MAPI quarterly report: Risks to global growth increase as U.S. economy stumbles and key countries slow
Dollar decline, U.S. export growth will continue
Monday, January 28, 2008; Mounting concerns over the U.S. economic outlook, along with evidence of slowing in other key countries, suggest that 2008 will be a volatile and uncertain year for the global economy, according to a new report.

In the MAPI Quarterly Forecast of U.S. Exports, Global Growth, and the Dollar: First Quarter 2008 Through Fourth Quarter 2009 (ER-647e), economist Cliff Waldman observes that recent housing, manufacturing, and job growth data, which indicate that the U.S. economy may have lapsed into a recession, along with the continued crisis in global credit markets, record high oil prices, and emerging global inflation, all loom as risks to the world economy.

“U.S. weakness has a negative impact on the export prospects of many key countries that depend on external demand for growth,” Waldman said.

At present, exports may, however, provide a bit of good news for the United States. During 2008 the positive impact of dollar depreciation is expected to partially offset the negative impact of slower growth. The report projects a rise in the annual growth of total U.S. goods and services exports, from 7.7 percent during 2007 to 8.7 percent during 2008, and to 9.2 percent in 2009.

Growth in non-U.S. industrialized countries, which include Canada, the Eurozone (plus Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Sweden), and Japan, is expected to slow from 2.4 percent on a compound annualized basis during the fourth quarter of 2007 to 2.2 percent during the first quarter of 2008 and then 1.9 percent for the balance of 2008. Subsequently, catalyzed by an expected improvement in the U.S. economic outlook, non-U.S. industrialized country growth is projected to accelerate to 2.0 percent for the first half of 2009 and then to 2.2 percent during the second half.

Due to expected slowdowns in China, India, and Mexico, cumulative developing country growth is expected to slow from an estimated 5.4 percent during the fourth quarter of 2007 and first half of 2008 to 5.3 percent during the second half of 2008. Further declines are anticipated in 2009, with growth slowing to 5.2 percent in the first half, 5.1 percent during the third quarter of 2009, and then 5.0 percent during the fourth quarter of 2009.

MAPI predicts that the dollar adjustment will likely continue throughout 2008.

Report author Waldman predicts that the dollar will decline by 8 percent on a compound annual basis against the currencies of industrialized trading partners during the first quarter of 2008 and then by 5 percent during each of the subsequent three quarters.

Against the currencies of the developing countries, MAPI forecasts a decline of 6 percent during the first quarter of 2008, 10 percent during each of the middle two quarters, and then 5 percent during the fourth quarter.

“U.S. economic troubles and a rebalancing of global current accounts will place downward pressure on the dollar throughout 2008,” Waldman said.

For more information, visit the Web site: www.mapi.net.

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PROTOTYP – NEW thread mill catalog
PROTOTYP announces a new Threading Tools ANSI & DIN range catalog. The 272 page catalog covers the entire ANSI threading program and solid carbide thread mill range along with a selection of Prototyp’s most popular DIN items. The catalog has been completely restructured to provide the user the utmost of ease in selecting the right product.

The PROTOTYP Threading Tools ANSI & DIN Range catalog part# 5CP0003US can be ordered through our Customer Service Dept. at 1-800-945-5554.

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Miller offers rebates on select Millermatic MIG welders/Spoolmate spool gun purchases
Offer runs from January 15 through April 15, 2008
Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is offering rebates of up to $150 to customers who purchase select Millermatic all-in-one MIG welders and Spoolmate spool guns between January 15 and April 15, 2008. The promotion is designed to call attention to new, affordable aluminum welding solutions, such as the Miller Spoolmate 100 Series and Spoolmate 3035 spool guns, and new Millermatic Passport Plus and Millermatic 180 with Auto-Set MIG welders. Complete rebate details can be found at your local welding distributor or by visiting MillerWelds.com/rebate.

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Rubbermaid Commercial Products named vendor of the year
Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), the leader in durable facility maintenance solutions, recently received recognition as Vendor of the Year by Paper Products Company, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A leading distributor of paper and janitorial products, Paper Product Company’s vice president, Doug Townshend, credited Rubbermaid’s hands-on sales support, product innovation, product training programs, market strategy and true partnership values as the factors that led to their selection of RCP as their 2007 Vendor of the Year.

“What started as a simple planning meeting in 2006 has developed into a collaborative partnership that not many manufacturers have the opportunity to experience. Receiving the Vendor of the Year recognition is an honor,” said Jason Cianciolo, Mid-Atlantic regional sales manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “This award is a great indication of what we are doing right in the field and we look forward to our continued success together.”

About Paper Products Company, Inc.: Founded in 1913, Paper Products Company, Inc. is an independent, family-owned wholesale paper distributor servicing the industrial packaging, sanitary maintenance and institutional foodservice market.

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New ARC advisory report examines oil and gas industry trends; highlights strategies to improve business performance
A new report from ARC Advisory Group examines the oil and gas industry, focusing on strategies needed to improve reliability, flexibility, agility, uptime and machine safety. Titled “Rockwell Automation Builds a Business Value Proposition for the Oil and Gas Industry,” the report summarizes the technology necessary to produce tangible business value. The report targets major trends within the oil and gas industry including those related to remote operations, supply-chain integration, space conservation and energy efficiency. ARC cites that real business value propositions in the oil and gas industry fall into three fundamental areas: increased flexibility and agility, enhanced safety, and increased reliability and data availability.

A free copy of the report is available at http://www.rockwellautomation.com/industries/oilgas/.

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ASSE webinar on January 16 focuses on working with the NFPA
In an effort to provide real-time educational tools for safety professionals, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will be host to two technical webinars.

The first, titled “Working with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code,” will be held on January 16 from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CST. The second, on February 27 at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CST is, “Lean Six Sigma - Innovative Safety Management.”

A special two-part webinar titled “The Coming Workplace Shortage Crisis: Exploring the Future of Workers’ Compensation” will take place on January 30 and again on February 6 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST.

To register, go to www.asse.org or contact the ASSE Customer Service Department at 847-699-2929.

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Rubbermaid Commercial Products employees reach three million hours without a lost-time injury
The employees of Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) in Winchester, Virginia, have reached a new three million hour safety milestone. According to Trevor Rohlf, safety manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products, the significance of the three million hour milestone cannot be overstated. “Achieving three million employee hours without experiencing a lost-time injury is a huge accomplishment and of great significance to our employees and their families,” explained Rohlf. “We’ll enjoy celebrating this achievement.”

“Achieving a milestone of this magnitude is a reflection of our leadership and employee commitment to safety,” said Jeff Bahr, vice president of human resources for Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “It shows that RCP employees take pride in their work and know how to work smarter, by working safer, and that RCP is a good place to work.”

For details, visit www.rcpworksmarter.com.

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Trucktruth.com announces FleetSmart seminar on February 15, 2008
Event created to inform material handling equipment owners of the advantages of fleet management

Trucktruth.com, an online resource for lift truck manufacturers, buyers, operators and dealers, announces FleetSmart Seminar 2008. The invitation-only event, which will be held on Feb. 15, 2008 in Rosemont, Ill., was created to educate material handling equipment owners and inform them of proper fleet management practices. The seminar will focus mainly on opportunities to reduce operating expenses and improve productivity in material handling operations.

Several experts in fleet management, telemetry and RFID will lead the free seminar, which will cover the basic principles of fleet management, a review of aftermarket technologies, fleet management system reporting capabilities and technology-based products to further minimize cost of operations. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view several products with advanced technology and speak one-on-one with fleet management professionals.

Another topic that will be discussed at the seminar is the Hyster “Power by the Hour” concept. The Hyster fleet management program offers a fixed “per hour” charge for services, as opposed to a blanket cost that can lead to unnecessary maintenance and charges. This affordable program also offers Web-based access, pager technology, e-mail service reminders, online reports and other features to help effectively operate and maintain material handling equipment.

Rosemont marks the first of many FleetSmart Seminar dates stretching into 2008, with stops tentatively scheduled for Boston, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Atlanta. Specific information for each location will be announced as it becomes available. To learn more about the events, visit trucktruth.com. Trucktruth.com has information on effective fleet management, as well as articles, white papers and extensive data for anyone looking to optimize their lift truck investment.

To submit news, questions or information, please contact the editor of trucktruth.com by phone at 919-945-0533 or by e-mail at editor@trucktruth.com.

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Mayhew to acquire Ken-Tool OldForge and Carica lines
Mayhew Steel Products and Ken-Tool announce that Mayhew will acquire Ken-Tool’s OldForge and Carica product lines within the next few weeks. The transaction includes Ken-Tool’s manufacturing facility in New Wilmington, PA, plus trademark rights to the Oldforge and Carica brands and all products currently being manufactured and marketed by Ken-Tool under those brands. The Oldforge product line consists of pneumatic accessories and specialty tools and the Carica product line consists of telescoping and unique specialty tools.

Established in 1856, Mayhew Tools is the world’s leading manufacturer of professional quality punches, chisels, pry bars and specialty automotive tools. With facilities in Turners Falls and Shelburne Falls, MA, Mayhew Tools is a key OEM and Distributor supplier to the Automotive, Industrial, Construction and Hardware Markets. Bill Fletcher, Vice President Sales & Marketing said, “This is an outstanding opportunity for Mayhew to both expand our product offering to our established account base and to introduce the complete line of Mayhew Tools to a host of new accounts.”

Ken-Tool is the world’s leading manufacturer of hand tools for tire service. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Ken-Tool has been providing the tire industry and automotive aftermarket with quality products for over 85 years.

For more information, visit www.mayhew.com.

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Surplustrack.com offers online market for surplus equipment
SurplusTrack.com has launched version 3.0 of its online industrial exchange community, which helps businesses buy and sell surplus industrial inventory and equipment. The improvements to the Web site (www.SurplusTrack.com) include a completely redesigned user interface, more robust search capabilities powered by Google, and PayPal online payment technology.

SurplusTrack.com provides a cost-effective medium through which companies possessing excess supply and non-performing inventory can globally and virtually connect with industrial and commercial trading partners. The concept has resonated within the industry. SurplusTrack.com tripled its revenue in the past year and plans to continue adding to its staff of professionals. The company is a division of Ann Arbor, Mich.-based supply chain solutions provider SmartMRO.

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SME streaming video offered free and on demand
METV, The Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ Web streaming video channel now webcasts two complete video programs online each month for free and on demand.

Each month's METV offerings correspond with the topics covered in SME’s Manufacturing Engineering magazine and can be viewed at www.manufacturingengineering.tv.

  METV's 2008 Lineup

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ASSE 2008 Conference is set for June 9-12 in Las Vegas
The American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Professional Development Conference (PDC) and Exposition, Safety 2008, featuring more than 200 educational sessions, key speakers, safety issue roundtables, an executive summit and additional learning opportunities, will be held June 9-12, 2008, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The sessions at Safety 2008 will feature presentations on organization successes, the latest safety methodologies and provide business examples and strategies aimed at increasing job safety that attendees can apply immediately in their workplace. Sessions, presented by experts in their field, will include topics on safety management, healthcare, emergency response, fire protection, ergonomics, international safety and health, regulatory issues, construction, mining and technical and engineering standards.

In addition, Safety 2008 will feature key issue roundtables enabling interactive discussions for attendees on a variety of topics. Also, a panel of corporate leaders will discuss their views on the importance of employee safety and health, business expectations and the safety and health function from a corporate perspective during the executive summit.

Registration information for Safety 2008 can be found at http://www.safety2008.org or by contacting ASSE customer service at 847-699-2929.

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Kepware names Software Toolbox as their Wonderware "Center of Excellence"
PORTLAND, ME-- December 30, 2007 - Kepware, the world leader in communication software for automation, announces expansion of their relationship with long standing partner Software Toolbox, the world leader in 3rd party add-in software for Wonderware products, by naming Software Toolbox as their official "Center of Excellence" for supporting and promoting the use of Kepware OPC technology and native interfaces with Wonderware products. Software Toolbox has marketed and supported the TOP (Toolbox OPC Power) Server OPC & I/O Server, a branded version of the KEPServerEX, to their global customer base, with a specific focus on Wonderware distribution channels, users, integrators and OEMs. The "Center of Excellence" endorsement is designed to clearly let the market know how Kepware and Software Toolbox serve users of Wonderware with Kepware's OPC technology and Software Toolbox's Wonderware focused expertise and support. To prevent confusion of TOP Server and KEPServerEX as competing solutions, the TOP Server branding will now include the tagline "Powered by Kepware."

The TOP Server OPC & I/O Server incorporates the latest generation of Kepware's OPC server technology and allows users to quickly setup communications from equipment to control systems using a wide range of available "plug-in" device drivers and components. Software Toolbox has marketed and provided technical support for Kepware Technologies products since 1996, forming a partnership with Kepware in 2001, and creating the TOP Server brand to grow the presence of Kepware's technology in the Wonderware space. Software Toolbox, working with the global Wonderware distribution channel, has installed thousands of licenses with Wonderware InTouch, InSQL/Historian, and System Platform/Application Server, including major Wonderware users such as SAB Miller, Campbell Soup, Chevron/Texaco, Dow, and more. Software Toolbox's support of Wonderware includes application notes, videos, training, and a technical support team focused on the application of Kepware products with Wonderware software products.

Go to http://www.kepware.com for more information.

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Vaughan Mfg. Co. appoints 5th generation as President
Hebron, IL – The Board of Directors of Vaughan & Bushnell Mfg. Co. have appointed Charles Vaughan as President/COO, effective January 1. Charlie, 36, is 5th generation Vaughan to be named president. Howard A. Vaughan Jr., president of Vaughan for over 40 years, will remain Chairman/CEO.

Founded in 1869, Vaughan & Bushnell has grown from a small maker of hand tools to one of the largest producers of quality hammers and other hand tools. Vaughan products are distributed worldwide to a variety of markets covering both the professional trades person and the D-I-Y user.

For more information contact Vaughan Manufacturing Company, P.O. Box 390 Hebron, IL 60034-0390 or via email at info@vaughanmfg.com. For additional information on Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing Co. visit www.vaughanmfg.com.

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