[Sonnenwende]

Kindel furniture finds new outlet

Friday, August 31, 2007
By Mary Radigan
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- Tokyo soon will become home to the neoclassic American furniture that is the signature of Kindel Furniture Co.

In November, the first shipments of Kindel-made high-end residential furniture will take their place on the entire second floor of Sala Azabu, the largest retailer of fine furniture in the Japanese city of 12 million people.

...Through an interpreter, Hara said he likes the well-established culture and emphasis on family at Kindel. He also likes Kindel's quality and workmanship, which he discovered on past trips to the United States and the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C.

...Hara said Kindel furniture stands out over other American-made furniture and likes the idea all manufacturing is based in Grand Rapids. The company's high standards and flexibility in customer service will sit well with Sala Azabu's high end clientele, he said.

The partnership is a result of a yearlong effort by Masato Yamazaki, an economics professor at Aquinas College and an advocate for the city's economic development and international relations...

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

[magellan]

Nice work Sonnenwende. Here's another one:

X-Rite acquires Pantone for $180 million

Posted by Julia Bauer | The Grand Rapids Press August 24, 2007 10:16AM
Categories: Breaking News

KENTWOOD -- X-Rite Inc. is growing again, this time by paying $180 million to acquire Pantone Inc., a New Jersey business specializing in color reproduction.

The deal is expected to close in the fall.

Pantone posted sales of $42 million last year. It makes and markets systems for color-matching in graphic arts, fashion, home, plastics, paint and consumer markets.

The new division of X-Rite is forecast to add profits within two years, and the combined businesses are expected to save $6.5 million annually by that time.

The first year of the deal is expected to cost $5.5 million in restructuring, although X-Rite said it is keeping Pantone leadership on board.

"This iconic brand is the perfect complement to X-Rite's business," Tom Vacchiano, chief executive officer, said in today's announcement. Because it is "bringing Pantone's expertise and market position in color communication and standards to our color solutions product offerings."

X-Rite acquires Pantone for $180 million - Latest News - The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com

X-Rite: Get exactly the color you need, every time, anywhere in the world.

[magellan]

West Michigan jobs forecast upbeat
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
By Julia Bauer
The Grand Rapids Press

Employers in the Holland and Grand Rapids regions are among the most upbeat in the state, based on hiring forecasts by Manpower Inc.

While 7 percent of those surveyed in Holland forecast layoffs this fall, 38 percent expect to hire.

Around Grand Rapids, no employers forecast layoffs, and 23 percent said they expect to add jobs.

One busy spot in Grand Rapids is Pridgeon & Clay Inc., a longtime manufacturer of stamped metal parts for the auto industry. With 19 jobs listed in the help wanted ads, the company still is looking for more help.

"We're having a difficult time finding enough good workers," said Kevin Hutchings, a company spokesman.

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

Hopefully this good news continues. We still need a lot more jobs in this area to offset all the manufacturing job losses.

[suydam]

Everyone I personally know is software and web-development is employed. Firms are hiring and people are working.

Not to beat a dead horse, but Michigan's problems are industry-specific. The further you are from the auto-industry, the healthier things are.

[magellan]

Tiny IV filters mean big business
Thursday, September 13, 2007
By Julia Bauer
The Grand Rapids Press

WALKER -- When nurses from Grand Rapids to Tokyo hook up intravenous fluids to help their patients, a tiny inline filter on the tubing likely comes from West Michigan.

Today, The Tech Group celebrates a new $17.3 million plant devoted to the booming business of intravenous-line filters.

The company, formerly part of Minneapolis-based Medtronics Inc., moved from a smaller leased site in downtown Grand Rapids to an updated 111,000-square-foot plant at 3116 N. Wilson Court NW, a site formerly owned by Metokote Corp.

The expansion nearly tripled The Tech Group's local plant space and almost doubled the number of employees, from 124 to 225. Last winter, the business won tax breaks from the state and local governments, totaling nearly $3 million. The Tech Group is a subsidiary of West Pharmaceutical Services Inc.

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

[Sonnenwende]

PharmOptima expands, seeks tax break
Thursday, September 13, 2007
By Sarita Chourey
schourey@kalamazoogazette.com 388-8575

Life-sciences firm PharmOptima LLC is requesting a tax abatement on $2.8 million worth of new equipment and improvements at its facilities at 6710 and 6740 Quality Way in Portage.

The Portage City Council heard the request during its regular Tuesday-night meeting and voted to set a public hearing on the matter on Sept. 25.

PharmOptima is a contract research company that specializes in accelerating drug development. The company, which has about 30 employees, relocated from the Western Michigan University Business Technology and Research Park in June and has leased the property at 6740 Quality Way, south of the 6710 Quality Way property.

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

[Sonnenwende]

Software-maker's 1Q profit soars
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Gazette Staff Reports

Kalamazoo government-software maker Manatron Inc.'s first-quarter earnings soared 800 percent on increased profitability, the company reported this week.

Manatron's net income in the quarter ended July 31 jumped to $397,500, or 8 cents per diluted share, compared to $51,500, or 1 cent a share, a year ago.

Despite slightly lower revenues in the period, Chief Executive Officer Paul Sylvester said stronger sales of higher profit products and lower costs contributed to the strong earnings.

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

[magellan]

Merrell brands punch up bottom line
Thursday, October 04, 2007
By Julia Bauer
The Grand Rapids Press

ROCKFORD -- Those high-comfort, hot-selling Merrell shoes could be a billion-dollar deal for Wolverine World Wide Inc.

The company forecasts its total sales this year will be as high as $1.23 billion. But Merrell shoes and a new line of branded clothing could be a powerful punch to the bottom line 10 years after the company bought the business.

"We feel Merrell can be our first billion-dollar brand," said Blake Krueger, CEO and president. In a call with analysts Wednesday, Blake said distributors cover the globe in 100 countries, and Wolverine will open its first all-Merrell store at the Whistler, Canada, Olympics in 2010.

...The company also plans to hire more management talent for the group, Krueger said. The apparel line is expected to contribute 25 percent of the total billion-dollar Merrell goal.

MLive.com: Everything Michigan
(Rockford is a Northern suburb of Grand Rapids ICYWW)

But please don't move here without a job first, or you might take jobs from us "upper crusters".

[magellan]

Good job, greater Grand Rapids
Thursday, October 11, 2007

..During the 1990s (weren't those great times?), the Detroit Three were doing great because the auto market was robust. Never mind that Toyota and Honda were doing better -- the strength of the national market kept everyone in positive territory.

The true test of the strength and competitiveness of a region's economic base is when it is facing stormy national and international conditions. Can a regional economy keep its head above water where its industries are facing below-average growth?

The Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA area has.

...We know it is not due to the success of just one or two business sectors. Whatever it is, we should try to bottle it.

George Erickcek is the senior regional analyst for the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research...

MLive.com: Everything Michigan

[Cliffie]

This is great, great, great news.