Thumbnails | SFVBJ User Guide | Front Page | Table of Contents WELCOME TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL DIGITAL EDITION To read your copy of the Digital Edition INSTRUCTION Please select a reading preference FOR PC/MAC How to read SFVBJ Digital Edition on iPad in iBooks: To read the Digital Edition you must move the Edition from your browser to a digital reader. $3.00 VOL. 16 NO. 7 March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.sfvbj.com $3.00 VOL. 16 NO. 7 March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.sfvbj.com $3.00 VOL. 16 NO. 7 March 28 - April 10, 2011 www.sfvbj.com Up Companies Seek New Business Lines, Enter Into Mergers ISSUES: Rocketdyne ney Rocketdyne’s increased expansion nologies to expand beyond the rocket focus. This is particularly due to the fact Front to other business models, acquisitions and shuttle engines it is known for. that NASA has pulled back from certain Up Companies Seek New Business Lines, Enter Into Mergers Up Companies Seek New Business Lines, Enter Into Mergers waits for NASA decision. involving several com- While the com- programs and is taking its time to ney Rocketdyne’s increased expansion nologies to expand beyond the rocket focus. This is particularly due to the fact ney Rocketdyne’s increased expansion nologies to expand beyond the rocket focus. This is particularly due to the fact panies and the addition Special Issue: pany has delved into announce what its next steps will be ISSUES: ISSUES: Rocketdyne By JESSICA VERNABE Front Rocketdyne to other business models, acquisitions Front to other business models, acquisitions and shuttle engines it is known for. that NASA has pulled back from certain of a new Mission Manufacturing energy generation after the end of its Space Shuttle pro- and shuttle engines it is known for. that NASA has pulled back from certain Staff Reporter Foods plant. and other technolo- gram in June. waits for NASA decision. involving several com- While the com- programs and is taking its time to waits for NASA decision. involving several com- While the com- programs and is taking its time to This edition focuses on the panies and the addition Special Issue: pany has delved into announce what its next steps will be panies and the addition Special Issue: pany has delved into announce what its next steps will be Manufacturing in the greater Valley Pratt & Whitney gies for decades, “Time is running out before we’re By JESSICA VERNABE local manufacturing industry. By JESSICA VERNABE of a new Mission Manufacturing energy generation after the end of its Space Shuttle pro- of a new Mission Manufacturing energy generation after the end of its Space Shuttle pro- area has seen numerous changes over Rocketdyne is ramping these areas have going to have to guess where we’re Staff Reporter Staff Reporter the past year including Pratt & Whit- up efforts to develop alternative tech- recently taken on an even stronger Foods plant. This edition focuses on the and other technolo- gram in June. Foods plant. This edition focuses on the and other technolo- gram in June. Please see CHANGE page 32 Manufacturing in the greater Valley Pratt & Whitney local manufacturing industry. gies for decades, “Time is running out before we’re Manufacturing in the greater Valley Pratt & Whitney local manufacturing industry. gies for decades, “Time is running out before we’re Innovation leads area has seen numerous changes over Rocketdyne is ramping these areas have going to have to guess where we’re area has seen numerous changes over Rocketdyne is ramping these areas have going to have to guess where we’re Pratt & Whit- to breakthroughs. the past year including Pratt & Whit- up efforts to develop alternative tech- recently taken on an even stronger the past year including up efforts to develop alternative tech- recently taken on an even stronger Please see CHANGE page 32 Please see CHANGE page 32 PAGE 3 Innovation leads Innovation leads to breakthroughs. to breakthroughs. Making It Work PAGE 3 PAGE 3 News & Analysis Firms Seizing Making It Work Making It Work Opportunities News & News & By MARK R. MADLER Analysis Firms Seizing Analysis Firms Seizing Staff Reporter Opportunities Opportunities Down but not out. That is the simplest way to By MARK R. MADLER By MARK R. MADLER describe the manufacturing Staff Reporter Staff Reporter industry in Southern California. Longtime The down part is the stiff Down but not out. Down but not out. manufacturers competition from overseas, a That is the simplest way to That is the simplest way to had niche. tight credit market, and signifi- describe the manufacturing describe the manufacturing PAGE 18 cant job losses, particularly dur- industry in Southern California. industry in Southern California. ing the recession. Longtime The down part is the stiff Longtime The down part is the stiff Yet, saying all that, Los manufacturers competition from overseas, a manufacturers competition from overseas, a Angeles County remains the had niche. tight credit market, and signifi- had niche. tight credit market, and signifi- country’s largest manufacturing PAGE 18 cant job losses, particularly dur- PAGE 18 cant job losses, particularly dur- Energy area just as the U.S. as a whole ing the recession. ing the recession. remains the world’s largest. Yet, saying all that, Los Yet, saying all that, Los As the recovery takes hold, Angeles County remains the Angeles County remains the opportunity awaits those com- country’s largest manufacturing country’s largest manufacturing panies who survived the worst Energy Energy area just as the U.S. as a whole economic times faced by the area just as the U.S. as a whole U.S. since the 1930s. These remains the world’s largest. remains the world’s largest. firms emerge smarter about As the recovery takes hold, As the recovery takes hold, their operations and more open opportunity awaits those com- opportunity awaits those com- about trying a new approach. panies who survived the worst panies who survived the worst Eventraditional In this issue are stories on economic times faced by the economic times faced by the industries going Factory Floor: A worker prepares U.S. since the 1930s. These U.S. since the 1930s. These Please see FIRMS page 33 green. a mold at KenWalt Die Casting. firms emerge smarter about firms emerge smarter about PAGE 6 PHOTO BY DAVID SPRAGUE their operations and more open their operations and more open about trying a new approach. about trying a new approach. Eventraditional In this issue are stories on Eventraditional In this issue are stories on industries going Factory Floor: A worker prepares industries going Factory Floor: A worker prepares Please see FIRMS page 33 Please see FIRMS page 33 Superior Monitors Quake Northrop Installs New System green. a mold at KenWalt Die Casting. green. a mold at KenWalt Die Casting. PAGE 6 PHOTO BY DAVID SPRAGUE PAGE 6 PHOTO BY DAVID SPRAGUE AUTOS: Disruption possible in Japan supply. AEROSPACE: Assembly line seen as industry model. By JO-ANN CAROL CUBELLO Contributing Reporter Superior Industries International Inc. is still assessing the impact of By MARK R. MADLER Superior Monitors Quake Northrop Installs New System Superior Monitors Quake Northrop Installs New System the earthquake in Japan on its supply chain to that country’s automakers. Staff Reporter Van Nuys-based Superior provides aluminum wheels to Toyota for its The most modern warplane meets the AUTOS: Disruption possible in Japan supply. AEROSPACE: Assembly AUTOS: Disruption possible in Japan supply. AEROSPACE: Assembly popular Camry and Corolla models, as well as Nissan and Mitsubishi. most modern manufacturing process now line seen as industry model. line seen as industry model. While much of Superior’s business is for the Big Three domestic that Northrop Grumman Corp. has start- By JO-ANN CAROL CUBELLO Contributing Reporter By JO-ANN CAROL CUBELLO Contributing Reporter automakers, the company was still keeping a close eye on developments in ed using a new assembly line at its facility By MARK R. MADLER By MARK R. MADLER Japan since the earthquake and tsunami that struck the northern part of the in Palmdale. Superior Industries International Inc. is still assessing the impact of Superior Industries International Inc. is still assessing the impact of Staff Reporter Staff Reporter country on March 11. The assembly line became active earlier the earthquake in Japan on its supply chain to that country’s automakers. the earthquake in Japan on its supply chain to that country’s automakers. Investors were doing the same. this month to make the fuselage for the F-35 F35: Joint Strike Fighter. Van Nuys-based Superior provides aluminum wheels to Toyota for its The most modern warplane meets the Van Nuys-based Superior provides aluminum wheels to Toyota for its The most modern warplane meets the During a conference call to announce fourth quarter and full year earn- Joint Strike Fighter and is described by popular Camry and Corolla models, as well as Nissan and Mitsubishi. most modern manufacturing process now popular Camry and Corolla models, as well as Nissan and Mitsubishi. most modern manufacturing process now ings results, analysts asked Superior executives about the impact of reports company executives as a key factor in future costly. While much of Superior’s business is for the Big Three domestic that Northrop Grumman Corp. has start- While much of Superior’s business is for the Big Three domestic that Northrop Grumman Corp. has start- of delayed shipments of needed components. production of the aircraft. The move, in fact, may make the rest of automakers, the company was still keeping a close eye on developments in ed using a new assembly line at its facility automakers, the company was still keeping a close eye on developments in ed using a new assembly line at its facility The executives said that while Superior has received a few notices of Modeled on equipment used in the auto- the aerospace industry take notice.