The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) and Milwaukee School of Engineering's (MSOE) Rapid Prototyping Center (RPC) today announced a collaborative partnership that will dramatically lower costs and expand access to the center's leading-edge services to help Wisconsin’s small and mid-size manufacturers bring new products to market.
Through WMEP's new membership in MSOE's Rapid Prototyping Consortium, small and mid-size manufacturers are able to purchase hours for prototyping services through WMEP at a discounted rate. Creating a prototype of a new product helps manufacturers shorten product development time, resolve design flaws and save money because prototypes made of plastic or similar materials are often less expensive than building an actual part.
"We're excited about the opportunity to bring our prototyping technologies to smaller firms," said John Choren, RPC's director. "Our partnership with WMEP allows us to deliver these product development services without the capital investment that is often required for access to this technology."
"MSOE's Rapid Prototyping Center is a tremendous resource for state manufacturers," said Michael Klonsinski, executive director of WMEP, a nonprofit consulting firm that helps manufacturers grow and succeed. "It's the largest center of its type in the U.S., and this partnership gives small and midsize manufacturers access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise that would not otherwise be available."
Though Wisconsin is home to scores of innovative manufacturers, the state's Next Generation Manufacturing Study revealed a critical need to ramp up efforts to develop and launch new products. Customer-focused innovation is a key success attribute of Next Generation Manufacturing.
For more information on how to access prototyping services through the partnership, contact Roxanne Baumann, WMEP's director of partnerships and alliances, at (262) 442-8279.

The airfare war at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport will continue at least through the summer.
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings Inc., /quotes/comstock/13*!aai/quotes/nls/aai today launched a sale for travel to all of the airline's destinations with one-way fares starting as low as $44.
The special fares are available for purchase through March 16 and are good for travel March 26 through Nov. 16. Travel to Florida, San Juan, Aruba, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Cancun, Mexico is available April 6 to Nov. 16. Lowest fares are available for travel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Additional sale fares are valid for travel Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
A sample of some of the one-way fares from Milwaukee in the summer sale includes: Dallas/Fort Worth, $84; Fort Lauderdale, $82; Los Angeles, $104; and New York, $69.
Travelers may purchase the sale fares at http://www.airtran.com.

Milwaukee-based North Shore Power Systems (NSPS), the exclusive licensee of the Honeywell brand for generators, is expanding distribution of its portable generators into the Latin American market via retailers and distributors.
NSPS designs and manufactures Honeywell generators.
The new channels will be supported by industry veteran Olga Hansen, director of Latin American and Caribbean sales. Hansen has years of experience selling generators and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. She is based in NSPS’s Miami office.
“We are responding to a demand in Latin America for backup power for portable generators,” said Jeff Servis, vice president of sales for NSPS. “Many Latin American countries rely on hydropower as one of their main sources of electrical energy, but various factors have meant dams are operating at low capacity resulting in frequent blackouts. In addition, the infrastructure is overtaxed, so even in favorable conditions, power outages are not unexpected.”
Honeywell Portable Generators are available in 10 models with continuous running watts from 3,000 to 7,500, and maximum surge watts ranging from 5,000 to 9,375.
“These generators are an excellent addition for homes or a small business,” Servis said. “A power outage that lasts even a few hours can mean lost revenue or sales for a business and an interruption of essential services for the homeowner. Having a portable generator to provide power backup provides security by keeping lights, communication devices, computers, heating and cooling systems, refrigeration and cooking appliances working. They can run through the night on a full tank of gas and, depending on the model and load, can power as many as 12 appliances at the same time.”
Honeywell Generators are currently available in a variety of local hardware stores throughout Latin America, including Juan Eljuri, a large retailer with locations throughout Venezuela and Ecuador.
“We are actively seeking retailers and distributors that will help us reach our objective of reaching every Latin American nation,” Servis said. “Latin American distribution is part of our company’s strategy to expand our business globally.”
Servis added that additional Honeywell generator models are in process of being developed. Its standby generator also is expected to be available soon.

Milwaukee County recently opened nine holes at Grant Golf Course in South Milwaukee and plans to open Lincoln, Greenfield (front 9), Oakwood, Hansen, Warnimont and Dretzka golf courses on Wednesday.
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will tee off at Greenfield Park Golf Course along with many of the county course patrons on Wednesday at 1 p.m. to officially open the season.
The front nine at Whitnall Golf Course is scheduled to open on Thursday, and more courses will open as conditions permit.
“Golfers are taking advantage of the mild temperatures this week and getting out on the courses,” Walker said.
Early season golf specials are available, and for a limited time all golfers will pay the lowest posted fee. Visit www.countyparks.com for updated golf course information.
     

The stock market posted marginal gains this morning as investors awaited the Federal Reserve Board’s latest decision on key interest rates this afternoon.
Wall Street also shrugged off the U.S. Commerce Department’s report that construction of new homes and apartments fell 5.9 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 575,000 units, as the housing market was blanketed by several snowstorms.
The largest local gainers in the BizTimes Stock Index this morning were Harley-Davidson Inc. (up $1.23 to $27.76) and A.O. Smith Corp. (up $1.06 to $50.37). The largest local decliners this morning were Strattec Security Corp. (down 62 cents to $19.58) and Badger Meter Inc. (down 32 cents to $49.03).

The Beloit Snappers, the Class A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, is working on plans for a new ballpark. The Snappers contracted with the Lieb Group of Mequon to study how much revenue a new ballpark will generate over a five-year period. The study will focus on a 15-acre site for the ballpark in Beloit’s Gateway Business Park just east of Interstate 90. Read more in BizTimes Milwaukee's headlines from around the state at http://www.biztimes.com/#news.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law a bill that makes it easier for residents to convert traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) into Roth IRAs. Read more about the impact of the bill in the new edition of the BizTimes Money Weekly bulletin.

State Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) is calling for approval of a bill that could help establish southeastern Wisconsin as a hub for alternative industrial energy. Read more in his latest Milwaukee Biz Blog.

Harley-Davidson Inc.’s stock shares rose more than 5 percent to $28.02 today on unsubstantiated rumors that the motorcycle maker is the target of a leveraged buyout.
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company, a New York-based private equity firm, may be negotiating a takeover of the troubled Milwaukee motorcycle manufacturer, according to a report by the Reuters news service.
Officials from KKR and Harley both declined to comment on the rumor.
Trading was three times the normal volume in Harley shares today. Trading was also active in the options market, where investors bet the stock would climb higher over the next few weeks, according to Interactive Brokers.
The Great Recession has taken a toll on Harley, which reported a loss of $218.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The company has warned investors that that 2010 will be "challenging."
Craig Kennison, an analyst covering Harley Davidson with Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., said today’s speculation seemed to be based on rumors.
He said Harley shareholders would likely be “enormously disappointed” with a $27 or $28 per share price. Harley’s stock peaked at $75.87 per share in November 2006.
“I am one that sees a significant amount of value (in Harley) that the market does not appreciate,” Kennison said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if others saw a tremendous value in Harley Davidson. We’re close to the bottom of the cycle for Harley. Management has been at the forefront of some meaningful changes and the company has not yet seen the fruits of those changes. I would be surprised to see a sale at that price when there is so much that’s left on the table.”
The cost cutting measures that Harley has made in recent years, including plant closures and layoffs, will make the company more profitable when the economy and sales rebound, Kennison said.
“We’re at the beginning of the cycle, and I think investors have reason to be optimistic about the turnaround that (Keith) Wandell (Harley’s CEO) is leading,” he said.

West Allis-based Maritime Savings Bank has been ordered to raise capital through a merger, acquisition or sale, according to an order issued by the federal Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS).
According to the order, Maritime Savings Bank must by recapitalized by June 30 by either merging with or being acquired by another financial institution or by selling its assets to another financial organization.
Maritime Savings Bank has until April 30 to submit a binding merger or acquisition agreement to the OTS, according to the order.
The result of any merger or acquisition needs to be that Maritime Savings Bank remains adequately capitalized for four consecutive quarters, the OTS said.
In November, Maritime Savings Bank was ordered by the OTS to raise capital. The federal agency said the bank was “significantly undercapitalized” at the time. Maritime was required to submit to the federal agency a capital restoration plan, which the OTS now says is insufficient.
In December, the bank named Peter Bildsten as its chief executive officer. Bildsten replaced Matthew Olsen, who had been the bank’s CEO since April 2009. Olsen has remained the bank’s president.

UPDATE: Maritime Savings Bank issued the following statement:

“The Maritime Savings Bank Board of Directors has agreed to a Prompt Corrective Action directive from the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). This is an expected next step to return the bank to healthier capital levels. The bank has fulfilled all requirements of the original OTS order, with the exception of recapitalization. That is where we are focusing our attention now. Senior leadership currently is engaged in meaningful dialogue with several parties interested in aiding our recapitalization efforts. The bank is pleased with these opportunities and is working diligently to meet the deadlines set in the latest directive. Since last fall, Maritime Savings Bank has made consistent progress toward improving its operations and performance. The bank has reduced its problem loan list for both residential and commercial loans. We continue to engage all parties to further strengthen the bank’s capital position. We recognize there is still a lot of work ahead. In the meantime, we want to stress that deposits are safe at Maritime, as we continue to offer full FDIC coverage. We will continue to serve our customers with the same priorities and personal attention.”

To capitalize on recent business growth in space more suited for its growing digital capabilities, independent marketing communications agency, Jacobson Rost will move its headquarters from Sheboygan to Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward on May 1.
The move will bring 35 jobs to Milwaukee. The agency plans to add another five to 10 employees to its Milwaukee staff over the next 18 months, while continuing to grow its new Chicago and Boston offices with the addition of another 20 employees.
Jacobson Rost currently employs 55 creative and marketing professionals.    
Located in loft space in the historic Saddlery Building at 233 N. Water St., Jacobson Rost will lease 10,000 square feet of office space. The new office space brings all employees together on one floor.  It features an open-loft design converted from industrial space with bright skylights, natural hardwood floors and a brick-and- timber interior design inspired by the building’s original craftsmen tenants. Designed to promote creativity and transparency, the open-plan layout trades closed offices for collaborative work areas.
After more than five decades in Sheboygan, the agency sought new office space blending modern amenities with old-world charm at a more centralized location to serve its national and Midwestern client base.
“Milwaukee is a great city, with great creative and marketing talent,” says Jerry Flemma, president and chief operating officer for Jacobson Rost.  “As we focus more of our agency growth outside the central U.S. region, finding a location that is easily accessible to transportation while still right in the heart of Wisconsin where we’ve honed our craft just makes sense.” 
The Third Ward has become home to many Wisconsin advertising firms, creative boutiques and professional service agencies, due in part to the area’s thriving business amenities and focus on historic preservation, Flemma said.
BizTimes Media LLC is based in the Third Ward.
“Jacobson Rost has always had an appreciation for historic preservation, and we’re pleased to see the agency will be building on that foundation with new roots in the Third Ward,” said Ann Pieper, principal of Pieper Properties in Milwaukee. “They bring with them an excellent client roster and a talented marketing team, a great match with our current tenant base.”
Along with the headquarters move, Jacobson Rost unveils a new logo and website in keeping with its new brand development process, the addition of new digital services and a refreshed agency culture. The new brand mark features a version of the original “Crown J” logo created by Frank Jacobson when he founded the agency in 1957, but gives it a modern twist.  The more simplified and interactive Jacobson Rost website promotes the agency’s growing digital capabilities, which will include an in-house digital production capability.
The agency represents leading national and regional brands, including Azteca Foods, BOSS Snowplow, Carl Buddig & Company, Clear Lam Packaging, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Federal Signal, Fisher Nuts, Kalahari Resorts, Killian’s Irish Red, the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker, Mercury Marine, MillerCoors, Old Wisconsin Food Products, Oster Professional Products, Society Insurance and Sunbeam.