Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Carlos Brito Source: newshopper.sulekha.com

PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch InBev Create Purchasing Pool

The principle of pooling medical insurance buyers to reduce their costs has gotten national attention in the current health care debate. Now, two of the world’s largest beverage companies, Anheuser-Busch InBev and PepsiCo, plan to use the pooling strategy to reduce their purchasing costs. A Financial Times article says, “PepsiCo and Anheuser said late on Tuesday [Oct. 13] that they had agreed to work together to cut costs by combining their purchasing of items such as office supplies and computers. The companies gave no details of the expected cost savings. But industry analysts say the arrangement reflects the growing strategic relationship between PepsiCo’s soft drinks and snack business and Anheuser-Busch InBev, the global brewer created by InBev in a $52bn takeover.”

Russell Burton is the IAMC Active members with PepsiCo, and Michael Taylor is the Active with Anheuser-Busch InBev. PepsiCo ranks 52^nd on the Fortune-500 list and 1^st on Fortune's list of food consumer products companies. Anheuser-Busch InBev ranks 387^th on the Global-500 list and 2^nd on Fortune's list of global beverages companies.

Companies Urged to Confront NAM, U.S. Chamber on Climate Change Issue

With Pres. Obama supporting U.S. action on global warming, a growing number of large American-based companies are adjusting their business policies and advertising to support such action. However, a few corporate advocacy organizations oppose government climate change requirements on business. A press release from Green Century Funds says, "In letters to 14 top companies, 43 investors and investment-focused organizations [including Green Century Funds] encouraged the companies to end the contradiction between their own policies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's and National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) positions on pending climate legislation. Each of the companies has publicly stated that it supports action on climate change, which the Chamber and NAM strongly oppose." Of the 14 companies mentioned in this letter, seven have members in IAMC: Air Products & Chemicals, Alcoa, Jim Winter, Boeing Co., Cummins, Deere & Co., Lockheed Martin, and Whirlpool.

Glaxo Partners in Development of UK Bio-science Incubator

To deal with job losses from the recession, a partnership of business and government in Great Britain has launched a world-class bio-sciences incubator in Hertfordshire. An article on the project says, "A new £37 million project that is backed by the government, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), The Wellcome Trust, Technology Strategy Board and East of England Development Agency could help to bolster science jobs. The Bioscience Campus in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, is set to become a world-leading hub for early-stage biotech companies, according to business secretary Lord Mandelson. ...Andrew Witty, chief executive of GSK [GlaxoSmithKline], said that the pharmaceuticals giant is delighted to play a leading role in the building of the new facility and added that it will hopefully keep the UK at the forefront of medicine development."

Honeywell to Build Aircraft Control Systems in Malaysia

Off-shoring is a survival and profit enhancement strategy for many manufacturing companies. And Malaysia is making a name for itself as a place where companies can successfully locate technologically sophisticated fabrication and assembly operations. The Sun Daily reports, "...an announcement by American avionics specialist, Honeywell Aerospace, that the flight control systems for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner would be built at the company’s plant in Penang. The Phoenix-based company has already invested some RM520 million [US$153 million] for its new facility in Seberang Perai. But Honeywell's show of confidence in setting up a major international base in Penang is just one among a slew of major investments that the state is bracing for."

Phil Hammel is the IAMC Active member with Honeywell, which ranks 63^rd on the Fortune-500 list and 4^th on Fortune’s list of aerospace and defense companies.

HP Set to Open Rio Rancho Facility

Architect's rendering of HP's Rio Rancho facility Source: observer-online.com

In contrast to the off-shoring story above, Hewlett-Packard plans to open a large technical support facility in New Mexico this year. On this, The Observer says, "Hewlett-Packard announced it will open its 218,000-square-foot technical support center sometime in December. Linda Wedeen, communications manager for the HP Rio Rancho site, didn’t have an exact figure on the number of employees that HP will have at the site in December, but said the company would be on target to have 1,350 by the end of 2012." HP is opening a similar site in Conway, Ark. The projects were announced in June 2008.

Renee' Leach is the IAMC Active member with Hewlett-Packard, which is 9^th on the Fortune-500 list and 1^st on Fortune's list of computers, office equipment, companies.

Boeing Begins Hangar Operations at Pudong Airport

With hundreds of Boeing passenger jets logging thousands of hours flying into and out of China and other Asian nations, the company needed a dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in the region. Boeing set up a joint venture in 2006 to operate a temporary MRO facility. But now it's established a permanent one. China View says, "Boeing has opened an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) two-bay hangar at Pudong International Airport as scheduled despite the sluggish aviation market, China Daily reported Friday. The hangar, capable of housing two B747 airplanes, is also the first MRO facility at the airport, said the newspaper. The factory is operated by Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services Co., a joint venture in which the U.S. aircraft manufacturer controls a 60-percent stake, while Shanghai Airport Authority and Shanghai Airlines respectively hold the remaining 25-percent and 15-percent stakes."

Jeff Adelson is the IAMC Active member with Boeing, which ranks 34^th on the Fortune-500 list and 1^st on Fortune's list of aerospace and defense companies.

"Artist's rendering of proposed [BNSF] intermodal facility" Source: www.gardneredge.com

BNSF Negotiating to Construct Intermodal Facility

Large transportation and logistics operations, such as coastal container ports and railway intermodal facilities, are alleged to reduce local air quality. So, even though they may employ hundreds, proposed new operations of this type can create a stir in the local community. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway is negotiating to develop a major intermodal center near Kansas City. On this, the Kansas City Tribune writes, "The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and its partner Allen Group want to build the $700 million, 1,000-acre facility next to Gardner. ... Opponents say the size of the proposed development — and the diesel emissions, truck traffic and other consequences — isn't appropriate for a community like Gardner...." In response, BNSF's Steve Forsberg explains, "The Gardner complex would be only the third of a type of new BNSF intermodal centers, a high-tech, highly efficient facility and among the cleanest going. In terms of air quality and emissions, the Gardner facility would emit much less air pollution than BNSF's intermodal facility at Argentine in Kansas City, Kansas." See Site Selection's Reporting on this project, featuring an interview with BNSF Director of Strategic Development Skip Kalb.

Kurt Geringer and Mark Ude are the IAMC Active members with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, which is 142^nd on the Fortune-500 list and 1^st on Fortune's list of railroad companies.

3M Announces Singapore Facility Expansion

To better serve its Asian and Pacific markets for drug delivery systems, 3M is expanding an existing operation in Singapore. A Medical News article says, "3M Drug Delivery Systems today announced the expansion of its capabilities with a new laboratory site at the 3M Singapore facility in Yishun. The Singapore lab will develop products in both the inhalation and transdermal drug delivery categories, bringing 3M’s innovative inhalers and patches to pharmaceutical customers and patients in the Asia Pacific region."

David Drewiske, Ann Orehosky and Doyle Shea are the IAMC Active members with 3M, which ranks 95^th on the Fortune-500 list.

Kaman Moving to New Location in Richfield, Wis.

To make room for its growing rubber products division, Kaman Industrial Technologies is moving from a location in Milwaukee, Wis., to a larger facility in Richfield. A Biztimes.com article explains, "A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held Tuesday [Sept. 29]. The developer for the project is Appleton-based Rollie Winter & Associates Ltd. The general contractor is Keller Inc. The new facility is expected to be complete on Jan. 31. Kaman is a distributor of industrial parts including bearings, power transmission, electrical, material handling, motion control, fluid power and accessory products to customers in a variety of industries. The company also provides services such as engineering and design support for electrical, linear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, as well as belt and rubber fabrication, reducer build, hose assemblies, custom modifications, repair services, fluid analysis and motor management."

Richard Frazier, Jr. is the IAMC Active member with Kaman Industrial Technologies.

Medtronic Opens Singapore Cardiac Device Factory

A heart pacemaker manufactured by Medtronic Source: minnesota.publicradio.org

A medical technology company that is one of the largest manufacturers of heart pacemakers, Medtronic recently expanded its operations by opening a Singapore facility. The company's Web site says "Medtronic, the global medical technology leader, held the official opening of its new offices which will oversee Medtronic's operations in Asia and internationally (Latin America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East, Australia). Medtronic also announced the establishment of a new additional manufacturing facility (Medtronic Singapore Operations or MSO) in Changi South to meet anticipated demand for cardiac devices in Asia." The note further explains, "The SGD80 million manufacturing facility in Singapore will be a state-of-the-art facility adhering to Medtronic's high quality, safety and compliance standards. The facility will produce Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) devices and production is expected to commence the beginning of 2011."

Steve Fisher is the IAMC Active member with Medtronic, which ranks 196^th on the Fortune-500 list and 1^st on Fortune's list of medical products and equipment companies.

* With each project, we provide the name(s) of the IAMC member(s) from the organization(s) involved. This is for information purposes. We are not indicating or suggesting that the member was involved in the project.