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The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) has launched a newly redesigned website at www.ptda.org. The organization says the new website is cleaner and easier to navigate than ever before. Powerful search tools make it easier for users to find relevant industry information and to locate distributors and manufacturers throughout North America and beyond. A fresh, mobile-friendly design makes the site accessible for those on the go as the new site displays well whether users are on tablets, cell phones or desktops. In addition, the site offers loads of industry-specific content. While some of it is accessible only to members, much…

BROOKS, Alta. — The Alberta town most affected by the XL Foods Inc. beef recall and E. coli scare is still struggling from the temporary shut down of the meat plant. Community groups say people in and around Brooks who work at the region’s largest employer still haven’t recovered financially after being out of work for weeks. About 66 people are using the Brooks Food Bank each day. Gwen Cameron, the charity’s manager, says that is down from 177 people per day when the facility was completely closed last month, but still up substantially from the number of people who…

A startling number of workers may be putting their health at risk by not practicing good hand hygiene. When asked about their specific handwashing habits, a vast majority of adults (71%) say they regularly wash their hands, but that number may be grossly exaggerated. Nearly six in ten (58%) admit that they have witnessed others leaving a public restroom without washing their hands. More than a third (35%) have witnessed co-workers leaving facilities without washing, and one in five consumers surveyed (20%) have witnessed restaurant employees not washing their hands at all. The worst offenders seem to be men by…

The power transmission/motion control industry expanded in the third quarter of 2012 for the 10 consecutive quarter, but at a slower pace compared with the second quarter of the year. The 3Q12 PTDA Business Index produced a reading of 50.3, which represents a deceleration from the 2Q12 reading of 54.2. Both distributors and manufacturers in Canada and the U.S. reported decelerated sales growth compared with the last quarter. On average, sales rose 5 per cent in 3Q12, down from the 7 per cent growth seen in 2Q12. Distributor sales growth grew 5 per cent in 3Q12 down from 6 percent…

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) has launched one of the first pathways in North America to allow certified tradespeople the opportunity to move directly from a trades certificate to the third year of a degree program. The pioneering Trades to Degrees pathway is a response to workforce demand for tradespeople with managerial, leadership and entrepreneurial skills. “Trades to Degrees will be transformative,” said Glenn Feltham, NAIT president and CEO, in a statement. “By providing a direct pathway from trades certification to a degree, we’re acknowledging the work experience and post-secondary education that led to certification. The pathway recognizes…

VALCOURT, Que. — A special fund will be created to help the families of victims in a plant explosion last week that killed at least one employee, sent 19 to hospital and flattened an industrial facility. The company that owns the plant, Neptune Technologies & Bioressources, announced its plan to set up the fund Monday. It said the fund would pay for psychological help and offer financial assistance to families of workers who were killed or remained in hospital. It did not disclose financial amounts Monday but said more details would be released soon. “There are few, or no, words…

Manufacturing sales posted a small gain in September, boosted by the aerospace industry, even as the Canadian economy faced increased headwinds. Statistics Canada said Thursday manufacturing sales rose 0.4 per cent in September to $49.8 billion, ahead of economists’ expectations of a gain of 0.3 per cent. “The gain reflected higher production in the aerospace product and parts industry and increased sales of primary metals,” the agency said. However, excluding the aerospace sector, which climbed 43 per cent to $1.8 billion, total manufacturing sales slipped 0.7 per cent due to declines in the motor vehicle assembly industry. The overall gain…