USA and Canada

The US Air Force C-130 aircraft fleet is to be retro-fitted with carbon brakes and boltless wheels to enhance performance, reduce weight and simplify maintenance procedures.

After completing its development, qualification and flight test processes, Goodrich Corporation has now received a production contract from Defense Logistics Agency Aviation to supply over 1,600 carbon brakes and over 1,400 boltless wheels with deliveries scheduled to commence in October 2011.

Pennsylvania furniture maker Knoll, Inc. today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

General contractor American Bridge Company, has awarded a $13 million contract for steel grid decking and galvanized drainage grating for the Walt Whitman Bridge Suspension Span & Anchorages Project to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based LB Foster Company.

Aker Solutions has completed the sale of the principal operations of its Process and Construction business area to Jacobs Engineering Group, one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional and construction services.

Aker Solutions, a global oil services company providing engineering and construction services, technologies, product solutions and field-life solutions for the upstream oil and gas industry, intends to concentrate its future strategic efforts on its core oil and gas business.

Two sets of figures released recently indicate that the US economy is continuing to recover from the recession.

A solid 3.2 percent annualized growth rate for GDP in Q4, up from 2.6 percent in Q3, rounded off the US economy's best year for five years in 2010, expanding 2.9 percent over the year as a whole.

With Ford having released its 2010 results last week, today Chrysler Group issued preliminary results for its fourth quarter and total year 2010.

In Q4 2010, net revenues decreased 2.3 percent to $10,763 million, as compared to Q3 2010, primarily due to reduced shipment volumes as the company launched production of 11 new vehicles. Total year 2010 net revenues were $41,946 million, in line with full year 2010 guidance.

Ford Motor Company today reported 2010 net income of $6.6 billion, a $3.8 billion increase from a year ago and its highest profit in more than ten years.

The company said strong products and new investments had fueled improvements in all of its business operations around the world.

Honeywell today announced its intention to sell its automotive Consumer Products Group business private investment firm Rank Group, in a cash transaction valued at approximately $950 million.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011 subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

The CPG business, headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut, has more than 2,000 employees producing four consumer automotive brands: FRAM® filters, Prestone® antifreeze, Autolite® spark plugs, and Holts® car care products.

Magna International Inc., the world's most diverse automotive parts supplier, announced today the development of a new state-of-the-art facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

The announcement followed a meeting between Don Walker, CEO of Magna, and the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The facility will be a division of Cosma International, an operating unit of Magna International Inc. and a leading global automotive body and chassis system supplier.

After a poor 2009, and despite making another loss, Harley-Davidson has reported encouraging results for year ending 31 December 2010.

After losing $218 million in 2009, the iconic motorcycle maker reported a loss from continuing operations of $42.1 million last year, including a one-off early loan repayment of $85.2 million during the fourth quarter, without which it would have turned in a healthy profit.