Dept. of Commerce: Gov. Doyle Congratulates Winners Of The Governor’s Export Achievement Awards

Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle yesterday congratulated nine recipients of the Governor’s Export Achievement Awards. Every year, the Governor recognizes firms and organizations that have achieved extraordinary results in international sales or have contributed to Wisconsin’s increased ability to compete in a global market. Department of Commerce (Commerce) Secretary Mary P. Burke presented the awards on behalf of Governor Doyle.

“Wisconsin exports have shown four straight years of incredibly strong growth, and our growth continues to surpass that of the nation,” Governor Doyle said. “As Governor, I’m determined to build on this success and help our businesses continue to reach new markets. I’m proud to recognize these Wisconsin companies and institutions that have demonstrated leadership and innovation in responding successfully to international market challenges, and are building a great name for Wisconsin around the globe.”

The Governor’s Export Achievement Awards are presented annually to state companies actively involved in export trade. Criteria include degree of export-related growth; innovative techniques and approaches that resulted in the company’s success; and demonstration of extra effort in capturing worldwide markets.

For further information about the Governor’s export Achievement Awards, contact Mary Regel, Commerce, at 608/266-1767.

The award winners are as follows:

Small Industrial Exporter

Anguil Environmental Systems, Inc. – Milwaukee

Anguil Environmental Systems, Inc. provides air pollution control technology. The firm is headquartered in Milwaukee, has sales offices in Europe and Asia, and has made 1,600 installations worldwide. Nearly 30 percent of its sales come from international business. Anguil knows the value of assembling a strong team, calling upon other Wisconsin companies like Global Back Office, Bentley Packaging, M.E. Dey, Fox World Travel, and US Bank in its efforts to build its international markets. Anguil also uses seven local fabricators and two control panel shops, employing 40 Wisconsin workers, to produce components more effectively. Anguil’s exports have grown 300% since 2003.

Medium Industrial Exporter

Bell Laboratories, Inc. – Madison

Bell Laboratories is the leading U.S. manufacturer of rodenticides, tamper-resistant bait stations, non-poisonous glue boards, traps, and monitoring bait for the control and eradication of rodents. Killing rats is not a pretty industry, but Bell Laboratories makes sure it is done in a conscientious way. Its products are tailored to meet local needs. The firm’s products have been used to eliminate invasive rodents from island environments with minimal effect on indigenous species. In the Tuileries Gardens of Paris, a bait station designed to look like a rock has been effectively used in a popular tourist location. Other products were used at Olympic Games in Athens. Export sales have been growing by 20% or more for the last three years running. The firm has added 75 full-time jobs at its Madison facility to keep up with increased demand.

Large Industrial Exporter

Mercury Marine – Fond du Lac

Mercury Marine is the last remaining U.S.-owned and operated manufacturer of marine outboard engines. The firm’s world headquarters has been in Fond-du Lac since 1947. Last year’s exports, over $163 million worth of products that went to 175 countries, accounted for nearly a quarter of the firm’s total sales. Over the past seven years, Mercury Marine has transformed itself from an old technology, two-stroke outboard maker into the only 100% ISO-certified engine maker in the world and invested over $100 million to design and manufacture in Wisconsin the latest technology outboard, the only supercharged marine four-stroke outboard, VERADO, which was voted the Innovation of the Year in 2004 by International Boating Exhibition. Mercury Marine annually invests more than $30 million in new product technologies in Fond du Lac. Mercury Marine has a significant positive impact upon the state’s economy. Today, there are more Mercury Marine employees in Fond du Lac than there were in 2003. The firm also makes purchases of more than $200 million from 1500 other Wisconsin suppliers.

Small Service Exporter

UW- Platteville International Business Resource Center – Platteville

The International Business Resource Center (IBRC) at the UW-Platteville provides international education opportunities and consulting services for business people as well as college students. Providing international business information, material, analysis and research to Wisconsin’s small and medium sized businesses from the U.W.-Platteville campus, the IBRC enables companies to pursue international opportunities for their products and services. The IBRC also coordinates study-abroad programs for future business leaders. Over the last three years the IBRC has assisted 46 students gain first hand experience of business practices in China. Through a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the IBRC is a key player in establishing trade protocol between the U.S. dairy industry and the countries of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.

Small Agricultural Exporter

Accelerated Genetics – Baraboo

Accelerated Genetics is a Wisconsin-based cooperative that is a global provider of genetics for dairy and beef producers. It employs 200 people in Wisconsin. The cooperative is recognized for having many of the very best bulls in the world and is one of the fastest growing artificial insemination companies in the USA. Sales have doubled in the last 10 years. During 2005, export s accounted for 38% of total sales.

Agricultural Service Exporter

UW- Babcock Institute – Madison

The mission of the Babcock Institute is to foster mutually beneficial ties between the Wisconsin dairy industry and the dairy industries of the rest of the world through: (1) educational and training programs, (2) world market and trade analysis, and (3) research collaboration and scientific partnerships leading to future commercial exchanges. The Institute has developed research and outreach projects that promote international awareness of Wisconsin dairy expertise and technology and enhance the competitiveness of the Wisconsin dairy industry in a global economy. The Institute’s website is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese and had 322,000 visits from 197 different counties. The Institute has conducted two short courses in China and will be holding a third one later this month in Harbin, the capital of Wisconsin’s sister-state, Heilongjiang Province.

Special “Export Plus” Small

MetalTek International – Waukesha

MetalTek International supplies casts high-grade stainless steel and non-ferrous ally products. Some of its products are used in furnaces to produce ethylene, ammonia, methanol, and iron through the DRI process. MetalTek is also a major supplier of compressor cases used by jet engine manufacturers. An expanded web presence has increased MetalTek’s exposure in many new markets. A review of sales contacts via the internet has shown that nearly 40% of those contacts are from customers or potential customers outside of the United States. Equipment has been installed in more than 25 countries around the world including Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine and others. Over the past three years, MetalTek has added more than 120 high-paying jobs to its Wisconsin operations. Export sales have averaged 18% of total sales in an increasingly competitive world market.

Special “Export Plus” Large

Greenheck Fan Corporation – Schofield

Greenheck Fan is the leading manufacturer of commercial and industrial ventilation equipment. Through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the firm is largely employee-owned. Of the firm’s 2,000 worldwide employees, nearly 1,500 are located in Wisconsin. The firm was founded in 1947 and reached the $100 million sales level in 1995. Last year they reached $361 million. Exporting and international markets have been important to the firm’s growth. Greenheck Fan has hired regional directors in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia that speak the local languages and well versed in the local business cultures. The firm’s website is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese in order to facilitate communication with more customers around the world.

Special “Export Plus” Agricultural

ABS Global, Inc. – De Forest

ABS Global, Inc. provides frozen semen from elite bulls to dairy and beef producers around the world to help increase the production of protein and energy to the world’s people. It takes five years of progeny testing to identify the few elite bulls that the firm selects each year from the many hundreds that enter its testing program. ABS focuses on offering a varied genetic line that can be tailored to the demands of local climates, market variations and cultural preferences. At least 125 overseas trips a year are made by staff from the Wisconsin facility to exchange technology and develop markets. Over 700 foreign visitors from 30 different countries are hosted each year by the firm in De Forest.