U.S. Manufacturing Gets an Added Boost from General Motors

2014 is off to a good start for American manufacturers, as numerous reports come out projecting a rise in production and hiring. Adding to this optimism, General Motors has announced an investment of nearly $1.3 billion to five manufacturing plants across the Midwest.

This investment will retain and create about 1,000 jobs in the region. The investment will also provide for plant upgrades, allowing the facilities to better produce new fuel- efficient engines and transmissions. The locations benefitting from this activity are in Detroit, Flint, and Romulus, Mich., Toledo, Ohio, and Bedford, Ind.

The resurgence of the General Motors brand is not only good for the automotive industry, it’s also an indicator of the overall health of the American manufacturing industry. With additional production taking place on the GM assembly lines, other companies and industries stand to benefit from related demands as well.

For example, manufacturers who build automation and conveying equipment might see increasing orders from expanding factories that need to cope with rising production requirements. Similarly, flexible packaging manufacturers can also see an up-tick from producers who need additional protective film and bags to ship products across the country and overseas. Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) packaging in particular can be very useful in protecting automotive components from damaging corrosion during warehousing and shipping.

We’re excited to see how the U.S. manufacturing landscape will continue to develop and grow in 2014. If you need additional plastic film and bags to support increasing production this year, be sure to contact General Plastic Extrusions to request a quote.

Transporting and Storing Metal Components and Equipment

Anyone who depends on metal parts for their manufacturing operations, or even in everyday life, can understand the risks of corrosion. Rust is a very common problem that can derail processing and lead to downtime. For manufacturers and retailers receiving products from overseas, or who need to warehouse products for any period of time, finding a way to reduce or eliminate the threat of corrosion is a necessity.

Now that colder weather has arrived across much of the United States, many people might not be thinking about the impacts of warm, humid conditions on metal parts and components. But in a globalized economy, you also have to think about conditions in the countries where materials are being shipped to and from.

Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) packaging is ideal for high precision machine metal applications, shipping and storage of ball bearings, and other vulnerable metal equipment components. The bags and tubes are waterproof, so a little rain or other humidity during transit and warehousing won’t impact the materials inside. Whether they are being shipped across long distances in tropical locales, or simply being stored for long periods of time until they can be used, VCI packaging can protect small metal parts and larger equipment from corrosion.

In addition, this packaging option is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, making it the perfect solution for companies that are committed to sustainability. It also leaves no powder or residue on the products being protected, so they’ll be ready-to-use as needed.

For more information on VCI products and the metal components they can protect from corrosion, feel free to download a brochure. For additional information or comments, you can contact us online.