Extruflex plans $1 million expansion in Pelham
Extruflex, a European company that makes flexible vinyl strips and sheets for food production facilities and customers in industrial, manufacturing and construction industries, is adding 16 jobs and investing more than $1 million in equipment at its Pelham location. The company employs 22 in Pelham with plans to grow to nearly 40 through the expansion, which landed it on the Birmingham Business Alliance’s New and Expanding Industry List from 2018. – Birmingham Business Alliance
Lockheed Martin will take NASA astronauts back to the moon
NASA is going all out to support the Artemis program despite doubts that it can send humanity back to the Moon by 2024. The space agency has awarded Lockheed Martin with the Orion Production and Operations Contract (OPOC) to supply it with Orion spacecraft for future Artemis missions, including the one that’ll land the first woman on the Moon. – Engadget
Goodyear plan unfolding to do buyouts at Gadsden plant
Ohio-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has begun offering voluntary buyouts to certain employees at its Gadsden tire plant as part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its U.S. competitiveness by curtailing the production of tires for less profitable segments of the tire market. Goodyear disclosed the plan in an 8K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but the company did not specify how many employees it expects to accept the buyout offer and therefore couldn’t comment on its potential cost benefit. – Crains Cleveland Business
FuelFox closes $2 million investment round
Birmingham startup FuelFox announced today that it has closed a $2 million investment round. The company says the money will be used to “deepen the company’s presence in existing markets and expand into new ones.” Through a smartphone app, FuelFox adds fuel to users’ vehicles while not in use, as drivers work, shop or are out and about. The company also fuels fleet vehicles while not in use. Described as a “mobile gas station,” the company has been in operation for little more than a year. – AL.com
Golden Flake merger under federal scrutiny for insider trading
Insider trading accusations have been levied against five Alabama men that arose from the 2016 merger of Golden Enterprises Inc. and Utz Quality Foods. Golden Enterprises was the parent company of the Birmingham-based Golden Flake snack foods brand. According to the federal complaint filed on Monday by the Securities and Exchange Commission, James W. Nall, III, the son of longtime Golden Enterprises director James Nall, provided information regarding the merger he learned from his father to his business partner Michael Hale Smith Jr. – NBC-15
Community college VP says she’s targeted for firing due to corruption
A Coastal Alabama Community College official targeted for dismissal alleges that the chancellor of the state’s two-year college system wants to fire her because she was investigating corruption. Laura Burks, who has been suspended from her job as vice president for human resources since November last year, is fighting for her job this week at an administrative hearing before Jefferson State Community College President Keith Brown. – Fox-10
