Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania in Bethlehem has approved investments totaling $392,200 to be split between three early-stage firms and seven established manufacturers in the region.

With tariffs, uncertainty lingers for some manufacturers. However, the feeling is mixed with a desire to level the playing field in what many people in the industry view as an unequal playing field.

Forks Township-based Victaulic Inc., a manufacturer of pipe fittings, has acquired a more than 100-year-old Michigan-based fire-protection company.

IQ Fibers expects to lease a 45,000-square-foot-building at 1550 Lehigh Drive in West Easton, the company's first manufacturing site, where it will invest at least $5.4 million in the project.

The Manufacturers Resource Center, based in Upper Macungie Township, said Richard Hobbs will take over as the new president and CEO on July 15.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed a Republican-backed bill to essentially bar any local municipality from enacting bag bans for at least one year to allow time for studying the impact of such bans.

Allentown native Lee Iacocca has passed away at the age of 94 according to news reports.

Secaucus, New Jersey-based Freshpet Inc. is expanding its Lehigh Valley operations with the groundbreaking of a second manufacturing plant, which it refers to as a Freshpet Kitchen.

Last week Air Products of Trexlertown and Saudi Aramco opened the first hydrogen fueling station in Saudi Arabia.

Some manufacturers say job poaching – the practice of actively recruiting an employee from a direct competitor – has become more common.