Innovation Fund joins Auburn to support development of OraSecure saliva collection device for COVID testing
AUBURN, Alabama — The Alabama Department of Commerce and the City of Auburn’s Industrial Development Board have teamed to award $250,000 in funding to accelerate the development of OraSecure LLC’s breakthrough patent-pending saliva collection device intended to help in the ongoing battle against the novel coronavirus. The support will help OraSecure finalize the initial manufacturing…
Macon County organic farmer cultivates ambitions with ag startup
TUSKEGEE, Alabama – A startup, minority-owned organic farm in Macon County is expanding its crops and customer base, fueled by an ambitious vision to carry on the region’s rich history of agricultural innovation. Lifetime Natural Organic Farm, which includes about 25 acres of raised-bed bio-intensive organic vegetables, this year invested an additional $500,000 to increase…
Alabama automakers adopt COVID-19 safety measures as production ramps up
Alabama automakers have been ramping up production following the COVID-19 outbreak, with strict new protocols in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz all are implementing similar measures as employees return to work, including temperature checks, staggered shifts, frequent sanitizing and additional protective gear. The restart of operations at…
Airbus launches A220 production on new Alabama assembly line
MOBILE, Alabama — Airbus said today that it has officially launched production of A220 aircraft at its newly constructed Final Assembly Line hangar at its Alabama manufacturing facility. Airbus also said its workforce in Mobile has begun production of the first U.S.-built A220 for U.S. airline company JetBlue. “The team is excited to start working…
Evonik opens advanced biomaterials facility in Birmingham with expansion
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Evonik announced today that it has successfully commissioned an advanced biomaterials facility in Birmingham that will support global demand for the use of its RESOMER-brand bioresorbable polymers with implantable medical devices and parenteral drug products. The expansion will also allow Germany-based Evonik to provide contract manufacturing services to customers seeking to outsource…
Alabama connections run strong in NASA picks for moon lander systems
NASA today selected three U.S. companies to design and develop a human landing system for its return mission to the Moon – and the program stands to have a strong Alabama connection. “With these contract awards, America is moving forward with the final step needed to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024, including the incredible moment when we will see the first woman set foot on the lunar surface,” said NASA Administrator…
Mercedes resumes production in Alabama with new safety measures
VANCE, Alabama – Mercedes-Benz is beginning to gradually ramp up production at its Alabama manufacturing plant after adopting robust safety measures to protect workers amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), as its Alabama operation is known, said operations began Monday with one shift. In coming weeks, the plant will be staffed with additional…
Hyundai to provide COVID-19 testing resources in Montgomery region
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama today announced its support to increase COVID-19 testing in Montgomery and surrounding counties through a collaborative effort with Mayor Steven Reed. Hyundai’s Alabama operation (HMMA) is coordinating an in-kind donation of 10,000 COVID-19 RT-PCR tests developed by Seegene, a South Korean molecular diagnostics firm. Seegene’s test can simultaneously…
Alabama automakers lend a helping hand in COVID-19 battle
Alabama automakers are stepping in to aid their communities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including support of crucial testing services and production of protective face shields for healthcare workers. Toyota’s Huntsville engine factory is producing 7,500 protective face shields for local hospitals. In addition, the plant has donated 160 safety glasses to local…
What drove the Mazda-Toyota team to the ideal plant site in Alabama?
The site selection team working clandestinely on “Project New World” — the codename given to the massive auto assembly plant planned by Mazda and Toyota — started off with a list of 300 potential site locations across the United States. In the end, a site encompassing more than 2,000 acres in Huntsville, Alabama, claimed one…
