Gov. Doyle: Recognizes Recipients of Governor’s New Product Awards

Contacts: Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

Dale Swenson, Governor’s New Product Awards Chairperson, 414-343-8452

DE PERE – Governor Jim Doyle today congratulated the recipients of the Governor’s New Product Awards. The awards were made at the 35th annual Governor’s New Product Awards Banquet, held on April 13, 2006 at SC Grand’s, Frank’s Dinner Theatre in DePere. Department of Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke presented the awards on behalf of Governor Doyle.

“These Wisconsin manufacturers contribute to the state’s economic growth through the development, manufacturing, and marketing of new and innovative products,” Governor Doyle said. “Wisconsin manufacturers are making products that can compete anywhere in the world, and our exports are growing at record-levels. I want to congratulate the winners on their outstanding new products, and thank them for their commitment to excellence in manufacturing.”

Four Best of State winners will compete in the 2007 National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) New Product Awards for national recognition. Wisconsin entries in the past 10 years have been given the top award more often than those from any other state.

The awards are as follows:

BEST OF STATE WINNERS

Mega Company (10,000 + employees):

First Place – Kohler Company, Kohler

Cimarron – A comfort height toilet with Class Five technology

Contact – Tabitha Steinbock, Kitchen & Bath Public Relations, 920-457-4441 x70122

Second Place – ATK/Onalaska Operations, Onalaska

SST Single Stack Electric Trap – For backyard sporting clay shooters

Contact – Kathryn Engber, Engineering, 608-779-1246

Third Place – Kohler Company, Kohler

WaterTile – Flush mount body spray with pivoting spray face

Contact – Tabitha Steinbock, Kitchen & Bath Public Relations, 920-457-4441 x70122

Large Company (201 to 9,999 employees):

First Place – Coating Excellence International, LLC, Wrightstown

Clean Strip – Tear strip opening system for film wrapped reams of paper

Contact – Michael Nowak, President, 920-996-1953

Second Place – Bruno Independent Living Aids, Oconomowoc

“Joey” – VSL-4000 Interior Platform Lift for Minivans and other Hatchback Vehicles

Contact – Michael M. Krawczyk, Marketing Services Manager, 262-953-5424

Third Place – Bruno Independent Living Aids, Oconomowoc

SRE-2750 Straight Rail Stairlift (Electra Ride LT)

Contact – Michael M. Krawczyk, Marketing Services Manager, 262-953-5424

Medium Company (51 to 200 employees):

First Place – Orion Energy Systems, Plymouth

InteLite Compact Modular Series – State-of-the-art energy efficient lighting platforms

Contact – Susan Marland, Executive Assistant, 920-892-5436

Small Company (50 or fewer employees)

First Place – Standard Imaging, Inc., Middleton

QA BeamChecker – Used to check linear accelerator beams

Contact – Raymond T. Riddle, P.E., RAC, VP Regulatory Affairs, 608-831-0025 x262

Second Place – The Natural Resource Company, LLC, LaCrosse

APAS – Precision Aquatic Pesticide Application System

Contact – Joshua Britton, President, 800-760-6726

Third Place – ARPI of USA/Automated Recycling Products Incorporated, Stoughton

Power Wire Stripper – Used to strip plastic coated wire

Contact – Ms Kim Adams, VP, 608-873-8659

HONORABLE MENTION

Small Company

Photonic Cleaning Technologies, LLC, Platteville

First Contact Polymer Solution – Strip coat cleaner for delicate and precision surfaces

Contact – Phil Jackson, CEO & President, 608-770-7383

PureCart Systems, Green Bay

Shopping Cart Purification System

Contact – Jim Kratowicz, VP-Business Development/Marketing, 920-321-8168

M&O Properties, Portage

Grip H Clip – Innovative clip for spacing and holding roof sheathing

Contact – John Matson, President, 608-742-6565 ext 103

The Governor’s New Product Awards program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers (WSPE), with support from the Governor’s Office, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Transportation. The program recognizes benefits that come from the research and engineering of new products. It also focuses on rapidly emerging technologies, recognizes the contribution of engineers in new product development, and encourages the pursuit of science and engineering careers.

Eligible entries include any new product, machine, process or material that has been developed in Wisconsin, provided that it was first placed on the market between 2001 and 2005. Award categories include small, medium, large, and mega, measured by employment.

For more information, contact Dale Swenson, 414/343-8452 or Dale.Swenson@harley-davidson.com.