Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Resumes Production in Alabama
|
|
|
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) is beginning to gradually ramp up production at its manufacturing plant in Vance after adopting robust safety measures to protect workers amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
MBUSI said operations began this week with one shift. In coming weeks, the plant will be staffed with additional team members to move toward its full production volume.
“We have developed robust and best practice safety measures to ensure our team member safety as we return to work,” the company said in a Tuesday night statement. “Our goal is a maximum reduction of personal contact and hygiene measures have been further intensified.
“As tasks permit, our team members also working remotely from home.”
Before re-opening, MBUSI said it obtained guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and benchmarked the best safety practices with groups such as the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
“Our team members’ health and safety has top priority at Mercedes-Benz,” the company said.
MBUSI halted production at the Alabama plant last month in response to the coronavirus crisis.
“During our shutdown, we have monitored and learned from other Mercedes-Benz plants around the world as they returned to work,” its statement said.
|
|
Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:
|
|
|
Airbus remains committed to A220 production schedule in Alabama
|
|
|
Airbus SE
is sticking with production plans for its newest jet, the A220 narrow-body, in Alabama even as it has put the brakes on output in Canada as the coronavirus decreases demand across the European planemaker’s lineup of aircraft.
A plan to accelerate output toward 10 a month from the current four at the main A220 plant in Mirabel, Quebec, will be postponed until mid-2021, an Airbus spokeswoman said. A goal to build four a month by the middle of the decade in Mobile, where a new assembly line has just started, remains unchanged, she said.
|
|
|
Germany faces huge economic slump due to coronavirus pandemic
|
|
|
The coronavirus pandemic will hit Germany's economy harder than any other calamity in decades, according to Economy Minister Peter Altmaier. An expert told DW that projections of recovery in 2021 were "wishful thinking."
With the coronavirus pandemic unleashing a wave of job losses, bankruptcies and factory closures across the world,
Germany's GDP is due to shrink
6.3% in 2020, the government announced on Wednesday.
"We will experience the worst recession in the history of the Federal Republic" which was founded in 1949, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said.
The economic blow would surpass the one left by the global crisis of 2009, which saw Germany's economy shrink by over 5%.
|
|
|
Borbet Alabama to permanently close manufacturing operations in Auburn
|
|
|
Borbet Alabama announced it will permanently close manufacturing operations in Auburn. The facility had been in operation since 2003 and under the control of Borbet since 2008. The company had recently announced a $23.9 million expansion.
“Manufacturing industries like Borbet have a significant economic impact on a local community. We are thankful for all that the Borbet family has done for Auburn. Our department will continue to identify new opportunities for Auburn to replace the lost jobs and tax revenue,” said City of Auburn Economic Development Developer Phillip Dunlap.
The City of Auburn’s Economic Development Department through its Workforce Development Division is working with the local Borbet leadership team to support the workers that will lose their jobs this year.
As the plant reduces its workforce over the next six months, those affected will receive support to connect them with job opportunities in the local market.
“These are very unfortunate circumstances, but the market developments did not allow the owners to continue the operation. We are very thankful for the support we have received from the City of Auburn, the IDB (Industrial Development Board) and the people since the very beginning," said Borbet Alabama CEO Juergen Keller. “All of us are saddened that our manufacturing operation will not be part of this wonderful community anymore.”
|
|
We Want to Hear from YOU!
|
|
|
Are you an AGP member with good news to share?
We would love to hear positive news and stories like how you or your company have helped the community and/or your employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your story/news will be shared on our social media channels.
|
|
Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:
|
|
|
Please help us welcome our new members:
Educational/Professional
Mary Riley
Lecturer at Dept. of Aviation
Individual Level
Alan Wood
|
|
Oktoberfest in Munich CANCELLED!
|
|
|
"It is the biggest and most beautiful beer festival in the world", said Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder, "But the Oktoberfest will have to be cancelled in 2020 due to the Corona Pandemic." Söder announced on April 21, 2020, in a joint press conference with Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter.
"It hurts, it's such a pity," said Minister President Söder in the Bavarian State Chancellery – together with Munich's Lord Mayor Reiter. However: "We have agreed that the risk is simply too high."
The Oktoberfest 2020 should actually take place from September 19 to October 4. About six million visitors from all over the world were expected. In times of Covid-19, however, the danger of infection in the mostly crowded beer tents and the many people in the streets would be too high.
|
|
Germany extends worldwide travel warning until mid-June
|
|
|
German ministers have agreed to extend the global travel warning until at least June 14. But Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has already warned that travelers could not expect to take summer holidays as normal.
The German Cabinet on Wednesday extended its
strict global travel warning
to limit the spread of the coronavirus and prevent German tourists once again becoming stranded overseas.
Germany's Foreign Ministry said that the measure should remain in place "until further notice," but at least until June 14.
It did not specify whether travel will be allowed during the summer holidays, saying only that the situation should be carefully reviewed and coordinated with neighboring European Union member states prior to that date.
However,
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned recently that holidaymakers
could not expect to take summer vacations like they used to. He also warned that the federal government's repatriation measure for stranded tourists could not be repeated abroad.
|
|
Deutscher Gottesdienst per Zoom
|
|
|
German worship servic
e, First Pres Deutsch, via Zoom is back this Sunday.
The German Worship services are led by Reverend Thomas Herwig on the first Sunday of each month at 11:00 a.m. in the Westervelt-Warner Chapel at the First Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa. Reverend Herwig will be offering the service (in German) via Zoom.
Join them:
Deutscher Gottesdienst
per Zoom
Sonntag, 3. Mai 2020, 11:00 Uhr
ZOOM LOGIN:
ID: 862-0431-0859
For more information contact:
Pfr. Dr. Thomas Herwig, Parish Associate
Cell: 205-765-3183
email: tsherwig@ua.edu
|
|
|
It is a challenging time for all of us. As we all try to keep up with the constant developments regarding the COVID-19 outbreak here is some resources that can provide information and assistance:
For the State of Alabama:
Governor Ivey has worked with various partners to develop two critical COVID-19 sites for Alabamians to get all of their COVID-19 answers.
The Alabama Department of Commerce have, in collaboration with state and federal partners, assembled a comprehensive list of resources related to the COVID-19 response to assist Alabama employers and workers.
AlabamaWorks, a network of interconnected providers of workforce services, including all of the governmental, educational, and private sector components that train, prepare, and match job seekers with employers, is actively engaged with state agencies and business and industry throughout Alabama to be a resource for employers, employees and those who may now be unemployed.
The Alabama SBDC Network, a statewide resource for small businesses and entrepreneurs, is hosting frequent webinars and providing technical assistance to small businesses regarding SBA’s Disaster Loan program and the new Paycheck Protection Program. Upcoming and On-Demand webinars are posted at the top of the website.
List of Federal Resources:
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
US Department of Labor
US Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Small Business Administration – Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus
For German Nationalities in Alabama:
For emergency services for consular matters – please the German Consulate General (Atlanta) via email
info@atlanta.diplo.de
or call (404) 659-4760. All public access is suspended.
AlabamaGermany Partnership:
|
|
|
|
AlabamaGermany Partnership
1900 International Parkway Drive, Suite 105
Birmingham, AL 35245 www.AlabamaGermany.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
