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Monday, May 13, 2013
Caterpillar negotiations stalled
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
Negotiations between Caterpillar Inc. and United Steelworkers Local 1343 have stalled in South Milwaukee.

The union, which represents about 800 workers at the facility, voted to reject a six-year labor proposal from the company on April 30.

The company’s proposal would have frozen workers’ wages for six years and increased their share of payment for health care benefits. The company also has announced plans to lay off 250 to 300 workers in South Milwaukee.

Union officials then met with Caterpillar on Wednesday to make a few counter offers, said Ross Winklbauer, United Steelworkers District 4 director.

“The company listened, but unfortunately on Wednesday they were not ready to sit down and basically talk,” Winklbauer said. “They kind of listened to what we had to say, that was pretty much it at that point.”

No further meetings are currently scheduled, the company said.

Local 1343 is willing to sit down and negotiate, but the company also has to be willing to talk, Winklbauer said.

“We’re hoping that the company decides they want to sit back down and talk and the two sides can then meet and do what we can to get this contract settled,” he said.

When the South Milwaukee facility became a part of Caterpillar in the 2011 acquisition of Bucyrus International Inc., Local 1343 had already represented those workers for 76 years, Winklbauer said. As a result, the workers have a big stake in the company.

The company and Local 1343 have been negotiating since April 2 on the first Caterpillar contract for the union.

Union members will continue to work and help Caterpillar remain one of the top mining equipment manufacturers in the world, he said.

“That’s one of the reasons why we’re still working,” he said. “We want to produce good quality products that they take pride in.”
Workers will continue to operate under the contract that expired April 30 until an agreement is reached, Winklbauer said.

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Made in Milwaukee: Stella & Chewy's fills natural pet food niche
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
When Marie Moody rescued her dog Chewy from an animal shelter in California, he was very sick. A holistic vet in Los Angeles told her to try feeding him a raw food diet.

When Chewy thrived on the diet, Moody tried to find a commercially available pet food made with similar ingredients, but there weren't any. So she started Stella & Chewy's, a raw pet food company named after her dogs, in 2003.
Read more in today's issue of BizTimes Milwaukee.

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RockTenn to close Milwaukee plant
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
Norcross, Ga.-based Rock-Tenn Company will close its facility at 2800 W. Custer Ave. in Milwaukee by July 5 and lay off about 69 workers there.

Employees at the corrugated box plant were informed that production will cease by the end of June, said Robin Keegan, director of corporate communications.

"Closing the facility is an economic decision, and it's based on redundancies in plant equipment and capacity," Keegan said.

The company, which has 210 facilities and 26,000 employees nationwide, has seven locations in Wisconsin, Keegan said.

There are 675 RockTenn employees in Wisconsin, with another Milwaukee location and facilities in Neenah, Adams, Jackson, Germantown and Sturtevant. Neenah is the only other corrugated packaging plant in Wisconsin.

The Custer Avenue location became part of RockTenn when it acquired Chicago-based Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. in 2011. The company owns the facility, and has not yet determined what will happen with the building.

"This facility has operated as a corrugated box plant since the 1950s," Keegan said. "There are many facilities from the acquisition that we continue to own and operate. We're constantly evaluating the best way to serve our customers, and looking at our facilities and the resources that we have, what demand is in the area, where customers are located, what kind of products customers are looking for…so we look at many factors."

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State awards exporters
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
The Governor's Export Achievement Awards were announced last week at the Wisconsin International Trade Conference at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee-based scent technology company Prolitec Inc., Sheboygan Falls-based sausage manufacturer Johnsonville Sausage and Sussex-based dynamometer manufacturer Power Test Inc. received Export Achievement Awards.

The metro Milwaukee area exports 21 percent more than the national average, said Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.

"We're active exporters here in Wisconsin and as I've mentioned, that serves the economy very well," Sheehy said.

While Gov. Scott Walker was unable to attend the event, he released the following statement:

"These three Wisconsin-based companies have achieved extraordinary results in international markets, maintaining a commitment to Wisconsin's economic and job growth opportunities. All three companies have contributed to Wisconsin's success in expanding our global business footprint."

BizTimes featured Prolitec in a recent print issue.

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MRPC to break ground for expansion
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
MRPC, a Butler-based single-source provider of medical device components and assemblies, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on May 14 for a 15,000-square-foot addition to its 85,000-square-foot facility at 13161 W. Glendale Ave.

The project will add cleanroom manufacturing, additional office space and employee support space. The project is expected to be complete in November.

"Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team, MRPC is experiencing exceptional success and growth, which has driven the need for expanded facilities," said Greg Riemer, president of MRPC. "As a 92-year-old manufacturer, MRPC is continuously evolving and growing our capabilities to lead the medical device industry and provide clients with the most advanced molding solutions. Without our knowledgeable and committed team, this expansion would not be possible."

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AptarGroup to invest $50 million in Mukwonago plant
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
AptarGroup Inc., a dispenser manufacturing company based in Crystal Lake, Ill., announced it will invest $50 million in its Mukwonago manufacturing facility.

The company will use the funds, combined with $2.3 million in state tax credits it was made eligible for in July 2012, to invest in new manufacturing equipment and improve its research and development capabilities over the next three years.

According to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., AptarGroup has already invested $3 million of the funds in R&D and about $2 million "to upgrade its plant and capacity expansion opportunities."

Mark Miller, vice president of tax at AptarGroup, said there are no plans to expand the plant's footprint in Mukwonago, but there have been talks of adding a railroad spur.

The company expects to grow as a result of the investment, but Miller said there are no firm hiring numbers. AptarGroup has agreed to retain its 424 Mukwonago employees for the next five years in return for the tax credits.

"(We're) adding presses to provide better customer service to our customers and just kind of the regular investment that you'd make to make efficiencies in a large plant like that," Miller said.

The company recently restructured its business to include three market segments, two of which the Mukwonago plant focuses on – beauty and home and food and beverage, he said. It also named global R&D hubs, including its plant in Mukwonago.

"We've always been very happy with the work base in Mukwonago, and with this restructuring we've created what we call expert centers," Miller said.

With the R&D investment, AptarGroup hopes to improve customers' products and create new products out of Mukwonago.

"AptarGroup's investment to support its facility in Mukwonago speaks to the commitment by the company to maintain its footprint in Wisconsin as part of its global presence," said Reed Hall, secretary and chief executive officer of the WEDC.
WEDC said AptarGroup last year met the requirement tied to the tax credits that it retain its 424-employee workforce in Waukesha County.

"Our facility in Mukwonago has continually been an important location for our regional and global business, not only as a manufacturing plant, but also as a hub for our research and development activities," said Steve Hagge, president and CEO of AptarGroup, in a statement. "Our continuous investment in this facility also recognizes the important contributions made by our employees in Mukwonago to our innovation, quality, and customer service."

AptarGroup has a global presence and 19 locations worldwide where it manufactures and supplies dispensing systems for the beauty, personal care, home care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage industries.

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Koss unveils special earphones for women
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
Milwaukee-based Koss Corp. has launched the Koss Fit Series, a new product line of earphones designed for women, by women.

The company said its Koss Fit Series is developed to meet a frequently overlooked demographic in the headphone and consumer electronics industry. To support the product's daily wear and tear that can be expected for women on the go, Koss' female designers teamed up with Olympian Dara Torres to help design the product line.

"Headphones in the market today don't accommodate the needs of today's woman," said Torres. "When I learned Koss wanted my help in designing the Fit Series, I jumped at the chance."

The Koss Fit Series features two models.

Koss FitClips utilize an original and unique design that ensures the perfect fit. Using a new in-ear ported design, the elements rest comfortably in the ear to create the ideal seal for the ultimate listening experience. Listeners are given the choice of three sizes of ear cushions designed to fit perfectly in any woman's ear. FitClips are available in five colors also feature a sweat-resistant coating for active use and durability.

Koss FitBuds bring the Sound of Koss to listeners in the smallest earbuds Koss has ever created. The buds are only six millimeters in diameter, making them 33 percent smaller than the average Koss earbud. The elements are surrounded by a dual-injected, soft-rubberized housing intended to fit perfectly in the female ear. Like the FitClips, the FitBuds feature the same sweat-resistant coating, five color options and extra cushions.

"We are really excited to launch the Fit Series, which is the first headphone series ever designed for women by women" said Michael J. Koss, president and chief executive officer. "Our designers' vision, coupled with Dara's unique perspective has created the perfect pair. These headphones fit great, sound great and look great."

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MillerCoors profits dip
May 13, 2013 10:45 AM
SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company reported first quarter net income of $271.9 million for Chicago-based MillerCoors LLC, a decrease of 1.2 percent compared to the 2012 first quarter.

Net sales for MillerCoors increased 1.6 percent in the first quarter to $1.788 billion.

"Across the country, beer volumes were challenged in the first quarter due to a combination of tough comparatives led by last year's unseasonably warm weather and the payroll tax increase that impacted our core beer drinkers' disposable income," said MillerCoors chief executive officer Tom Long. "However, our portfolio transformation strategy is working as evidenced by our growth in domestic net revenue per barrel, so there is reason for optimism as our strategy unfolds. Our new brand launches, Redd's Apple Ale and Third Shift, gained early traction with consumers and retailers ahead of our initial projections, and Tenth and Blake continues to deliver strong results led by Blue Moon."

During the first quarter, MillerCoors Premium Light brands decreased mid-single digits in the quarter. Coors Light declined low-single-digits in the quarter. Miller Lite declined high-single digits for the quarter.

The Tenth and Blake Beer Company in Milwaukee grew the MillerCoors Craft and Import portfolio by high-single digits in the quarter, driven by Blue Moon Brewing Company and the continued national expansion of Batch 19. Blue Moon was up high-single digits in the quarter. Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company's growth slowed to low-single digits for the quarter as the Summer Shandy brand was adversely affected by comparison's to sales during the unseasonably warm weather in the prior year.

The MillerCoors Economy portfolio, including Miller High Life and Keystone Light, declined mid-single digits in the quarter.

The Premium Regular portfolio, including Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft, declined mid-single digits. The continued growth of Coors Banquet, which grew mid-single digits for the quarter, was offset by Miller Genuine Draft's double digit decline.

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Attend BizExpo to connect with business leaders
May 13, 2013 10:00 AM
Readers of the BizTimes Manufacturing Weekly are invited to attend the ninth annual BizExpo.

The BizExpo will take place at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino on Thursday, May 16.

Last year, more than 3,000 business executives attended the BizExpo. Attendees are invited to visit the exhibit booths, listen to the breakout business seminars, attend the Women in Business Breakfast, attend the Bravo! Entrepreneur and I.Q. Awards Luncheon and attend the BizExpo After Hours Reception.

Readers also are encouraged to visit the BizTimes Media booth at the BizExpo. For more information, click here.


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Manufacturing resources
Manufacturer Associations » Association of Equipment Manufacturers
» The Association for High Technology Distribution
» APICS – the Association for Operations Management
» Fabricators and Manufacturers International
» National Fluid Power Association
» Polyeurethane Manufacturers Association
» Precision Metalforming Association, Wisconsin District
» Society of Manufacturing Engineers - Chapter 4
» Society of Plastics Engineers - Greater Wisconsin
» Tool, Die and Machining Association of Wisconsin
» Wisconsin Truss Manufacturers Association
» Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association
» Wisconsin Sign Association
» Wisconsin Electrical Machines and Power Electronics Consortium
» Water Quality Association of Wisconsin
Manufacturing Advocacy, Leadership Training and Continuing Education » The Paranet Group
» Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership
» MSOE's Business Excellence Consortium
» Center for Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) at the University of Wisconsin
» UW-Milwaukee Center for Continuing Engineering Education
Other resources » American Society for Quality
» Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
» Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation
» Wisconsin Department of Commerce
» Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
» Milwaukee Export Assistance Center – U.S. Commercial Service
» Milwaukee World Trade Association
» MSOE's Applied Technology Center
» MSOE's Rapid Prototyping Center
» MATC's Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing (ECAM) facility

Molly Newman This exclusive news bulletin is compiled by BizTimes Milwaukee reporter Molly Newman. This bulletin is published every Monday morning. Send manufacturing industry news and tips to molly.newman@biztimes.com or call her at (414) 336-7144.
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