NEW YORK, July 29, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE)—Pessimism and uncertainty about the domestic and world economies reached a five-year high among
U.S.-based industrial manufacturers in the second quarter of 2008, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Manufacturing Barometer.
Ninety-two percent of senior executives surveyed are pessimistic or uncertain about the U.S. economy’s prospects over the next year, a four
point rise over the prior quarter and a significant jump from 38 percent in the second quarter of 2007. Twenty-seven percent expressed
pessimism about the prospects for the world economy in the year ahead, an increase of six points from last quarter and up dramatically from
the 2 percent who were pessimistic one year before.

In a ceremony outside London, UK, Lord Digby Jones, Minister for Trade and Investment, presented the prestigious Essex Passport to Export Award to GM Tech, the manufacturing and service subsidiary of IRISS, inc. (Sarasota, Florida, USA).

The Passport to Export (P2E) Award is given by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to companies which excel in product development for export overseas. The P2E program is designed to share best practices and assist UK companies in their quest to become world-class manufacturers and exporters. 

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will add new capabilities to the UK Ministry of Defence’s Joint Asset Management and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) logistics support programme under a recent contract amendment valued at 75 million pounds Sterling.

Designed by Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support and first deployed in July 2005, JAMES currently manages more than 60,000 pieces of equipment for the British Army giving users and commanders the ability to identify the availability, status, condition, ownership and location of a piece of equipment in moments. The newest phase of the programme, called JAMES Land, will extend the system to include ground-based equipment used by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, in addition to the British Army additional capabilities. It also will enhance existing diagnostic capabilities to provide comprehensive integrated logistics support for covered equipment.

IRISS inc. manufacturer of industrial-grade infrared windows, today announced that Tammi Pickett has joined the company as Marketing Manager. In her new position, Tammi will be responsible for IRISS® brand, advertising and public relation initiatives. 

Trico Corporation has purchased Predict USA to enhance its lubrication management services, according to Trico chief executive officer Robert Jung.

The acquisition enables Trico to bring oil analysis and monitoring services in-house. This means Trico will offer a one-stop shop for all predictive lubrication management services to its clients.

Best practices for industrial plant maintenance shows higher uptime, lower cost and better return on invested capital.

Fort Myers FL - July 15, 2008—Reliabilityweb.com, an online community of maintenance and reliability professionals and the organizer of PdM-2008 Predictive Maintenance Technology Conference, announced today that early registrations for the September conference are exceeding the pace of all previous years and that another sold-out event is expected.

Dakota Fluid Power, Inc. (The Midwest’s most complete Fluid Power Company) has acquired Y2K Fluid Power, Inc. (manufacturers of portable filtration products and lubricant storage solutions). As a single source manufacturer of Hydraulic Systems, Electrical, Pneumatic, Filtration Systems and even component repairs, Dakota Fluid Power has championed “World Class” filtration/contamination control for many years.

CHICAGO—SmartSignal Plant Availability and Performance Solution (APS) predicts, diagnoses, and prioritizes equipment failures; it identifies and resolves minor issues before they grow into major problems. It also manages the solution, freeing plant staff to focus on their core job responsibilities. The solution supplies each plant with readily understood and actionable diagnostic intelligence.