BUSINESS DIGEST

REGION

Company presents paper

YOUNGSTOWN — M-7 Technologies, a Youngstown Business Incubator portfolio company, Wednesday presented a white paper titled “21st Century Math Engine Identifies the Real Problem: The Cost of Currently Unreliable Data Analysis Techniques” to the National Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ Aerospace Measurement, Inspection and Analysis conference. The meeting draws top scientists, engineers and industry leaders from around the world.

M-7 Technologies, 1019 Ohio Works Drive, provides solutions in precision measurement services to a diverse customer base ranging from automotive to nuclear power. M-7 Technologies also features a 46,000-square-foot equipment manufacturing and repair workshop.

The Youngstown Business Incubator is a 501(c)3 charitable organization funded in part by the Ohio Department of Development. Its central mission is to accelerate the formation of technology-based businesses, with a preference for working with software application development firms.

Many retail workers qualify for Medicaid

COLUMBUS — The state says more than 100,000 Ohio employees of major retail and restaurant chains get health insurance not from the companies but from taxpayers, through Medicaid. A report released Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services shows Wal-Mart has more than 15,000 Ohio workers receiving Medicaid coverage for the poor and disabled, more than any other company on the list. The retail giant is Ohio’s largest employer with more than 54,000 workers.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokesman Greg Rossiter says the company offers affordable health care to both full- and part-time workers. The report notes that some Ohioans who could be insured through their employer opt for Medicaid instead because it costs them less or offers them more coverage.

NATION

Coke to change packaging

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola Co. says it will change packaging on almost all its products to more prominently display some nutritional information as it faces threats of taxes on soda and other attacks related to rising obesity.

The information will include calories per serving and will be added to the side of almost all of the soft drink maker’s products.

The company says it hopes the broken-out details will be more convenient for customers who want nutritional details. Bottles and cans will continue to have regular nutritional labels.

Coke says it’s already changed packing on products in Europe and Australia and is in the process of changing them in the U.S. and Mexico. The initiative is to be completed by the end of 2011.

Vindicator staff/wire reports