2022 Nominees

Pierce Manufacturing
Appleton, WI

The Pierce Electric Firetruck is the first zero-emission electric fire truck, in service, in North America. The Volterra pumper was developed to provide the environmental benefits fire departments requested such as reducing emissions, minimizing fuel, and producing less noise, without having to compromise on the leading-edge operational performance, functionality, and safety attributes fire departments expected from their fire truck. The Volterra pumper has an Oshkosh patented parallel-electric drivetrain which allows zero-emissions operations when powered by the integrated onboard batteries and can be coupled to the internal combustion engine to provide continuous and uninterrupted power to the pumping or drive system.

ETC, Inc.
Middleton, WI

For decades, ETC’s Wisconsin-built Source Four spotlight has been the world’s go-to stage light, illuminating shows from Broadway to film sets to theme parks to the great opera houses. In 2021, the Middleton-based manufacturer continued that legacy with the Source Four LED Series 3, incorporating years of color and optics research. With a custom eight-color LED array (green, lime, blue, indigo, cyan, amber, red, deep red) designed to flatter wide-ranging skin tones, this high-tech light can be precision-mixed to subtle tints and rich hues. The wireless-compatible spotlight is bright enough to be used from the back of a large auditorium, bringing beautiful, flexible, energy-efficient LED lighting where it could never go before.

Plexus Corp.
Neenah, WI

The past few years have taught us the importance of rapid infectious disease testing. When they need to trust the answer, clinicians rely on PCR-based testing, which typically means waiting a day or two for results to come back from the lab. In support of our vision to help create the products that build a better world, Plexus partnered with Quidel to develop, design and manufacture the Quidel Savanna platform to change that paradigm and bring true lab quality (real-time PCR) molecular testing out of large central laboratories and into near-patient (point of care) settings to diagnose influenza, RSV or COVID-19. The system accepts a patient sample and provides a diagnostic result in less than 25 minutes, eliminating the need to send your swab off to a lab – no more waiting for days for an extremely accurate COVID-19 test result!

Columbia Vehicle Group
Reedsburg, WI

HoopMaster
Germantown, WI

Midwest Products Inc., a leader in the commercial embroidery industry, invented and manufactures the magnetic Mighty Hoop. Made in WI, this tool uses magnets and securely holds fabric, while designs or logos are embroidered in embroidery machines. Mighty Hoops have changed the way embroiderers hoop fabric. It allows them the ability to easily embroider materials that weren’t possible before. Mighty Hoops have been sold in over 90 countries, and the list is growing all the time.

H&S Manufacturing
Marshfield, WI

The LOADMASTER 2X is a harvesting dump cart designed and manufactured to carry 60,000 lbs of product, with the ability to lift and dump the product into a truck, with a dump height of over 15 ft. The LOADMASTER 2X is able to fill up to a 40′ semi trailer in one dump, increasing harvesting efficiencies, the tanks can also be dumped independently if there is a need to load smaller trucks. The cart utilizes a track undercarriage for minimal ground compaction and maximum floatation in wet conditions.

Krier Foods
Random Lake, WI

We put the POP in Wisconsin! Jolly Good Soda has been a part of Wisconsin history since 1966. Made by Krier Foods in Random Lake, Wisconsin, Jolly Good has held a special place at family picnics, camping trips, weekends at the lake and may more memories for decades. Our unique flavor line includes Blue Raspberry, Sour Pow’r (perfect for those Wisconsin old fashioneds, Cherry, Fruit Punch Grape, Orange, Root Beer and the most popular, Cream Soda. We also have diet options available in these flavors! Jolly Good soda is truly Something Special From Wisconsin!

KI
Bonduel, WI

From WWE Summer Slam to concerts and athletic events, you can find 600 Series folding chairs from KI in the front row. 600 Series folding chairs can be custom screen printed on the seat and back to reflect logos, mascots and more. WWE uses this seating at their events and includes the chair as part of certain ticket packages. The metal folding chair was KI’s flagship product in 1941. Innovative for its time, it brilliantly answered the call for seating that was portable, stackable, durable and affordable. As a nod to our foundation, the 600 Series folding chair offers durable and affordable solutions for a variety of applications.

Robbins
White Lake, WI

Robbins Sports Surfaces, a family owned business located in the small town of White Lake WI, is the premier supplier of high performance maple sports flooring systems to the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, arena, education, religious and fitness markets. In more than 65 nations on six continents, athletes compete and practice on millions of square meters of Robbins’ sports surfaces. Robbins Key Highlights: ◾90% of NBA teams have owned competition and/or training facility floors ◾More NBA teams compete and train on Robbins court than all other competitors combined ◾21 of the past 25 NBA Champions played their home games on a Robbins’ court ◾13 of the 16 2012 NBA playoff teams compete and/or train on a Robbins’ court.

Ariens
Brillion, WI

The Mammoth 850 is a go anywhere, clear anything behemoth designed and built to make a mockery of Wisconsin (and all) winters. From its best-in-class 28.5hp Kawasaki 850V engine with Electronic Fuel Injection for reliable starting on cold days to its Parker HP2 Pumps powering individual Parker DF-series motors that move the massive 22” Terra-Trac four-wheel-driven tires, there is not a snow-covered path it cannot clear with ease. Change attachments from the versatile, all-steel V-plow that quickly changes between “V”, straight or scoop modes to a 44″ power broom to a 36″ or 48″ snow blower head to a 5-nozzle sprayer brine spreader – even add a rear-mounted stainless steel salt spreader that will ensure nothing but pavement in your paths.

Hentzen Coatings, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI

Hentzen manufactures the coatings system used to protect and beautify the U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18E Super Hornet multi-role fighter aircraft. Hentzen’s Aerozen Advanced Performance Coating System consists of an epoxy primer, urethane sanding surfacer and an ultradurable urethane topcoat. The carrier based F/A-18E Super Hornet’s max speed of Mach 1.8 and 44,500 feet per minute rate of climb, at altitudes up to 49,000 feet, require a high performance coating system capable of withstanding extreme conditions which still look flawless at the end of the mission. Since 1923 Hentzen has manufactured coatings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a variety of local, national and international companies and we are proud to partner with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Komatsu
Milwaukee, WI

At over 48 feet high–that is 3.5 stories–and over 50 feet long, the P&H 4800XPC electric rope shovel is a monster machine used in surface mining. Weighing in at roughly 3.6 million pounds, this shovel is engineered for increased digging power and faster cycle times, utilizing the latest mining technology. Used at mines around the world, the 4800XPC has a payload of over 135 US tons. The P&H 4800XPC is produced at Komatsu’s new 430,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, which makes the major components of large mining machines, including electric rope shovels, hybrid shovels, draglines and blasthole drills. The location is the machining center of excellence for Komatsu’s surface mining business.

Wisconsin Lighting, Inc. (WiLL)
Fond du Lac, WI

The WiLLsport™ outdoor lighting and entertainment system delivers world-class lighting technology and structures for clubs, community fields, and sports facilities big and small. Proudly engineered and manufactured in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin – this solution was meticulously developed and refined for performance and quality, safety and reliability, ease of installation and operation – and of course fun and entertainment when combined with RGB colors and dynamic light shows. WiLLsport™ combines the best materials, components, technology, and lighting design, creating turnkey solutions with factory-direct WiLL support from quote to install and beyond.

BethRick Inc.
Oshkosh, WI

The Great Plate is an all around cool product that makes balancing food and beverage easy! Great Plate is perfect for wherever food and drinks are served together. This reusable plate comes with a unique built-in cup holder which is also a wine glass holder, so you can carry your food and drink comfortably in one hand. All products are made from a BPA-free virgin polypropylene plastic material that is 100% recyclable, although this plate is dishwasher safe and microwaveable so it’s meant to be reused over and over.

Minocqua Popcorn and Puffs
Minocqua, WI

30 flavors of gourmet popcorn and puffs made In Minocqua.