Jeep Layoffs, Driverless Car Problems & Mexico City Is Sinking | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 16

Also on the podcast, tragic industrial accident at Purple Mattress, Ecolab closes a factory, airplane flies on cooking oil, China's swaying skyscraper and a unknown Nikola Tesla design rivals modern technology.

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the podcast.

Welcome to the Today in Manufacturing Podcast, a new podcast brought to you by the editors from Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN).

In each episode, we discuss the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week, we talk about:

Pandemic Claims Another Manufacturer

Ecolab manufactures infection prevention solutions to more than 40 industries — everything from food processing plants to hospitals. This week, the St. Paul, Minnesota-based company announced plans to shutter its plant in Columbus, Mississippi.

Autonomous Van Rescued After Traffic Cone-Induced Meltdown

A Waymo One driverless van recently panicked when it encountered some traffic cones. The technology still has some gaps. 

Mexico City is Sinking

Geologists think areas of the world’s second largest city could sink as much as 100 feet over the next 150 years.

Employee Dies in Accident at Mattress Factory

Anita Irene Coester was a 51-year-old maintenance worker at Purple Mattress in Grantsville, Utah. On May 13th, she was injured while performing a repair and died as a result of her injuries.

1,600 Layoffs Coming to Jeep Plant

The fallout from the global computer chip shortage continues. Jeep is one of Stellantis's top-selling brands. Despite their popularity, 1,641 workers making Jeep Cherokees in Belvidere, IL could lose their jobs. 

In Case You Missed It:

Shaking 1,000-Foot Skyscraper Evacuated

A 70-story skyscraper in the southern Chinese tech center of Shenzhen was evacuated after it began swaying.

Nikola Tesla's Valve Could Have Applications Today

Nikola Tesla invented the valvular conduit about 100 years ago, but researchers from New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences found that the valve is not only more functional than previously realized, but has potential applications today. 

First Long-Haul Flight with Eco-Fuel

The plane is using petroleum mixed with a synthetic jet fuel made from waste cooking oils.

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