This year, seven Wisconsin companies have been honored with 2010 Wisconsin 
Manufacturer of the Year Awards for outstanding achievements in manufacturing. Five Grand Awards were presented for superior performance among nomination form categories, along with three special awards for Team Commitment to the Community, Local to Global Commitment  and Customer Commitment. In addition, WMC recognized long-time executive director Jim Haney with its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nominees for this year’s awards were evaluated by an independent panel of judges and the winners were announced at an awards dinner and program at the Pfister Hotel on February 24.

Grand Awards: Mega Size Category & Sustainability
GE Healthcare Imaging Subsystems, Milwaukee
www.gehealthcare.com

Established: 1947
Size: 6,400 Wisconsin employees (43,000 total employees)
Leadership: Dr. Bill Berezowitz, general manager, Imaging Subsystems
Manufactures: Medical technologies and services.

Who we are: GE Healthcare Imaging Subsystems Electric Avenue location focuses its manufacturing and design operations on complex, process sensitive products that are key for CT and XR system performance, and is the largest of GE’s Imaging Subsystems locations, with 550 employees. In order to maintain and improve the highly sensitive manufacturing processes required for these products, the engineering, operations and advanced manufacturing engineering teams are highly integrated. GE operates an environmentally conscious site. Their “ecoTube” program uses parts recovered from returned tubes, resulting in a much lower usage and disposal of exotic metals. The hallmark of this site has been an extremely strong culture of teamwork and continuous improvement, leveraging both Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies. Team members at every level of the organization are fully engaged in this drive for excellence.

GE Healthcare Imaging Subsystems effectively uses science and technology to advance its industry. They foster a company culture of continuous improvement, and have successfully implemented and maintained a Lean environment. They measure and effectively track sustainability efforts and impact. They are a leading, financially stable company, and champion overall operational excellence in everything they do. GE Healthcare is committed to maintaining a healthy bottom line which contributes to a committed workforce, a strong community and a sustainable future.

Grand Award: Large Size Category
Dickten Masch Plastics LLC, Nashotah
www.dicktenplastics.com

Established: 1941
Size: 280 Wisconsin employees (431 total employees)
Leadership: Steve Dyer, president and CEO
Expertise: Thermoplastic and thermoset molder.

Who We Are: Dickten Masch Plastics specializes in custom thermoplastics, thermoset molding, and metal stamping for a number of industries including automotive, medical devices, construction, food service, electrical, small engine, and water filtration, among others. They are actively involved in outside groups whose forces affect their business, such as supporting the Water Council’s efforts to make the Milwaukee region the freshwater capital of the world. Dickten Masch is a Lean organization that believes strongly in training and ongoing education. They are proud of their dedicated workforce, who consistently seeks new ways to increase efficiency, enhance quality and in general, serve every customer better, every day.

Dickten Masch Plastics is a leader by their actions, not just their words. They were instrumental in pulling together a manufacturing alliance in Waukesha County, and are deeply committed to investing in education for their employees. They continue to develop new markets and advance technology, thus reinforcing a positive image for manufacturing.

Grand Award: 
Medium Size Category
Briess Industries Inc., Chilton
www.briess.com

Established: 1876
Size: 119 Wisconsin employees (125 total employees)
Leadership: Gordon Lane, president and chief operating officer
Expertise: Processes grains and starches.

Who We Are: Briess Industries Inc. is a leading supplier of specialty malts to the beer industry and an innovative supplier of specialty ingredients to the food and beverage industries. They produce more types of specialty malt than any malting company in the world, and they are the only malting company in North America dedicated to the small-scale production of specialty malts for American craft brewers. Briess employs 125 people and ships malt and industrial ingredients to all 50 states and 20 foreign countries. At any one time, more than 80 percent of the 1,550 commercial breweries in the United States are using Briess malts. Founded in 1876 in Chilton, Briess remains one of the few family-owned malting companies in the world.

Briess Industries is a perfect example of a successful company. They articulated a strategic plan eight years ago that has doubled their sales and operating income, giving them a strong financial backbone. They have a diverse product portfolio, balancing the company and allowing them to maintain a competitive edge, even when external issues may affect their markets. They are proactive in their community, and have low employee turnover and high commitment to training. Briess encourages their customers’ demand to spur new product innovation.

Grand Award:
Small Size Category
Hydro-Thermal Corporation, Waukesha
www.hydro-thermal.com

Established: 1964
Size: 58 Wisconsin employees (62 total employees)
Leadership: Jim Zaiser, president
Manufactures: Direct steam injection heaters.

Who We Are: Hydro-Thermal is headquartered in Waukesha, and manufactures a line of innovative direct steam injection heaters in an ISO-certified plant. Their expert engineers apply proprietary direct steam injection technology to help customers replace old process heating technology, such as heat exchangers, to meet their most difficult process heating requirements. Hydro Thermal solves customer process heating problems by expertly sizing and designing the right direct steam injection system to save energy, reduce downtime and assure product quality. Established in 1964, they are a strong family-owned company employing 62 talented people.

Hydro-Thermal Corporation spent 45 years in the paper industry. When that industry saw major declines, Hydro-Thermal saw an opportunity. With the knowledge and expertise of their world-class engineers, they diversified their business, and now work in many diverse industries, shipping products to more than 45 countries. Hydro-Thermal Corporation transitioned from what they were, to what they are going to be.

Special Award:
Team Commitment to the Community
Atlas Resin Proppants LLC, Taylor
www.atlasresinproppants.com

Established: 2005
Size: 93 Wisconsin employees
Leadership: Robbie Sage and Ian Chapman, executive vice presidents
Manufactures: Resin-coated proppants for hydraulic fracturing applications.

Who We Are: Atlas Resin Proppants is a growing leader in the proppants industry and leading supplier to the service segment of the oil and natural gas industry. They are a producer of high quality resin-coated sand proppants for hydraulic fracturing applications. Atlas Resin Proppants’ process control and quality assurance systems ensure their customers receive the highest standard in resin-coated sand proppants quality and consistency. They are proud to be a native Wisconsin company employing 93 people at their Taylor plant, and they are proud to continue expanding their operations with an expanded plant expected in early 2011.

Atlas Resin Proppants employs more quality control technicians than any of their industry competitors. They strongly believe in their employees, and they dedicate many resources to their growth and development. Atlas encourages their employees to commit time to local community efforts, and that equates to a greater donation than if the company had simply made the donation.

Special Award:
Local to Global Commitment Award
HWD Acquisition Inc. d/b/a Hurd Windows & Doors, Medford
www.hurd.com

Established: 1919
Size: 334 Wisconsin employees (337 total employees)
Leadership: Dominic Truniger, president & CEO
Manufactures: Wood windows and patio doors for the residential construction industry.

Who We Are: Hurd Windows & Doors is a manufacturer of high-end custom wood windows and patio doors, and a major exporter of wood windows, accounting for 7 percent of all United States wood window exports in 2010. Staying nimble during the recent downturn in the housing industry, Hurd developed an innovative product mix for customers interested in remodeling their homes rather than building new. They are a Lean manufacturer, and a strong believer in buying locally and selling globally. Hurd estimates their purchases from other Wisconsin companies exceeded $8 million in 2010 alone. They are strong stewards of their local community, and believe it is their hard working associates who make their company successful.

Hurd Windows & Doors maintains a consistent commitment to buying locally. This has had a positive economic impact on Wisconsin and has created and maintained countless jobs in the Badger state. They insist on supporting and investing in the social fabric of their community, and reaching well beyond the borders of Wisconsin to serve human needs.

Special Award:
Customer Commitment
Plexus Corporation, Neenah
www.plexus.com

Established: 1980
Size: 1,900 Wisconsin Employees; 8,580 Employees Company-wide
Leadership: Dean Foate, CEO
Expertise: Provides mechanical, electronic and software design, printed circuit board development, prototyping services, new product introduction, material procurement and supply chain management, printed circuit board and higher level assembly, test development, in-circuit and functional testing, final system box build, fulfillment, service, and repair.

Who We Are: Plexus Corporation is a diverse company which thrives on a culture that values passion, accountability, customer focus, and teamwork. They manufacture network security products and satellite broadband transmission routers that allow places like the New York Stock Exchange to network hundreds of computers. They design and manufacture ultrasound machines that allow expectant moms and dads to hear their baby’s heartbeat for the first time, and a DNA analysis machine that allows scientists to test and analyze DNA. They designed and manufactured Coca-Cola’s new Freestyle machine, dispensing more than 100 different fountain beverages from one unit. They provide comprehensive design, manufacturing, supply chain, and fulfillment services to many of the world’s top defense, aerospace, and homeland security companies. They design and manufacture the black boxes (which are actually orange in color contrary to their name) which are placed in every commercial aircraft in the United States.

Plexus has built a successful business strategy, allowing it to continue to grow and deliver on long-lasting customer relationships. It is committed to retaining its manufacturing presence in the Americas as it strives to deliver their customers’ global product fulfillment strategies. Plexus is proud of realizing their customers’ ideas and helping them grow their market share.


Special Award:
Lifetime Achievement
James S. Haney, president and CEO, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce

The Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award in Manufacturing was introduced this year to honor the people who make Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry successful. Through his tireless work at WMC, Jim Haney has spent the last quarter of a century helping do just that. His dedication to the business community and his resolve to make Wisconsin the most competitive state in the nation is unparalleled.

Jim has earned the respect of elected officials and agency leaders on both sides of the aisle, and has created bridges between corporations, foundations, educational institutions, and government to advance policies which help Wisconsin’s hard working citizens. He has led major legislative victories which helped existing companies thrive and created a climate to attract new companies to the great Badger state.

Finally, Jim’s character is second to none. He is respected as one of the most honest and ethical people to ever walk the halls of the State Capitol. Through this Award, we honor Jim’s loyalty to Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry and thank him for his fortitude and inspiration.  CRW

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