[naviga:h3]Armstrong’s 4Front adds 2nd location with Conelec buy[/naviga:h3]

4Front Solutions, one of the Armstrong Group of Companies, announced the acquisition this week of the privately held Conelec of Florida.

4Front is a provider of electronic manufacturing services, including printed circuit board assembly, cable assembly and box-build assembly. It was founded in 1989 and joined Armstrong — a telecommunications, security, EMS, HVAC and real estate corporation headquartered in Butler — in 2012.

With this week’s acquisition, 4Front will have a second location that will enable the company to handle overflow work, provide redundancy and expand the workforce.

“This acquisition is a strategic fit with the long-term business objectives of 4Front,” said Rick Ward, 4Front’s president. “With an ERP and equipment platform in common with our current operations, Conelec provides us immediate back up and geographic diversity.”

Ward said the acquisition would also give the company a foothold into the Florida market, which he noted is “rich with aero-defense, medical and communication OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).”

[naviga:h3]GM recalls trucks due to engine block heater cord fires[/naviga:h3]

DETROIT — General Motors is recalling over 368,000 pickups and other trucks worldwide after 19 reports of fires caused by engine block heater cords.

The recall covers certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 trucks, as well as the 2017 through 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500. All have GM’s 6.6-Liter diesel engines and an optional engine block heater used to keep the block warm in extremely cold temperatures.

GM is asking customers not to use engine block heaters until further notice. The company said Friday that the electric heater cord or the terminals connecting the cord to the heater could short-circuit and fail. That can cause fires. No injuries have been reported.

GM is still trying to find the cause of the problem and develop a fix.

[naviga:h3]Land deals to cost $107M for new Fiat Chrysler plant[/naviga:h3]

DETROIT — Land deals that will allow Fiat Chrysler to build a new assembly plant in Detroit are expected to cost the city and state about $107 million.

Mayor Mike Duggan released details Friday of agreements reached for nearly 215 acres on the city’s eastside that the automaker wants as part of a $1.6 billion investment.

Deals have been reached with several major property owners.

The new assembly plant is expected to add 3,850 jobs. Fiat Chrysler also plans an additional 1,100 new jobs at its adjacent Jefferson North Assembly plant to build the Jeep Grand Cherokee and a new, three-row, full-size Jeep SUV and plug-in hybrid models for all.

If the land acquisition plan is approved by the City Council, the site would be prepared and construction of the new plant could start later this year.