A former BAE Systems executive has been named chief operating officer of Manheim Township-based Herley Industries Inc. Jeffrey L. Markel will oversee all of the Lancaster County company’s operating divisions.

Accidents involving large trucks declined on national and state highways in 2006.

Johnson Controls Inc. signed on to a $5 billion plan led by the foundation of former President Bill Clinton to make buildings around the world more energy-efficient.

Bus fare increases for the County of Lebanon Transit go into effect tomorrow.

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The Vitec Group has acquired Carlisle-based RF Central and Hackettstown, N.J.-based Nucomm Inc. for a combined $75.8 million, according to a report by information service Thomson Financial.

The shareholders of Armstrong Holdings Inc. will meet in Pittsburgh July 18 to vote on a plan to dissolve the company and divvy up roughly $27 million in assets.

Manufacturing activity in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware remained steady in March, according to a monthly survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Harley-Davidson Inc. workers in York County ended their three-week strike today, with 83 percent of them voting to approve a new, three-year contract with the company.

The strike at Harley-Davidson Inc.’s York County plant has dealt a serious blow to several local suppliers that depend on the motorcycle maker’s business.

Hershey Co. will close its Smiths Falls plant in Ontario, Canada.

Virginia-based Innovative Concepts Inc., a subsidiary of Herley Industries Inc., was awarded $2.1 million worth of contracts by the U.S. Army Aviation, according to a Herley statement.

Harsco Corp. acquired 100 percent ownership of Taylor-Wharton, a cryogenic gas tank producer based in Mechanicsburg.

Caution, commuters

Oshkosh Truck Corp. of Oshkosh, Wis., will buy JLG Industries Inc., the McConnellsburg access-equipment manufacturer, for $3.2 billion, according to statements from the two companies.