From the Web 4.22.14

Among today’s Fab Top 5 items published on the Web in the previous week are stories about Tesla building electric cars in China … but there’s also good news for the U.S.; a certain gun accessory is outselling guns; a fab shop and a mega manufacturer have joined forces in a multimillion dollar mentoring initiative; a nonprofit bicycle center expands, opening opportunity for more to benefit; and B.C., Canada will need 2,000 welders/fabricators over the next 10 years.

1. Money.cnn.com reports that Tesla has announced that sometime in the next three to four years, it will establish manufacturing in China to build its electric cars. CEO Elon Musk made the announcement in Beijing on the occasion of the first delivery of the Tesla Model S, which sells for around $115,000, to customers in China.

   Meanwhile, back in the USA, the company plans to build a massive U.S. facility in either Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, or Texas that will produce more lithium ion batteries annually by 2020 than were produced worldwide in 2013. It will employ about 6,500. Tesla to build cars in China; money.cnn.com

2. It seems that silencers now are the hot items in demand by gun enthusiasts. According to an article on money.cnn.com, many gun owners rushed to buy assault rifles after the Newtown massacre, fearing that a weapons ban would be enacted. While gun sales have slowed, sales of accessories are picking up.

   ”The civilian market for silencers soared 37 percent in 2013, when the total number shot up to nearly a half a million, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives registry. That’s compared to 360,000 in 2012 and 285,000 in 2011." There currently is a nine-month wait to have a silencer registration approved by the ATF. Sales are booming for silencers, the cylindrical devices used to muffle gunfire; money.cnn.com

3. Are you aware of the Department of Defense’s Mentor-Protégé Program? As noted on pressconnects.com, Crowley Fabricating & Machining Co., Endicott, N.Y., certainly is. The company is aligned with Lockheed Martin in Owego, N.Y., in just such a program. Since 1991, the program has helped small, disadvantaged businesses (protégés) compete for prime contract and subcontract awards by partnering with large companies (mentors) under project-based agreements.

   “We would not be competitive in the market today without the program giving us the ISO and AS and the help from the Lockheed Martin people bringing us up to the next level,” said Thomas Crowley. “In other words, the Navy wouldn’t talk to us on certain things. Prime contractors wouldn’t talk to us because we didn’t have the credentials.” Getting there was a long, arduous process, but it’s paying off. Lockheed mentoring boosts growth at Endicott firm; www.pressconnects.com

4. Here’s a nonprofit you may not have heard about, unless you live in Biddeford, Oregon—the Community Bicycle Center. A drop-in workshop for Biddeford-area youth, the program is expanding and moving out of its donated space to a building with four times as much space to work on and store bicycles plus six acres of land adjacent to a large city part—lots of room for kids to ride.

   And there’s more. the new facility will include a metal fabrication and welding lab for youth programs and for seminars and classes for adult community members. A good way to introduce participants to metal fabricating hobbies and careers. Biddeford bike center moving to larger space; www.pressherald.com

5. Finally, according to an article on theprovince.com, British Columbia, Canada, will need 2,000 new welders and fabricators over the next 10 years. Those who don’t mind working alone, have a good eye for detail, and like working with their hands reportedly have the basic aptitude for these jobs.

   ”Welding is one of B.C.'s Red Seal trades, involving a three-tier certification program. You must complete 2,700 direct related work hours (or 338 eight-hour work days) for Level C; 5,400 hours (675 eight-hour work days) for Level B; and 7,020 hours (900 eight-hour work days) for Level A. You need at least 70 per cent on challenge exams to pass each level. If you're immigrating to B.C. and you already have experience, you can write challenge exams at each level.” B.C. will need 2,000 new welders and fabricators over the next 10 years; www.theprovince.com