Viewpoints

New orders received by U.S. factories rose in October as demand for motor vehicles helped to offset a slump in defense and civilian aircraft orders, a hopeful sign for the manufacturing sector.

Koss Corp., the Milwaukee-based high fidelity stereophone manufacturer, announced today it has formed a promotional partnership with Olympic downhill skier Julia Mancuso.

McDermott Cue Mfg. LLC, a leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of pool cues, announced it has moved to a new plant and showroom in Menomonee Falls at N84 W13660 Leon Road.

Jim Lenahan, chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based Ludman Industries, has been elected as president of the board of directors of the Milwaukee chapter of Legatus, a network of Catholic business executives and their spouses.

Veteran business lobbyist Scott Manley has been named vice president of government relations for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), the state's chamber of commerce and largest business association.

Congress has approved legislation establishing a uniform energy efficiency descriptor that applies to all residential water heaters sold in the United States.

Erik Buell Racing LLC in East Troy will receive inventory financing from GE Capital's Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF) to help it build a motorcycle dealer network.

Paul Jones, chairman and CEO of A.O. Smith Corp. in Milwaukee, will serve as the Wisconsin Chair in the new Tri State Alliance for Regional Development.

Milwaukee Brewing Company has announced it will install a solar hot water system at its Walker’s Point brewery. The 28-panel system will pre-heat water before it is used for brewing.

In mid-November, the International Energy Agency forecasted that “extraordinary growth in oil and natural gas output in the United States will mean that…the United States becomes a net exporter of natural gas by 2020 and is almost self-sufficient in energy, in net terms, by 2035.”