Monday Manufacturing Round-Up

As we hit the half way point in 2014, nothing but sunny weather and optimistic feelings about the economy are in the future. An increase in focus on manufacturing education is on the up-rise as well. On to the links:

• The business section of the LA Times is expecting a substantial growth number for the second quarter. The newspaper is reporting that an increase of 3.5% for the US economy is expected for the second quarter of this year.
• The Alcoa Foundation and Discovery Education are teaming up to encourage interest in high tech, manufacturing jobs to middle, and high school students. The two have teamed up to publish a website, manufactureyourfuture.com to be a resource for teachers, parents, and students to see the potential of high skilled jobs in manufacturing.
• Manufacturing.net has the latest on a move for CAT. The company has announced that it will be shutting down three manufacturing plants in Illinois, and consolidating that work to a plant in the upper peninsula of Michigan.
• For those interested in additive manufacturing, Makerbot is issuing a Mars Base Challenge. The manufacturer of the popular 3-d printer is running a contest to see who can come up with, and print out the best idea for a theoretical base on Mars.

That it for this week’s links. Here’s to a productive start to your week.