This year, eight Wisconsin companies were honored with 2008 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards for outstanding achievements in manufacturing, including a new Grand Award in the Sustainability category. Fifty-five Wisconsin businesses were nominated for the award this year, and were evaluated by an independent panel of judges, before the winners were announced at a black-tie awards dinner and program at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee on February 26.

Four Grand Award winners, categorized by number of employees, were recognized for superior performance across the nomination form categories. New to this year’s program was the Sustainability Grand Award, presented for sustainable manufacturing practices. Special Awards were presented to three companies for achieving excellence in a particular area.

 

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Mega Company Grand Award

GE Healthcare

Madison, www.gehealthcare.com

GE Healthcare is the preeminent provider of anesthesia delivery equipment in the world, with a 60 percent U.S. market share and a global installed base of more than 100,000 units. GE’s equipment is responsible for supporting nearly half a million cases of applied anesthesia daily.

The GE facility produces anesthesia delivery systems, critical care ventilators, vaporizers and service assemblies for GE legacy products. It also distributes and configures patient monitors. The company’s products can be found in operating theatres, intensive care units, outpatient centers and office-based surgical centers around the world.

Sound financial execution is fundamental to GE, and the Madison plant is no exception to this rule. Adopting a linear production model, embracing the Kaizen philosophy and instituting lean manufacturing principals have been key to the significant improvements within the company’s production operations.

GE has a long and storied history, going back over 100 years, of providing innovation and safety in anesthesia delivery. Much of the company’s success results from an ongoing collaboration with the University of Wisconsin and the University Medical Center.
The GE facility in Madison takes pride in its environmental stewardship and aggressively looks for ways to reduce its carbon footprint.

Since 2004 the company has invested more than $1 million in greenhouse gas emission reduction projects. In the past four years, these projects have netted a reduction of 704 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to sponsoring medical research efforts at a number of leading hospitals and donating equipment to organizations in need, the company also actively supports employee involvement in Madison-area communities through programs such as Meals on Wheels and the Ronald McDonald House.

During these tough economic times, GE has met the challenges associated with the tight healthcare markets, increasing global competition, exponentially increasing commodities costs and escalating fuel surcharges to remain an industry leader. This success has been achieved through focusing on the customer, a strong employee base and employee commitment, sound financial management practices, commitment to operational excellence and adhering to its core values of integrity and compliance.

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Large Company Grand Award

Brenner Tank LLC

Fond du Lac, www.brennertank.com

Brenner Tank is a leader in the design, fabrication and service of stainless steel and aluminum tank trailers used to transport bulk liquids, including chemical, food grade and petroleum products. The company is headquartered and has its manufacturing operations in Fond du Lac, though Brenner Tank’s customers include 14 of the top 20 bulk liquid transporters in the United States.

The company’s philosophy is to produce the highest quality products and services with a goal to manufacture tank trailers that can last more than 20 years in severe service with the highest reliability. It is not uncommon to see Brenner tanks utilized daily that are more than 30 years old.

Management strives for the philosophy of continuous improvement through excellence in product design, manufacturing processes and tank trailer specifications.

Brenner Tank’s quality control process starts with the customer order and is carried through the eight day total throughput time of the typical tank trailer and beyond. Brenner Tank leads the industry in new product development, and designs and builds the most difficult tank trailer applications.

Based on customer request, in 1995 Brenner Tank started a parts and service business. Customers needed a tank repair service that had the knowledge and abilities on par with those offered through Brenner’s manufacturing. This arm of the company has grown to become a lucrative division.

Commitment to employees is part of the company’s management philosophy. Brenner Tank offers a ‘pay for skill’ wage program for shop floor employees; salaried employees are offered a ‘pay for performance’ salary program based on a year-end performance approval rating.

Brenner Tank employees are active members in the community and are involved with groups such as the Boys & Girls Club, the United Way and other local causes. The company supports the idea that what is good for the citizens of the Fond du Lac region is good for Brenner Tank.

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Medium Company Grand Award

Orion Energy Systems, Inc.

Manitowoc, www.orionpowertechnology.com

Orion Energy Systems is an energy technology company that specializes in the design, development, manufacture and deployment of energy management systems. Orion delivers innovative energy-saving products to the lighting and energy industry, saving customers money, while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and working to promote environmental initiatives.

Orion’s energy-saving products are changing the way companies think about paying for rising energy costs. Its customers include manufacturing, warehousing, commercial and institutional facilities throughout North America.

The core of Orion’s energy management is its energy-efficient lighting platform that reduces energy consumption by 50 percent while providing 50 percent more and better-quality light. When Orion’s lighting platform is integrated, its technology can save customers up to 70 percent in light-related electricity costs. Orion is leading the way in helping other companies reach their ‘green’ initiative goals for sustainability.

Headquartered in Manitowoc, Orion has nearly 250 employees, growing exponentially since its inception in 1996. The company operates a manufacturing facility in Manitowoc, with a technology center in the process of being built adjacently.

Orion’s growth is expected to continue; the company recently committed to hiring 170 employees over the next three years. A financially sound company, Orion’s revenue growth has been consistent since 2003, with significant revenues posted in the past year.

The company’s principles lie in improving the environment through decreased energy use and production. Orion technology has displaced nearly 6 billion kilowatt-hours from December 2001 through September 2008 and has saved customers more than $455 million in energy costs. Its technology has earned the trust of 108 Fortune 500 companies and that number is growing.

Orion’s fully staffed training department and partnership with Lakeshore Technical College are evidence of the company’s commitment to training and development. Orion also conducts extensive training programs for its nationwide partner network.
The company has long been a supporter of community causes in Wisconsin and supports various charities through monetary donations and participation in events.

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Small Company Grand Award

Sielaff Corporation

Mineral Point, www.sielaffcorp.com

Sielaff Corporation is a steel furniture producer whose mission is to be a product development partner with its customers. Sielaff produces unbranded, private-label furniture and furniture components, targeting large retailers and other furniture manufacturers.

In 1985, Ulrich Sielaff and Richard Hammerstrom started the company with the goal of becoming a product design and development company.

Sielaff’s first big break came in 1986, and the business soon became a respected supplier of contemporary home furnishings. Ten years after starting the company, most of Sielaff’s domestic competitors had converted their business from manufacturing to importing. When its customers started buying from overseas suppliers, Sielaff knew it had to reinvent itself to remain competitive.

At a time when many manufacturers were moving their manufacturing jobs overseas, Sielaff charted a path to counteract the trend. In 2001, the company moved its operations from Madison to Mineral Point and changed its focus from supplying many small retailers to supplying a select group of higher-end retailers.

Instead of making new products on speculation, Sielaff started producing only unbranded, private-label furniture and furniture components. As a private-label supplier, Sielaff did not need to advertise its products, resulting in a substantial reduction of marketing expenses and a significant increase in profitability. Since 2003, Sielaff’s profits have grown steadily every year.

The company now targets large retailers and other furniture manufacturers that can use its services. Sielaff differentiates itself by making products that are impractical to import, providing quick delivery and reducing customer inventory requirements.

The overriding philosophy at Sielaff is that employees, customers and suppliers must be held in the highest regard, and Sielaff remains a family business.

Sielaff employees regularly contribute their welding skills to help local artists and the company is an active community supporter. Ulrich Sielaff is a great believer in technical education and has served on the Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Foundation Board of Directors for three years

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Sustainability Grand Award

Kettle Foods Inc.

Beloit, www.kettlefoods.com

Kettle Foods produces Kettle Brand Potato Chips – the best selling natural potato chips in the United States -- and has been part of the Wisconsin business community since 2006 when it broke ground in Beloit on the first LEED® Gold certified food manufacturing plant in the United States.

Kettle Brand Potato Chips use all-natural ingredients, and the company backs this all-natural promise with a commitment to sustainable business practices and coexisting in harmony with the environment and its communities. The company has been able to save more than 22,000 trees each year with its recent decision to change the materials and shape of its bags.

Due to the care and consideration that went into integrating green building practices in the Beloit plant, Kettle Foods is reducing its annual energy use by 20 percent. Through the use of 18 on-site wind turbines, enough energy is generated to make 56,000 bags of potato chips every year. More than 40 percent of construction materials were manufactured, harvested or extracted from within a 500 mile radius, and more than 20 percent of the building materials were recycled from previous use.

At the Beloit facility, water efficiency and recycling efforts save more than 3 million gallons of water annually. The construction of this location has also reduced Kettle Foods’ carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 3 million pounds, resulting from the elimination of shipping lines from its headquarters in Oregon. All waste cooking oil is recycled locally into biodiesel, which is used to power a fleet of diesel-powered company VW “BioBeetles.” An extensive ongoing recycling program includes annual totals of more than 350,000 pounds of corrugated cardboard, 10,000 pounds of stretch wrap, 9,000 pounds of office paper/magazines, in addition to a myriad of other waste products.

As part of the company’s overarching sustainability commitment, it offsets 100 percent of the electricity used to operate both its Salem, Ore., and Beloit factories with renewable wind power.

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2008 Special Award Winners

The following Manufacturer of the Year Special Awards recognize Wisconsin companies
making considerable contributions in specific areas of manufacturing.

 

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Demonstration of Core Values

Crescent Printing Company

Onalaska, www.cpcprints.com

The founder of Crescent Printing Company acquired his first printing press for $50 in the 1940s, when he began imprinting labels for the Onalaska Pickle and Canning Company. In 1956 Everett B. Lund founded Crescent Printing Company, and the commercial web and sheet-fed printing company has operated under continuous family ownership since then.

The vision of the company is to provide the best workplace for its employees and world-class performance for its customers. Crescent Printing’s core values are the essence of all that it does, and reflects its beliefs and strategies as it focuses on customer satisfaction and continued growth.

Respect for employees, customers, suppliers, communities and the environment are all part of the culture at Crescent Printing. The essence of the company’s fundamental values is spelled it out in a succinct, easy-to-remember manner:

R espect for those we serve
E nvironmentally responsible
S ervice as a competitive advantage
P erformance as a Lean enterprise
E xcellence in customer satisfaction
C aring for our communities
T eam driven

Crescent employs 51 people, who treat each other more like family than work associates. When staff changes occur within Crescent Printing, the company communicates the change through a full-color employee roster poster which shows all of the employees’ photos, names, and departments.

Caring for the community is a year-round effort for the employees of Crescent Printing. Employees have raised more than $73,000 in 17 years for the Children’s Miracle Network, work tirelessly with the local food pantry and other local charities.

 

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New product innovation

Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc.

Oconomowoc, www.bruno.com

Bruno Independent Living Aids Inc. has grown to become the world leader in the production of vehicle lifts and Turning Automotive Seating and is the North American leader in the production of stairlifts. Headquartered in Oconomowoc, Bruno distributes its products through a global network of approximately 1,000 independent dealers.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, Bruno has won many awards for its product innovation, including two Governor’s New Product Awards in each of the last three years.

Innovation has been at the foundation of Bruno’s success through its products, processes and strategies. The ongoing pursuit of innovation has resulted in the addition of 27 employees in the past two years, with more planned for 2009.

Bruno is the world leader in the production of over 20 different kinds of vehicle lifts that lift and stow personal mobility devices in automotive vehicles. The company is also the leading producer of Turning Automotive Seating, a product that rotates out of a vehicle and is powered up and down to any desired height for easy access. This product completely eliminates the traditional turning and twisting necessary to enter and exit vehicles.

Home accessibility is the other major component of Bruno’s product line, including stairlifts that ride up and down on a straight or curved rail to and vertical lifts, used primarily to provide access to a porch or deck.

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Leader in Transformation

Neenah Paper, Inc.

Neenah, www.neenahpaper.com

Neenah Paper is a leading global manufacturer of premium, performance-based papers and specialty products. The company is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact through the use of renewable energy sources, sustainability of fiber inputs and landholdings, productivity improvements and energy-efficiency upgrades.

For more than a year, Neenah Paper’s six flagship brands have been manufactured Carbon Neutral. In doing so, Neenah Paper is helping its customers reduce their own carbon footprint.

Neenah has achieved Carbon Neutrality through net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This achievement was based upon the use of Green-e certified renewable energy and other renewable energy sources, and the implementation of energy saving upgrades, such as the process water treatment system reengineering at the Neenah mill.

All recycled papers from Neenah Paper are Green Seal Certified. To date, 67 percent of premium papers from Neenah Paper contain a minimum of 30 percent post consumer recycled fiber — up from 53 percent just two years ago.

Using a patented and award-winning method, 5,000 tons of sludge from the company’s paper production is converted to steam and electricity every year. Neenah Paper then purchases the steam back to dry paper during manufacturing and to heat the Neenah mill, thereby closing the loop and avoiding the use of fossil fuels. By reducing natural gas consumption, Neenah has decreased its carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent annually. In 2008, Gov. Jim Doyle presented Neenah Paper with the Pulp and Paper Energy Efficiency Award.

 

 

 

 

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