WASHINGTON, D.C.-The March 11th report from the Commerce Department that the January manufactured goods trade deficit dropped by $7 billion from the previous year was hailed as validation that “export-led growth and free trade are continuing to hold the economy above water,” by Frank Vargo, the National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) vice president for international economic affairs.

OSCEOLA, WI-Northwire Inc., manufacturer of industrial-grade technical cable, has relocated and expanded its Asian operations.

KNOXVILLE, TN-Modus Metrology Services, a part of Omega Energy Services, has moved to its new facility in Knoxville, TN, and will be operational and accepting work by June 1.

LEXINGTON, MA-Aspen Aerogels, a provider of insulation solutions, achieved zero nonconformities during its ISO 9001 re-certification.

BILLERICA, MA-GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies, provider of measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions, has installed a customer-display area at GE Aviation’s Customer Technical Education Center (CTEC, Cincinnati).

CENTER VALLEY, PA-Olympus, a precision technology provider of opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products, announces that F. Mark Gumz, president and chief operating officer of the global company’s wholly owned subsidiary in the U.S. since January 2000, has added chief executive officer to his title.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Along with other long-term solutions to America’s serious shortage of highly skilled employees, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) praised policymakers who support raising the cap from its current 65,000 limit on H-1B visas for highly educated and skilled employees.

MENTOR, OH-The American Meas-uring Tool Manufacturers Association (AMTMA) named its 2008-2009 officers and board of directors at its annual meeting, held March 13 to 14 in Phoenix.

Olympus NDT Inc. has acquired Pulsecho Inc., a distributor of nondestructive testing instruments located in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. Pulsecho Inc. will be integrated into the Olympus sales distribution network as

MINNEAPOLIS, April 17-Laser Design Inc., supplier of 3-D laser scanners, has signed a distribution agreement with Borbolla Metrology in Saltillo, Coahuila State, Mexico. The Borbolla distributorship will allow the company