Bulletin 436 - Friday, September 4, 2009

Mexico City,- Volkswagen de Mexico (VW) is making changes in its Puebla Plant to assemble a new vehicle as of 2010. It is a 3-door medium size sedan, which will be officially launched in the summer of 2010, Israel Victoria, VW Communications Manager, informed. To assemble this vehicle, VW invested one billion US Dollars to build the new west wing of Puebla Plant and purchase tools. The Plant's expansion will allow increasing daily production capacity by 300 units, to reach 2 thousand 100 units per day. US$410 million are being invested in the Plant's expansion and the remainder will be spent in tools used by suppliers to manufacture the vehicle's parts", VW informed.

Source: El Diario

Baja California offers fertile territory for the successful development of innovative companies such as Honeywell international, a global leader in the development of business activities within the aerospace industry. This became clear during the meeting held by Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, Baja California State Governor and Honeywell International president and CEO , David Cote, in the Honeywell's Headquarters Offices. The meeting is part of the retention - investment strategy and the objective was to recognize Honeywell Aerospace significant development in Baja California,committed to enhance the generation of value-added jobs that meet the demands of the Aerospace Industry and the future expansion of the Honeywell MRTC (Mexicali Research & Technology Center) in Baja California. During this meeting The State Government of Baja California was recognized for lobbying and supporting Honeywell's efforts to apply for the Innovation Fund of CONACYT being able to extend the project for the Airbus 350 in Mexicali representing an investment of 32.5 billion dollars and generating 80 new high-skilled jobs. In addition the company purchased adjacent land for future projects. The meeting was also attended by, Sean O'Hollaren/ Vice President of Government Relations at Honeywell,; Lauren Scheurer/ Government Relations Office-Honeywell International, Antonio Ortiz Mena/Head of Economic Affairs-Embassy of Mexico in Washington, as well as Eugenio Lagar -de/Undersecretary of Economic Promotion, Manuel Rubio/President of the Industrial Development Commission of Mexicali and Rodolfo Nelson/President of Grupo Nelson.

Source: Consulado de México en Toronto

"The Boeing board of directors and I appreciate Scott's long record of accomplishment across many disciplines, functions, and businesses and the enduring contributions he has made to Boeing through 38 years of service," said McNerney. "Thanks to his leadership and operational experience, Boeing Commercial Airplanes has performed extremely well in a tough business environment and remains positioned solidly for continued market success." McNerney said that Carson and Albaugh will work together to ensure a smooth transition of customer and other business relationships, and that Carson will also assist on special projects for the company through year end. Albaugh, a 34-year company veteran with extensive experience in development programs and manufacturing, has led Boeing's defense, space, and associated services businesses since 2002. Under his leadership, IDS revenue has grown from US$25 billion to an expected US$34 billion in 2009 and now accounts for roughly half of Boeing's annual sales. Prior to his most recent assignment, he led Boeing's growth in space and communications, including network-centric operations, global missile defense, combat systems, and system-of-systems technologies. He began his career with Rockwell's aerospace and defense businesses, which Boeing acquired in 1996. "Jim is a seasoned and effective aerospace executive with substantial experience leading and integrating technically complex businesses and programs from initial development through full production and delivery. His program management and engineering focus will help ensure the success of BCA's key development and production programs," McNerney said. "On top of that, as a Washington state native and the leader of more than 9,000 IDS employees working in the Puget Sound region, he is familiar with the people, issues, and programs in the area. He is the ideal leader for BCA at this time," he added. Muilenburg moves to his new position from Integrated Defense System's Global Services & Support unit, where he served as president of the US$8 billion business that provides global after-delivery support for military platforms and systems, as well as a broad array of defense and government services. Prior assignments include leadership of the Combat Systems Division and Future Combat Systems, the company's development program for the US Army. He also led the overall engineering development of Boeing's program to modernize global air traffic management systems. "Dennis is ready to step up and lead the IDS team," said McNerney. "His experience in technology integration; track record delivering large-scale programs on time and budget; and work with customers in new, developing markets will help us generate new momentum and long-term growth," he added. A replacement for Muilenburg will be named at a later date.

Source: Heidrick & Struggles

Mexico City,- NCR, a technology company, opened a new manufacturing and distribution plant in Nogales, Sonora, with a US$20 million investment during the next 3 years. "The plant will produce a complete line of recyclable thermal and conventional paper for ATM's printers", NCR informed in a press release. Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico had a 29% year-to-year drop in new investments in the first half of the year, due to the international financial crisis and lower consumption. NCR is planning to generate 300 jobs in the next three years at their plant, including management, engineering and operations positions and 255 indirect jobs in the short term. NCR, which offers technology products to financial and services institutions, currently employs 350 people in Mexico.

Source: CNN Expansion

Chihuahua, Chihuahua,-At least eight more aeronautics companies will soon establish in the State of Chihuahua with an investment over US$170 million, according to information disclosed by the Ministry of Industrial Development in its Website. With information from CNN Expansion, it says that, to begin with, two companies from Canada and the USA will start operating in 2010 with a final US$50 million investment. Neither authorities nor businessmen would give the names of the companies before operations start. The Ministry's Website states that the aeronautics cluster has three from five original equipment manufacturers established in Mexico, namely: Cessna Aircraft Company, Textron International and Hawker Beechcraft, which design, manufacture and assemble components.

Source: El Diario de Chihuahua

New York,- Whirlpool, home appliances manufacturer, announced today they will close their plant in Evansville, Indiana, which has around one thousand 100 employees, to transfer their production to Mexico in 2010. In a press release, Whirlpool would not clear out if they will create new jobs in Mexico or if they will resume production with their current labor force. They also informed they are contemplating what to do with another unit, also in Evansville, devoted to new products development, which has 300 employees. Last year Whirlpool announced they would cut down around five thousand jobs in 2009, which represents almost 7% of their 73 thousand employees.

Source: El Financiero

Mexicali, Baja California,- Condutec -a Mexican Company, based in Irapuato, Guanajuato and devoted to high density polyethylene extruction to manufacture smooth and corrugated pipes- started operations in Mexicali, Ricardo Fuentes Dominguez, General Manger, informed. Condutec products include pipes used for several purposes, such as: pressure water, drainage, storm water, water distribution, among others; and polyducts for electric wires installed by CFE Power Distribution or in housing and commercial developments which must wire utilities through pipes. Condutec is a new company in Mexicali, which started establishing here last year, actively participating in the regional market; they have hired new personnel generating an important jobs source. "We are the only plant in Mexico's northwestern region manufacturing this type of products, the closest plant is in Monterrey and there is another one north of LA, so we have come to satisfy a need in this region, covering the states of Sinaloa, Sonora, Chihuahua, Baja California and Baja California Sur, in addition we want to enter Arizona and California markets", Fuentes Dominguez assured.

Source: Siglo 21