Manufacturing

Nissan Canada today announced a list of 27 retailers selected to sell, support and service the all-electric Nissan LEAF in Canada.

The selected retailers have passed a rigorous certification process, have modified their sales and service departments and undergone specialized training to provide the unique vehicle service required, in time for the Nissan LEAF launch in the Canadian market.

Israeli food flavourings company Frutarom Industries has acquired UK-based Aromco for £15 million, it has been announced.

The transaction is Frutarom’s fourth acquisition of a flavour company since the beginning of 2011.

Hertfordshire-based Aromco develops, manufactures and markets flavours for the beverage, dairy, confectionary, bakery and savoury markets. The company had sales of £7.7 million in 2010.

The Hadley Group is the UK’s largest manufacturer of cold rolled steel sections; and its operations in Dubai give it access to the high-growth economies in the east, an opportunity it is seizing with both hands.

Godfrey Phillips India is one of the largest players in the Indian cigarette industry, with an annual turnover of over Rs 3000 crore, or $620 million. Incorporated in 1936, the company has two major shareholders: the KK Modi Group, which holds the largest share, and the American tobacco giant Philip Morris.

Deere & Company, Illinois based manufacturer of John Deere agricultural and construction equipment, has reported earnings of $712 million for Q3 2011.

After a broad-based improvement reflecting higher results from all divisions, income rose 15 percent for the quarter ending 31 July as a healthy global farm sector continues to support the company’s performance.

For the first nine months of the year, net income was $2.130 billion, compared with $1.408 billion last year.

Blount International has announced an agreement to acquire agriculture and construction equipment manufacturer Woods Equipment Company for approximately $185 million in cash.

"The acquisition of Woods significantly increases the scale of our farm, ranch, and agriculture business," said Josh Collins, Blount's chairman and chief executive officer.

Canadian engineering and construction group SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a contract by Emirates Aluminium Company (EMAL) for phase II of its smelter in Al Taweelah in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The contract involves the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services for a new aluminium smelter, including a 1,000 MW power plant and a 1.7 km-long potline, the longest ever built.

The first new aluminium smelter to be built in the Arabian Gulf in 25 years has become a catalyst for industrial growth in the region, helping to make Oman an attractive destination for multinationals to locate facilities.

David Falzani, CEO of business consultancy Polaris Associates and president of the Sainsbury Management Fellowship, says engineers need to get a taste for marketing.

When the opportunity came along to develop a local crisp I jumped at the chance. The client, Quex Foods, manages 2,000 acres in Kent. After years of supplying the multiples, they wanted higher value-add products and suspected that crisps could do the trick.

After almost 115 years in business, Godrej Industries has an excellent track record in ethical behaviour. Managing director Nadir Godrej explains to Gay Sutton how good labour relations and environmental best practice have helped to promote growth.

The last 10 years have witnessed an incredible blossoming in the Indian economy, and one of the companies playing a key role in promoting India as a producer of quality chemical products is Godrej Industries, part of the Godrej Group.