After spending decades distancing themselves from diesel engines in North America, the Detroit Three automakers have slowly started to come around to the niche potential for diesel-powered cars, trucks and SUVs.

As local medical device companies look for new growth opportunities, they may do well to consider serving the burgeoning market in the Middle East, specifically Dubai.

HOLLAND — Haworth Inc. had what President and CEO Franco Bianchi considers a “pretty good year” in 2012 given the economy and despite a small decline in sales tied to the sale of two brands.

ADA — Growth in each of direct-selling giant Amway’s top 10 markets helped drive sales last year for parent company Alticor Inc., which on Feb. 7 announced global sales of $11.3 billion, an increase of nearly 3.7 percent.

As lead times shrink and the cost advantages of importing products erode, many manufacturers are finding viability in on-shoring production to domestic sources.

The sale of two foreign brands caused Haworth Inc.’s sales to dip last year.

The automotive industry has increasingly become an environment that requires a great deal of interaction between native English-speaking and international personnel.

While it took a big hit from the economic downturn and near-collapse of the American auto industry, Alliance CNC bounced back through equal doses of reinvention and diversification.

Although Associated Rack just moved to Grand Rapids in October, the company has already expanded locally with a strategic acquisition.

After a half-decade on the roller coaster, U.S. automakers are preparing for a slow, steady ride that could yield strong profits for carmakers and their suppliers throughout the rest of the decade.

Studies show consumers shop for cars and trucks that match their style, their favorite color, and even the best fuel economy. Increasingly, though, experts say vehicle-buying decisions hinge on how well consumers’ smartphones connect to a car or trucks’ infotainment system. 

It turns out that fun-to-drive cars, 500-horsepower engines and respectable fuel economy don’t have to be mutually exclusive. 

While the 189-mph, 560-horsepower Audi RS7 hatchback can power from a standstill to 60 mph in about 3.7 seconds, it’s a rare breed of car enthusiast that can afford to drop the expected $100,000 to buy one.

One large Tier I automotive supplier with a major presence in Battle Creek plans to get even larger.

As one local conveyor manufacturer looked to diversify, it ran into problems when one of its product’s main attributes also put it at a disadvantage in one key target industry: food processing.