he notes that toolmaker Black & Decker recently announced that it will reverse pay cuts initiated in April. Meanwhile, 35% of companies that cut 401(k) matching funds plan to reinstate them in the next six months, according to a recent survey. Nevertheless, Petruno says that it is possible that wages could remain depressed because qualified people are willing to work for less money. Los Angeles Times (11/14)

• Maryland workers say generator saves gasoline
  Workers in Maryland's Howard County used designs from the Internet to build a device that saves gasoline by extracting hydrogen and oxygen from water and burning the gas. The employees have tested the HHO generator on their own vehicles and have received permission to test them on county equipment. The Sun (Baltimore) (11/15)

• Native grass will be replaced in South Africa ahead of World Cup
  South African stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup must switch to tender European ryegrass because the native grass currently in the stadiums is not bright enough for television audiences, World Cup officials say. Meanwhile, observers said the European grass will need to be replaced after the soccer tournament because it requires more water and maintenance than the native grass. The Observer (London) (11/15)

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Best Practices

• How to foster right-brained thinking
  New thinking on how people think suggests innovators may be able to train themselves to find their "aha" moment by letting their brains wind down. One researcher says the brain suppresses territory on its mental map during concentration but various parts of the brain can interact during relaxation -- which encourages the brain to be more creative about problem solving. The Wall Street Journal (11/12)

Lawn and Landscape

• Put thought into every space when landscaping, expert says
  Incorporating every element of a backyard space into a landscaping project is one way to insure success, experts say. Drainage, "hardscape," such as walls and fountains, seating and walking space are all important points to consider, landscape architect Susan Hall says. Hall recently helped transform a Florida backyard space by setting an area aside for a hot tub and creating walkways, among other things. Florida Today (Melbourne) (11/14)

• Other News

• Golf course boosts recycling, seeks green status
  Chicago Tribune/The Associated Press (11/15)

• Column: Ajuga serves as robust cover for shady spots
  The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (11/14)

Featured Content

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by OPEI SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Toro shares post gains on recovery, core business (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• Toro's electric snow thrower clears decks, driveways (Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.))

• Caterpillar settles 401(k) lawsuit for $16.5M (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

• Bobcat will open N.D. plant next year (The Daily News (Wahpeton, N.D.))

• Revised profit forecast boosts Kubota shares (Bloomberg)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Policy Update

• White House pushes for immigration reform in 2010
  The White House is pressing lawmakers to move forward on legislation that would reform the nation's immigration laws. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she believes a reform bill could pass next year. She noted that the nation has met border security goals and added that illegal immigration declined during the economic downturn. "The hope is that when we get into the first part of 2010, that we will see legislation begin to move," Napolitano said. The Washington Post (11/14) , Los Angeles Times (11/14)

• Senators may adjust EPA's emissions role to win votes for climate bill
  As the Senate works on the climate-change legislation, lawmakers may let the Environmental Protection Agency retain its power to regulate greenhouse gases in order to win over critics who are concerned over the agency's role in the measure, writes Matthew Madia in this blog post. The House version of the bill modified the EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act to secure the votes of moderate lawmakers and representatives of the energy sector, and senators could do the same thing in their proposal, Madia added. OMB Watch (11/13)

• Other News

• South Florida officials approve year-round water rules
  The Tampa Tribune (Fla.)/The Associated Press (11/16)

SmartPulse

• Poll: Do you think your business next year will be laying off workers, hiring them or remaining steady?
  Read the OPEI SmartBrief Year-End Report, which will be published on Dec. 15, to find out how your peers are responding.

	Laying off
	Hiring
	Staying steady

SmartQuote

Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm." --Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet, critic and philosopher