• Toshiba has started to produce electric motors for use in hybrid petrol-electric vehicles made by Ford. Initially, Toshiba will produce 2,000 motors a month for use in Ford`s Escape hybrid sports utility vehicle which is due to be launched later his year.

• Rockwell Automation is closing its PLC and HMI plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with the loss of about 115 jobs. It plans to transfer production to other plants in North America. The plant has been operating since 1993.

• Parker Hannifin has opened a $20m extension to its Chomutov factory in the Czech Republic, making it one of Parker`s biggest plants worldwide. About 370 extra people will be employed to produce hydraulic and air-conditioning components and systems, bringing the total employed on the 22,000m² site to nearly 1,000.