Boeing mulls which tanker to offer U.S. Air Force

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) said it is studying new draft bidding rules to decide which of its planes to pit against a rival Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N)-EADS EADS.PA aircraft in a U.S. Air Force $35 billion tanker competition.

Boeing said it has not yet decided whether to stick with its modified 767 tanker, which lost a previous canceled competition, or a larger 777-based tanker.

(Reporting by Jim Wolf, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

(jim.wolf@thomsonreuters.com

+1 202 354 5827;

Reuters Messaging: jim.wolf.reuters.com@reuters.net)

USGC, Inc. Awarded Navy Military Sealift Fleet Support Command HR Support Contract

September 25, 2009,
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Sept. 25, /PRNewswire/ -- USGC, Inc., a woman-owned small business, announced today that it was awarded a contract by the Navy Military Sealift Fleet Support Command (MSFSC) to provide Human Resources (HR) support services to assure the effective and efficient operation of MSFSC HR functions. USGC will support MSFSC locations in Norfolk, VA, Freehold, NJ and San Diego, CA and will operate the Civilian Mariner Support Center out of a USGC facility in Norfolk, VA. USGC's role is to support MSFSC in maintaining total force and HR readiness; to prepare an afloat workforce capable of meeting MSFSC readiness requirements and support a Human Capital strategy that ensures the right people with the right skills are provided to the right place for the right work, at the right time. The firm fixed price, level of effort contract has a base period of one year and four one-year option periods which if exercised, would bring the total value of the award to $22 million.
"Ensuring manpower readiness is critical to MSFSC's mission around the world," said Jack Savage, USGC's President. "USGC is dedicated to helping sustain MSFSC's HR capabilities as it moves to meet the ever-increasing demands placed upon it."
"USGC and our team are 100 percent committed to the MSFSC mission to continue enabling the MSFSC HR vision as we move forward into this new contract," said Patricia Cresta-Savage, USGC CEO. "The USGC team has demonstrated high performance and successful results in supporting ships at sea and mariners in past work with the Navy, Coast Guard and other customers, and intends to sustain this level of excellence in support of MSFSC."
To perform this work, USGC, Inc. has teamed with American Systems Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia and Dynamics Research Corporation of Andover, MA. The USGC team will employ leading-edge HR solutions to support MSFSC's worldwide operations.
USGC, Inc. is a woman-owned, small business providing mission critical support and services in human resources, acquisition support, military training, national security, homeland security, information technology, and logistics and other services to agencies of the federal government.
MSFSC is a type command of Military Sealift Command, Washington, D. C. (MSC), and U. S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), and the headquarters is located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The command supports the MSC mission worldwide; one of its main missions is to provide Civilian Mariner (CIVMAR) personnel administration and support, crew ships with qualified CIVMARs, and sustain them. MSFSC has components in Virginia, California, New Jersey, Guam, Japan, Singapore, Italy, and Bahrain. USGC will manage the contract from its offices in Norfolk, VA and Annapolis, MD.
www.usgcinc.com

U.S. durable goods orders seen up in August

September 25, 2009,

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for long lasting U.S. manufactured goods probably rose for a second straight month in August as stronger demand for automobiles offset a drop in commercial aircraft orders, according to a Reuters survey.
Reuters - Workers build the 2010 Ford Taurus at the Ford assembly plant in Chicago, Illinois August 4, 2009. REUTERS/Frank ...
The poll of 75 economists forecast new orders rose 0.5 percent month-on-month after surging 5.1 percent in July. Industry data show the world's No. 2 plane maker, Boeing Co, (NYSE:BA - News) took fewer orders for commercial aircraft than in July.
The impact of the decline on overall new orders was seen cushioned by strong demand for motor vehicles, with auto dealers moving to beef up depleted stocks following the government's popular "cash for clunkers" program.
That scheme gave drivers a discount to trade-in their old fuel guzzling automobiles for new, economic vehicles. It ended in August.
Excluding transportation, new orders are expected to have increased 1.0 percent month-on-month in August after rising 1.1 percent in July. Such an outcome would reinforce views the U.S. economy was recovering from its worst recession in 70 years.
The recession started in December 2007.
"Business equipment investment is kicking into gear and should be a positive contributor to growth in the third quarter of 2009," wrote economists at IHS Global Insight in a note.
Following are some analyst forecasts and comments on August durable goods orders:
JP MORGAN
Forecast: New orders +1.0 percent
ex-transport +1.5 percent
"A wide variety of indicators show that the manufacturing rebound that began in July continued into August and September. We expect that nondefense ex-aircraft capital goods orders resumed their increase in August. The transportation sector should be a drag on orders, as industry data point to a fall in aircraft orders. Motor vehicle orders probably increased."
CAPITAL ECONOMICS
Forecast: New orders +0.5 percent
ex-transport +0.8 percent
"The rebound in durable goods orders is likely to continue in August. Admittedly, Boeing took 32 orders for new commercial aircraft last month, less than the 44 orders received in July. Excluding transportation, orders may increase by around 0.8 percent. That would be the fourth monthly gain in core orders in a row and would suggest that the industry is enjoying a rebound in demand associated with the pick-up in world trade and the lower dollar."
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
Forecast: New orders -0.7 pct
ex-transport +1.5 pct
"Although automotive production drove the factory sector out of recession, increasing activity is evident throughout the sector. However, this vigor is unlikely to translate to the dollar value of new orders, because Boeing reported lower bookings in the month. Nevertheless, ongoing gains in the auto sector should lessen the slide in total transportation orders, which, along with the building order books elsewhere."
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; editing by Padraic Cassidy)

CTS Selected by Thales as a Global EMS Partner

Awarded Military Electronics Manufacturing and Design Programs
CTS Corporation ~ September 24, 2009, ELKHART, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CTS Corporation (NYSE: CTS - News) a leading supplier of electronics manufacturing services, announced that its Electronics Manufacturing Solutions (EMS) business has been selected as a global manufacturing partner by Thales, one of the world’s largest defense and aerospace companies. The Company has won an initial design and manufacturing award with total expected revenue of approximately $5 million over the three to five year program life. Initial production begins late 2009. CTS will manufacture multiple PCBAs for harsh environment systems at its AS9100-certified Scotland facility.
CTS was selected by Thales UK to provide turnkey design services for military electronics applications, providing on-site engineering support as part of its commitment to meet objectives for the duration of the program.
About CTS EMS
CTS EMS is a turnkey provider of manufacturing solutions to customers in a range of electronics equipment markets. With global manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, a broad product offering and a complete range of turnkey services, CTS is the ideal choice for an OEM seeking customized product solutions from a focused and agile EMS partner.
About Thales and Thales UK
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defense, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008 the company generated revenues of £10.2 billion, with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.
Thales UK employs 8,500 staff based at more than 40 locations. In 2008 Thales UK’s revenues were over £1.4 bn.
About CTS
CTS is a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic components and sensors and a provider of electronics manufacturing services (EMS) to OEMs in the automotive, computer, communications, medical, defense and aerospace and industrial markets. CTS manufactures products in North America, Europe and Asia. CTS' stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "CTS.” To find out more, visit the CTS Web site at www.ctscorp.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any financial or other guidance, statements that reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events and any other statements that are not based solely on historical fact. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are based on various assumptions as to future events, the occurrence of which necessarily are subject to uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those presented in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: changes in the economy generally and in respect to the businesses in which CTS operates, including those resulting from the current global financial and credit crisis; pricing pressures and reduction in demand for CTS’ products, especially if economic conditions do not recover or continue to worsen in CTS’ served markets, including but not limited to: the automotive, computer equipment or communications markets; disruption, uncertainty or volatility in the credit markets that could adversely impact the availability of credit already arranged by CTS and the availability and cost of credit in the future; the financial condition of our customers, including the ability of customers (especially those that may be highly leveraged and those with inadequate liquidity) to maintain their credit availability or ongoing viability; the Company’s successful execution of restructurings and profit improvement plans; risks associated with CTS’ international operations, including trade and tariff barriers; currency fluctuations and their effects on our results of operations and financial position; changes in performance of equity and debt markets that could affect the valuation of the assets in CTS’ pension plans and the accounting for pension assets, liabilities and expenses; political and geopolitical risks; rapid technological change in the automotive, communications and computer industries; reliance on key customers; and CTS’ ability to protect its intellectual property. For more detailed information on the risks and uncertainties associated with CTS’ business, see the reports CTS files with the SEC, available at http://www.ctscorp.com/investor_relations/investor.htm. CTS undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof, including market or industry changes.
Contact:
CTS Corporation,
Elkhart
Donna L. Belusar,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
or
Mitchell J. Walorski,
Director Planning and Investor Relations
Telephone 574-523-3800
FAX 574-293-6146