A CLARIFICATION: The June 21 hearing in United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana in the case of SFI Foundation Inc. vs. Impact Racing LLC, kept SFI from terminating SFI’s Contracts of Participation until Impact officials have afforded Impact with “some meaningful opportunity to be heard either in writing or by personal appearance.” The hearing had nothing to do with the certification of products. Products in question manufactured by Impact in 2009 and 2010 were certified April 1.

WHAT CURSE?: Will Power put an end to the “Penske Curse” at Watkins Glen (New York) International Sunday, giving car owner Roger Penske his first IZOD IndyCar Series triumph at the historic facility.

NOMINEES: The NASCAR Hall of Fame has revealed the 25 nominees for the 2011 class, of which 20 are repeats from 2010. The five new nominees are T. Wayne Robertson, Jack Ingram, Jerry Cook, Fred Lorenzen and Dale Inman.

NEW HORSEPOWER: Earnhardt Childress Racing Engines has worked out an agreement to supply engines to the No. 99 Gainsco Daytona Prototype Grand Am Rolex Series team.

POSTPONED: The USAC K&N Silver Crown Series race scheduled for July 8 (Thursday) at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana, was postponed because of scheduling conflicts. A reschedule date will be announced later.

PENNSYLVANIA BOSS: For the second-straight year Greg Hodnett claimed the eight-race Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek crown.

REPAVING BEGINS: Daytona International Speedway officials began tearing up the old asphalt at the 2.5-mile oval immediately after Saturday’s Coke Zero 400, which was won by Kevin Harvick. The track will be completely repaved in time for the 2011 Daytona 500.

CHANGES: IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said last weekend that there will be several changes to the 2011 series schedule. One confirmed change is that Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway will no longer host the season finale.

STICKING AROUND: Ryan Hunter-Reay and Andretti Autosport have collected enough sponsorship dollars to keep Hunter-Reay in the No. 37 entry for the rest of the IZOD IndyCar Series season.

HONORABLE TRIBUTE: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the No. 3 Wrangler-sponsored Chevrolet in honor of his late father, drove to victory Friday during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

A CLARIFICATION: The June 21 hearing in United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana in the case of SFI Foundation Inc. vs. Impact Racing LLC, kept SFI from terminating SFI’s Contracts of Participation until Impact officials have afforded Impact with “some meaningful opportunity to be heard either in writing or by personal appearance.” The hearing had nothing to do with the certification of products. Products in question manufactured by Impact in 2009 and 2010 were certified April 1.

WHAT CURSE?: Will Power put an end to the “Penske Curse” at Watkins Glen (New York) International Sunday, giving car owner Roger Penske his first IZOD IndyCar Series triumph at the historic facility.

NOMINEES: The NASCAR Hall of Fame has revealed the 25 nominees for the 2011 class, of which 20 are repeats from 2010. The five new nominees are T. Wayne Robertson, Jack Ingram, Jerry Cook, Fred Lorenzen and Dale Inman.

NEW HORSEPOWER: Earnhardt Childress Racing Engines has worked out an agreement to supply engines to the No. 99 Gainsco Daytona Prototype Grand Am Rolex Series team.

POSTPONED: The USAC K&N Silver Crown Series race scheduled for July 8 (Thursday) at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana, was postponed because of scheduling conflicts. A reschedule date will be announced later.

PENNSYLVANIA BOSS: For the second-straight year Greg Hodnett claimed the eight-race Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek crown.

REPAVING BEGINS: Daytona International Speedway officials began tearing up the old asphalt at the 2.5-mile oval immediately after Saturday’s Coke Zero 400, which was won by Kevin Harvick. The track will be completely repaved in time for the 2011 Daytona 500.

CHANGES: IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said last weekend that there will be several changes to the 2011 series schedule. One confirmed change is that Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway will no longer host the season finale.

STICKING AROUND: Ryan Hunter-Reay and Andretti Autosport have collected enough sponsorship dollars to keep Hunter-Reay in the No. 37 entry for the rest of the IZOD IndyCar Series season.

HONORABLE TRIBUTE: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the No. 3 Wrangler-sponsored Chevrolet in honor of his late father, drove to victory Friday during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

A CLARIFICATION: The June 21 hearing in United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana in the case of SFI Foundation Inc. vs. Impact Racing LLC, kept SFI from terminating SFI’s Contracts of Participation until Impact officials have afforded Impact with “some meaningful opportunity to be heard either in writing or by personal appearance.” The hearing had nothing to do with the certification of products. Products in question manufactured by Impact in 2009 and 2010 were certified April 1.

WHAT CURSE?: Will Power put an end to the “Penske Curse” at Watkins Glen (New York) International Sunday, giving car owner Roger Penske his first IZOD IndyCar Series triumph at the historic facility.

NOMINEES: The NASCAR Hall of Fame has revealed the 25 nominees for the 2011 class, of which 20 are repeats from 2010. The five new nominees are T. Wayne Robertson, Jack Ingram, Jerry Cook, Fred Lorenzen and Dale Inman.

NEW HORSEPOWER: Earnhardt Childress Racing Engines has worked out an agreement to supply engines to the No. 99 Gainsco Daytona Prototype Grand Am Rolex Series team.

POSTPONED: The USAC K&N Silver Crown Series race scheduled for July 8 (Thursday) at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana, was postponed because of scheduling conflicts. A reschedule date will be announced later.

PENNSYLVANIA BOSS: For the second-straight year Greg Hodnett claimed the eight-race Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek crown.

REPAVING BEGINS: Daytona International Speedway officials began tearing up the old asphalt at the 2.5-mile oval immediately after Saturday’s Coke Zero 400, which was won by Kevin Harvick. The track will be completely repaved in time for the 2011 Daytona 500.

CHANGES: IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said last weekend that there will be several changes to the 2011 series schedule. One confirmed change is that Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway will no longer host the season finale.

STICKING AROUND: Ryan Hunter-Reay and Andretti Autosport have collected enough sponsorship dollars to keep Hunter-Reay in the No. 37 entry for the rest of the IZOD IndyCar Series season.

HONORABLE TRIBUTE: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the No. 3 Wrangler-sponsored Chevrolet in honor of his late father, drove to victory Friday during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

	Businesses, including specialty-equipment manufacturers, are feeling confident enough in economic recovery to begin investing in machinery and equipment again.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand.

3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels, while engine manufacturer Cummins plans to spend an additional $400 million this year, up 30% from 2009, to meet demand from rising truck sales in China and India, and for its fuel-injection and emissions-control systems. Analysts attribute the increases documented in the Commerce Department report to more available credit, as well as businesses balancing the risks of being left behind during a recovery with prudent financial practices.

Large enterprises aren’t the only ones investing in manufacturing. Some specialty-equipment companies are also building out in anticipation or reaction to demand. ARB 4x4 Accessories, an Australian manufacturer of differential lockers, suspension, racks, bars and other off-road equipment, is adding infrastructure due to rising worldwide demand.

“We’re buying new machinery, we’re hiring and we’re having a hard time keeping up with worldwide demand,” says ARB President Jim Jackson. The company’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle is responsible for sales in the Americas, which Jackson says was down 9% last year.

“But the last six months, it’s like someone flipped a switch here in North America,” Jackson adds. “Australia and the rest of the world [market] is growing. We had 25% growth worldwide last year.”

Jackson notes that the company’s heavy-duty suspensions for Toyota, Jeep and Nissan trucks have also created demand in rugged war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Grant Products, maker of specialty steering wheels, is also ramping up for increased demand. Rich Barsamian, vice-president of sales, says the company has been acquiring new machinery to speed production and product to market. Grant plans to boost capital spending by about 9.5% for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"This is based on us seeing an increase in business and bringing new airbag replacement steering wheels to market rapidly," Barsamian says. "We have a 7% increase over what we budgeted for incoming orders."

Barsamian adds that Grant is also in the process of buying companies that will help build its core business and access to OEM partnerships, company leadership is playing it conservative.

"We do think there will be a second round of recession," he says. "How bad it will be is anyone's guess. We haven't seen an increase in credit in the last six to eight months, and seems it's still pretty tight."

Todd Gartshore, Baer Brakes vice-president of marketing, says his company is approaching any signs of recovery cautiously, despite an already heavy investment in new equipment.

“We’ve significantly added to our machine capability over the last four years as an initiative to become self-sufficient and manufacture more than 90% of our own calipers by 2010,” Gartshore says. Baer has achieved about 75% of that goal and expects to reach it by 2012.

Gartshore adds, however, that he doesn’t see anything in the near-term that inspires great hope for his company. He says Baer plans to “entrench” and begin focusing investment in R&D and new product, “to be positioned to grow our market share when a cyclic improvement does come."

High-end racing and custom car builder markets are two bright growth areas, Gartshore says, adding that autocross racing at Goodguys events and track days are encouraging enthusiasts to go beyond the quarter-mile.

“This makes our segment in braking and handling more relevant,” he notes.

To contain costs, Gartshore says Baer “continues to look for creative solutions within U.S. manufacturing companies to bring iron castings and other forms of industry lost to China over the last 15 years back home." —Dan Frio

	Businesses, including specialty-equipment manufacturers, are feeling confident enough in economic recovery to begin investing in machinery and equipment again.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand.

3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels, while engine manufacturer Cummins plans to spend an additional $400 million this year, up 30% from 2009, to meet demand from rising truck sales in China and India, and for its fuel-injection and emissions-control systems. Analysts attribute the increases documented in the Commerce Department report to more available credit, as well as businesses balancing the risks of being left behind during a recovery with prudent financial practices.

Large enterprises aren’t the only ones investing in manufacturing. Some specialty-equipment companies are also building out in anticipation or reaction to demand. ARB 4x4 Accessories, an Australian manufacturer of differential lockers, suspension, racks, bars and other off-road equipment, is adding infrastructure due to rising worldwide demand.

“We’re buying new machinery, we’re hiring and we’re having a hard time keeping up with worldwide demand,” says ARB President Jim Jackson. The company’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle is responsible for sales in the Americas, which Jackson says was down 9% last year.

“But the last six months, it’s like someone flipped a switch here in North America,” Jackson adds. “Australia and the rest of the world [market] is growing. We had 25% growth worldwide last year.”

Jackson notes that the company’s heavy-duty suspensions for Toyota, Jeep and Nissan trucks have also created demand in rugged war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Grant Products, maker of specialty steering wheels, is also ramping up for increased demand. Rich Barsamian, vice-president of sales, says the company has been acquiring new machinery to speed production and product to market. Grant plans to boost capital spending by about 9.5% for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"This is based on us seeing an increase in business and bringing new airbag replacement steering wheels to market rapidly," Barsamian says. "We have a 7% increase over what we budgeted for incoming orders."

Barsamian adds that Grant is also in the process of buying companies that will help build its core business and access to OEM partnerships, company leadership is playing it conservative.

"We do think there will be a second round of recession," he says. "How bad it will be is anyone's guess. We haven't seen an increase in credit in the last six to eight months, and seems it's still pretty tight."

Todd Gartshore, Baer Brakes vice-president of marketing, says his company is approaching any signs of recovery cautiously, despite an already heavy investment in new equipment.

“We’ve significantly added to our machine capability over the last four years as an initiative to become self-sufficient and manufacture more than 90% of our own calipers by 2010,” Gartshore says. Baer has achieved about 75% of that goal and expects to reach it by 2012.

Gartshore adds, however, that he doesn’t see anything in the near-term that inspires great hope for his company. He says Baer plans to “entrench” and begin focusing investment in R&D and new product, “to be positioned to grow our market share when a cyclic improvement does come."

High-end racing and custom car builder markets are two bright growth areas, Gartshore says, adding that autocross racing at Goodguys events and track days are encouraging enthusiasts to go beyond the quarter-mile.

“This makes our segment in braking and handling more relevant,” he notes.

To contain costs, Gartshore says Baer “continues to look for creative solutions within U.S. manufacturing companies to bring iron castings and other forms of industry lost to China over the last 15 years back home." —Dan Frio

	Businesses, including specialty-equipment manufacturers, are feeling confident enough in economic recovery to begin investing in machinery and equipment again.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand.

3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels, while engine manufacturer Cummins plans to spend an additional $400 million this year, up 30% from 2009, to meet demand from rising truck sales in China and India, and for its fuel-injection and emissions-control systems. Analysts attribute the increases documented in the Commerce Department report to more available credit, as well as businesses balancing the risks of being left behind during a recovery with prudent financial practices.

Large enterprises aren’t the only ones investing in manufacturing. Some specialty-equipment companies are also building out in anticipation or reaction to demand. ARB 4x4 Accessories, an Australian manufacturer of differential lockers, suspension, racks, bars and other off-road equipment, is adding infrastructure due to rising worldwide demand.

“We’re buying new machinery, we’re hiring and we’re having a hard time keeping up with worldwide demand,” says ARB President Jim Jackson. The company’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle is responsible for sales in the Americas, which Jackson says was down 9% last year.

“But the last six months, it’s like someone flipped a switch here in North America,” Jackson adds. “Australia and the rest of the world [market] is growing. We had 25% growth worldwide last year.”

Jackson notes that the company’s heavy-duty suspensions for Toyota, Jeep and Nissan trucks have also created demand in rugged war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Grant Products, maker of specialty steering wheels, is also ramping up for increased demand. Rich Barsamian, vice-president of sales, says the company has been acquiring new machinery to speed production and product to market. Grant plans to boost capital spending by about 9.5% for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"This is based on us seeing an increase in business and bringing new airbag replacement steering wheels to market rapidly," Barsamian says. "We have a 7% increase over what we budgeted for incoming orders."

Barsamian adds that Grant is also in the process of buying companies that will help build its core business and access to OEM partnerships, company leadership is playing it conservative.

"We do think there will be a second round of recession," he says. "How bad it will be is anyone's guess. We haven't seen an increase in credit in the last six to eight months, and seems it's still pretty tight."

Todd Gartshore, Baer Brakes vice-president of marketing, says his company is approaching any signs of recovery cautiously, despite an already heavy investment in new equipment.

“We’ve significantly added to our machine capability over the last four years as an initiative to become self-sufficient and manufacture more than 90% of our own calipers by 2010,” Gartshore says. Baer has achieved about 75% of that goal and expects to reach it by 2012.

Gartshore adds, however, that he doesn’t see anything in the near-term that inspires great hope for his company. He says Baer plans to “entrench” and begin focusing investment in R&D and new product, “to be positioned to grow our market share when a cyclic improvement does come."

High-end racing and custom car builder markets are two bright growth areas, Gartshore says, adding that autocross racing at Goodguys events and track days are encouraging enthusiasts to go beyond the quarter-mile.

“This makes our segment in braking and handling more relevant,” he notes.

To contain costs, Gartshore says Baer “continues to look for creative solutions within U.S. manufacturing companies to bring iron castings and other forms of industry lost to China over the last 15 years back home." —Dan Frio

	Businesses, including specialty-equipment manufacturers, are feeling confident enough in economic recovery to begin investing in machinery and equipment again.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand.

3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels, while engine manufacturer Cummins plans to spend an additional $400 million this year, up 30% from 2009, to meet demand from rising truck sales in China and India, and for its fuel-injection and emissions-control systems. Analysts attribute the increases documented in the Commerce Department report to more available credit, as well as businesses balancing the risks of being left behind during a recovery with prudent financial practices.

Large enterprises aren’t the only ones investing in manufacturing. Some specialty-equipment companies are also building out in anticipation or reaction to demand. ARB 4x4 Accessories, an Australian manufacturer of differential lockers, suspension, racks, bars and other off-road equipment, is adding infrastructure due to rising worldwide demand.

“We’re buying new machinery, we’re hiring and we’re having a hard time keeping up with worldwide demand,” says ARB President Jim Jackson. The company’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle is responsible for sales in the Americas, which Jackson says was down 9% last year.

“But the last six months, it’s like someone flipped a switch here in North America,” Jackson adds. “Australia and the rest of the world [market] is growing. We had 25% growth worldwide last year.”

Jackson notes that the company’s heavy-duty suspensions for Toyota, Jeep and Nissan trucks have also created demand in rugged war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Grant Products, maker of specialty steering wheels, is also ramping up for increased demand. Rich Barsamian, vice-president of sales, says the company has been acquiring new machinery to speed production and product to market. Grant plans to boost capital spending by about 9.5% for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"This is based on us seeing an increase in business and bringing new airbag replacement steering wheels to market rapidly," Barsamian says. "We have a 7% increase over what we budgeted for incoming orders."

Barsamian adds that Grant is also in the process of buying companies that will help build its core business and access to OEM partnerships, company leadership is playing it conservative.

"We do think there will be a second round of recession," he says. "How bad it will be is anyone's guess. We haven't seen an increase in credit in the last six to eight months, and seems it's still pretty tight."

Todd Gartshore, Baer Brakes vice-president of marketing, says his company is approaching any signs of recovery cautiously, despite an already heavy investment in new equipment.

“We’ve significantly added to our machine capability over the last four years as an initiative to become self-sufficient and manufacture more than 90% of our own calipers by 2010,” Gartshore says. Baer has achieved about 75% of that goal and expects to reach it by 2012.

Gartshore adds, however, that he doesn’t see anything in the near-term that inspires great hope for his company. He says Baer plans to “entrench” and begin focusing investment in R&D and new product, “to be positioned to grow our market share when a cyclic improvement does come."

High-end racing and custom car builder markets are two bright growth areas, Gartshore says, adding that autocross racing at Goodguys events and track days are encouraging enthusiasts to go beyond the quarter-mile.

“This makes our segment in braking and handling more relevant,” he notes.

To contain costs, Gartshore says Baer “continues to look for creative solutions within U.S. manufacturing companies to bring iron castings and other forms of industry lost to China over the last 15 years back home." —Dan Frio

	Businesses, including specialty-equipment manufacturers, are feeling confident enough in economic recovery to begin investing in machinery and equipment again.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand.

3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels, while engine manufacturer Cummins plans to spend an additional $400 million this year, up 30% from 2009, to meet demand from rising truck sales in China and India, and for its fuel-injection and emissions-control systems. Analysts attribute the increases documented in the Commerce Department report to more available credit, as well as businesses balancing the risks of being left behind during a recovery with prudent financial practices.

Large enterprises aren’t the only ones investing in manufacturing. Some specialty-equipment companies are also building out in anticipation or reaction to demand. ARB 4x4 Accessories, an Australian manufacturer of differential lockers, suspension, racks, bars and other off-road equipment, is adding infrastructure due to rising worldwide demand.

“We’re buying new machinery, we’re hiring and we’re having a hard time keeping up with worldwide demand,” says ARB President Jim Jackson. The company’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle is responsible for sales in the Americas, which Jackson says was down 9% last year.

“But the last six months, it’s like someone flipped a switch here in North America,” Jackson adds. “Australia and the rest of the world [market] is growing. We had 25% growth worldwide last year.”

Jackson notes that the company’s heavy-duty suspensions for Toyota, Jeep and Nissan trucks have also created demand in rugged war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Grant Products, maker of specialty steering wheels, is also ramping up for increased demand. Rich Barsamian, vice-president of sales, says the company has been acquiring new machinery to speed production and product to market. Grant plans to boost capital spending by about 9.5% for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"This is based on us seeing an increase in business and bringing new airbag replacement steering wheels to market rapidly," Barsamian says. "We have a 7% increase over what we budgeted for incoming orders."

Barsamian adds that Grant is also in the process of buying companies that will help build its core business and access to OEM partnerships, company leadership is playing it conservative.

"We do think there will be a second round of recession," he says. "How bad it will be is anyone's guess. We haven't seen an increase in credit in the last six to eight months, and seems it's still pretty tight."

Todd Gartshore, Baer Brakes vice-president of marketing, says his company is approaching any signs of recovery cautiously, despite an already heavy investment in new equipment.

“We’ve significantly added to our machine capability over the last four years as an initiative to become self-sufficient and manufacture more than 90% of our own calipers by 2010,” Gartshore says. Baer has achieved about 75% of that goal and expects to reach it by 2012.

Gartshore adds, however, that he doesn’t see anything in the near-term that inspires great hope for his company. He says Baer plans to “entrench” and begin focusing investment in R&D and new product, “to be positioned to grow our market share when a cyclic improvement does come."

High-end racing and custom car builder markets are two bright growth areas, Gartshore says, adding that autocross racing at Goodguys events and track days are encouraging enthusiasts to go beyond the quarter-mile.

“This makes our segment in braking and handling more relevant,” he notes.

To contain costs, Gartshore says Baer “continues to look for creative solutions within U.S. manufacturing companies to bring iron castings and other forms of industry lost to China over the last 15 years back home." —Dan Frio

	Businesses, including specialty-equipment manufacturers, are feeling confident enough in economic recovery to begin investing in machinery and equipment again.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand.

3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels, while engine manufacturer Cummins plans to spend an additional $400 million this year, up 30% from 2009, to meet demand from rising truck sales in China and India, and for its fuel-injection and emissions-control systems. Analysts attribute the increases documented in the Commerce Department report to more available credit, as well as businesses balancing the risks of being left behind during a recovery with prudent financial practices.

Large enterprises aren’t the only ones investing in manufacturing. Some specialty-equipment companies are also building out in anticipation or reaction to demand. ARB 4x4 Accessories, an Australian manufacturer of differential lockers, suspension, racks, bars and other off-road equipment, is adding infrastructure due to rising worldwide demand.

“We’re buying new machinery, we’re hiring and we’re having a hard time keeping up with worldwide demand,” says ARB President Jim Jackson. The company’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle is responsible for sales in the Americas, which Jackson says was down 9% last year.

“But the last six months, it’s like someone flipped a switch here in North America,” Jackson adds. “Australia and the rest of the world [market] is growing. We had 25% growth worldwide last year.”

Jackson notes that the company’s heavy-duty suspensions for Toyota, Jeep and Nissan trucks have also created demand in rugged war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Grant Products, maker of specialty steering wheels, is also ramping up for increased demand. Rich Barsamian, vice-president of sales, says the company has been acquiring new machinery to speed production and product to market. Grant plans to boost capital spending by about 9.5% for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"This is based on us seeing an increase in business and bringing new airbag replacement steering wheels to market rapidly," Barsamian says. "We have a 7% increase over what we budgeted for incoming orders."

Barsamian adds that Grant is also in the process of buying companies that will help build its core business and access to OEM partnerships, company leadership is playing it conservative.

"We do think there will be a second round of recession," he says. "How bad it will be is anyone's guess. We haven't seen an increase in credit in the last six to eight months, and seems it's still pretty tight."

Todd Gartshore, Baer Brakes vice-president of marketing, says his company is approaching any signs of recovery cautiously, despite an already heavy investment in new equipment.

“We’ve significantly added to our machine capability over the last four years as an initiative to become self-sufficient and manufacture more than 90% of our own calipers by 2010,” Gartshore says. Baer has achieved about 75% of that goal and expects to reach it by 2012.

Gartshore adds, however, that he doesn’t see anything in the near-term that inspires great hope for his company. He says Baer plans to “entrench” and begin focusing investment in R&D and new product, “to be positioned to grow our market share when a cyclic improvement does come."

High-end racing and custom car builder markets are two bright growth areas, Gartshore says, adding that autocross racing at Goodguys events and track days are encouraging enthusiasts to go beyond the quarter-mile.

“This makes our segment in braking and handling more relevant,” he notes.

To contain costs, Gartshore says Baer “continues to look for creative solutions within U.S. manufacturing companies to bring iron castings and other forms of industry lost to China over the last 15 years back home." —Dan Frio

	Businesses, including specialty-equipment manufacturers, are feeling confident enough in economic recovery to begin investing in machinery and equipment again.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand.

3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels, while engine manufacturer Cummins plans to spend an additional $400 million this year, up 30% from 2009, to meet demand from rising truck sales in China and India, and for its fuel-injection and emissions-control systems. Analysts attribute the increases documented in the Commerce Department report to more available credit, as well as businesses balancing the risks of being left behind during a recovery with prudent financial practices.

Large enterprises aren’t the only ones investing in manufacturing. Some specialty-equipment companies are also building out in anticipation or reaction to demand. ARB 4x4 Accessories, an Australian manufacturer of differential lockers, suspension, racks, bars and other off-road equipment, is adding infrastructure due to rising worldwide demand.

“We’re buying new machinery, we’re hiring and we’re having a hard time keeping up with worldwide demand,” says ARB President Jim Jackson. The company’s U.S. headquarters near Seattle is responsible for sales in the Americas, which Jackson says was down 9% last year.

“But the last six months, it’s like someone flipped a switch here in North America,” Jackson adds. “Australia and the rest of the world [market] is growing. We had 25% growth worldwide last year.”

Jackson notes that the company’s heavy-duty suspensions for Toyota, Jeep and Nissan trucks have also created demand in rugged war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Grant Products, maker of specialty steering wheels, is also ramping up for increased demand. Rich Barsamian, vice-president of sales, says the company has been acquiring new machinery to speed production and product to market. Grant plans to boost capital spending by about 9.5% for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"This is based on us seeing an increase in business and bringing new airbag replacement steering wheels to market rapidly," Barsamian says. "We have a 7% increase over what we budgeted for incoming orders."

Barsamian adds that Grant is also in the process of buying companies that will help build its core business and access to OEM partnerships, company leadership is playing it conservative.

"We do think there will be a second round of recession," he says. "How bad it will be is anyone's guess. We haven't seen an increase in credit in the last six to eight months, and seems it's still pretty tight."

Todd Gartshore, Baer Brakes vice-president of marketing, says his company is approaching any signs of recovery cautiously, despite an already heavy investment in new equipment.

“We’ve significantly added to our machine capability over the last four years as an initiative to become self-sufficient and manufacture more than 90% of our own calipers by 2010,” Gartshore says. Baer has achieved about 75% of that goal and expects to reach it by 2012.

Gartshore adds, however, that he doesn’t see anything in the near-term that inspires great hope for his company. He says Baer plans to “entrench” and begin focusing investment in R&D and new product, “to be positioned to grow our market share when a cyclic improvement does come."

High-end racing and custom car builder markets are two bright growth areas, Gartshore says, adding that autocross racing at Goodguys events and track days are encouraging enthusiasts to go beyond the quarter-mile.

“This makes our segment in braking and handling more relevant,” he notes.

To contain costs, Gartshore says Baer “continues to look for creative solutions within U.S. manufacturing companies to bring iron castings and other forms of industry lost to China over the last 15 years back home." —Dan Frio