New North: New North companies among ‘manufacturers of the year’

Contact: Joshua Morby

Mobile: 920.968.4197

Email: media@thenewnorth.com

Brenner Tank, Orion Energy Systems, Neenah Paper Recipients of Annual Awards

NEW NORTH, February 27, 2009 – Three New North Companies – Brenner Tank, Orion Energy Systems, and Neenah Paper – received awards at the 2008 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards in Milwaukee on Thursday.

Fond du Lac-based Brenner Tank, LLC and Manitowoc’s Orion Energy Systems were named “Grand Award Winners” in the Large (300-999 employees) and Medium (50-299 employees) company categories, respectively. Neenah Paper also was given a special “Leader in Transformation” award.

“Manufacturing has always been a leading industry in the New North, and the success of these three companies demonstrates the ability of manufacturers to thrive in our region,” said Jerry Murphy, Executive Director of the New North, Inc. “I congratulate Brenner Tank, Orion Energy, and Neenah Paper on their achievements.”

Brenner Tank was founded in 1900 as the Jacob Brenner Co., and is now the largest manufacturer of stainless steel tanks in North America, with over 300 employees at operating facilities in Fond du Lac and Mauston, as well as Houston, Texas, Memphis, Tennessee, and Ashland, Kentucky. For more information, please visit http://www.brennertank.com.

Orion was founded in 1996 with a focus in agricultural lighting sales and compact fluorescent technology. Today, Orion employs more than 250 employees in the Plymouth and Manitowoc facilities and recently began construction of a 60,000 square foot office and technology center adjacent to the Manitowoc plant. For more information, please visit http://www.oriones.com.

For over 100 years, Neenah Paper has been an innovative leader in the creation and manufacturing of premium and specialty papers. Neenah brings state-of-the-art technology to its signature brands, CLASSIC®, ENVIRONMENT®, STARWHITE®, NEENAH® and ESSE®, as well as a host of other fine paper products preferred by graphic designers and printers. For more information, please visit http://www.neenahpaper.com.

New North, Inc. is a regional collaboration effort focused on promoting regional cooperation and economic development in an 18-county region in Northeast Wisconsin. The 18 counties included in the New North are Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Waupaca, Brown, Shawano, Oconto, Marinette, Door, Kewaunee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Florence, Menominee, and Waushara. To find out more information about New North, Inc., please visit our website at http://www.thenewnorth.com.