1. Royal Technologies announces 300 new jobs in Cullman
Gov. Bob Riley announced today that Royal Technologies Inc. will invest $30 million in Cullman and hire approximately 300 people. Royal Technologies is a diversified manufacturer supplying products and services to the office furniture, automotive, and consumer products industries.
Company founder and owner Jim Vander Kolk said a ground breaking date has not been scheduled. However, expanding to the south offers Royal the ability to better serve the company’s existing customer base in the south and offers Royal additional new business opportunities to continue to grow business, according to Vander Kolk.
2. First Alabama-produced pickup truck rolls off Honda line
Alabama’s auto industry produced its first pickup truck on Monday. The first dealer-ready 2009 Honda Ridgeline made at the Lincoln plant rolled off the assembly line shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, Honda spokesman Ted Pratt said.
3. Alabama job hunters push for white-collar incentives
Alabama's top economic development officials have launched an offensive aimed at securing new weapons for what's been called the state's "recruitment arsenal." The centerpiece of Gov. Bob Riley's "Alabama Economic Recovery Plan," is a retooling of the state's power to extend incentives such as tax credits to businesses.
4. Home Depot to open distribution center in '09, employ hundreds
Home Depot said it will open its newly built distribution center in Jefferson Metropolitan Park McCalla sometime this year. A spokesman for the home improvement retailer said once up and running, the center will employ several hundred people and serve more than 100 Home Depot stores in Alabama and surrounding states.
5. Huntsville is a top-3 city best southern city for defense jobs
Huntsville is a top-3 best southern city for defense jobs according to clearancejobs.com, a leading job site for employees with federal clearance. The report cites Huntsville’s low cost of living, high average salaries and strong presence of defense contractors make Huntsville an ideal location for employees looking for defense jobs.
6. Bush Hog starting production again in Selma
Workers at Bush Hog are going back gradually. Wayne Vardaman, executive director of the Selma & Dallas County Economic Development Authority, confirmed that production at the plant in Selma had started again. "They're just going to keep bringing them in there."
Bush Hog manufactures loaders, backhoes, rotary cutters and mowers, turf and landscape tools and utility vehicles. The company has experienced retail slowdowns just as other manufacturers across the country, meaning inventory left more slowly than production replaced.
7. SSAB keeps 2012 target date for new Axis plant
SSAB announced that it was trying to cut costs for its Axis expansion but that the expansion is still targeted for completion in 2012.
8. Company Retools for Success in Medical Parts Industry
ATHENS - It was more than three years ago when Bill Turner knew a change had to be made. Turner Machine Inc. - the tool and die company his father, John Turner, founded in 1972 - had to retool or it would no longer exist.
The company that had made automobile parts and tool-and-die metal machining for area industries would instead make parts such as hip joints for humans. "We saw the handwriting on the wall several years ago before the tool-and-die business started going away," Turner said.
The company has been in the medical parts and instruments business for more than three years.
9. Federal Mogul To Add 110 Jobs in Athens
Federal-Mogul Sealing Systems will bring a new product line to Athens and with it, 110 jobs.
The company is investing $21.7 million in bringing the product line—engine sealing products—here. Scott said the relocation would not require an expansion of the Athens plant. The company would begin to move the jobs to Athens at the end of the third quarter of this year.
10. Honda hits the 20 million mark
In the middle of all the gloomy automotive industry news, Honda found a reason to celebrate. The Japanese automaker marked a production milestone last month by building its 20 millionth vehicle in North America.
Honda's auto assembly plant in Lincoln -- along with the Odyssey minivans and Pilot sport utilities that roll out of there -- contributed to the milestone. Other Honda auto plants are in Ohio, Indiana, Canada and Mexico.