TUE AM News: UW-Stout students design and present prototypes for Ashley Furniture; UW OBE spotlighting advocacy day

June 3, 2025

— Students at UW-Stout recently took part in a product design project for Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture, one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world.

As part of a new product development course at the university, the students were tasked with conducting market research before designing, testing and building professional prototypes for toolless bed connections.

Along with getting help from product designers with the company, the students traveled to its Arcadia facility in May and presented their prototypes to Ashley’s research and development team.

The project was funded by a sponsorship provided by the company to Assistant Prof. Kevin Dietsch, from UW-Stout’s engineering and technology department. His approach for the project, called the “design build process,” involves teaching projects with quick deadlines for students, according to an overview from the university.

“When you give students such a fast deadline for large-scale projects, when you cram them with ideas, it forces creativity,” he said in a statement. “There’s this crash and burn and rebuild mentality. They’ll make mistakes and learn to quickly find solutions. It can be stressful, but it builds grit.”

Between mid-April and early May, students worked in teams to develop their ideas, which ranged from a technical model for automated machining of bed components to a 3D-printed interlocking brackets system and more. One team, made up of technology education major Annika Schlueter and engineering technology major Hunter Ouimette, made a scale model of an interlocking Japanese wood joint bedframe.

Schlueter notes the teams had to effectively use the time they were given for the project, noting only four or five class periods had to be used to research, test, “fully develop” the model and prepare for the presentation to Ashley’s R&D team.

“No team’s design has stayed the exact same since we started the toolless bed connection project. Things go wrong, and things go right, and we had to develop accordingly,” she said.

Another team went through multiple iterations for a fastener component of its design, ultimately arriving at a final version that fixed earlier issues such as failing to hold securely while under tension. Mechanical engineering major Alex Springer said the last design “addressed those weaknesses, significantly improving grip and structural stability” compared to the first version.

“Working directly with professionals from Ashley … gave us insight into the complete product development cycle, from initial design through manufacturing and packaging to mechanical and interior design to align functional and aesthetic goals,” Springer said.

See more about the project here.

— The UW Office of Business & Entrepreneurship recently met with Wisconsin lawmakers to highlight its work in the state and showcase small businesses that it’s helped.

In a release yesterday, the OBE said its inaugural “Legislative Day at the Capitol” took place earlier this month. Representatives of the Center for Technology Commercialization, the Food Finance Institute, the Small Business Development Centers and the office’s strategic projects division connected with legislators to promote the work they’re doing in the state.

Bon Wikenheiser, executive director of the OBE, notes nearly half of the state’s workforce is employed by small businesses.

“Each year, we support over 7,000 entrepreneurs through technical assistance and programming delivered by our four units,” he said in a statement. “By meeting directly with legislators, we had the opportunity to showcase the vital role our work plays in helping small businesses thrive.”

The six companies that joined the OBE’s advocacy day included: COnovate, based in Milwaukee; Stem Pharm, based in Madison; Fortune Favors of Madison; Confluence Graphics of Milwaukee; Peggy Bakes, based in Valders in Manitowoc County; and McMerril Media, based in Ripon.

See more in the release.

— Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still is spotlighting the impact of the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest ahead of this year’s winner being crowned later this week in Madison.

In the latest edition of his “Around Wisconsin” column, Still says the contest has helped encourage more tech-based startup companies in Wisconsin since launching in 2004. He notes surveys have found contest finalists that advanced through earlier rounds of the contest had a survival rate of 70%, well above the norm for startup companies.

He points to various competitors that have gone on to have success, either in raising capital, growing into a larger business or getting acquired. One of the biggest success stories, Madison-based Fetch, has raised at least $578 million from investors since competing in 2013.

“Precise records are hard to come by, but other companies engaged in the contest have raised at least $350 million in angel capital, venture capital, grants and venture debt over time — all while creating jobs and economic value over time,” Still wrote.

This year’s contest culminates in a pitch competition and the winner being announced the following day, in the “annual centerpiece” of the Tech Council’s Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Conference, being held tomorrow and Thursday at the Monona Terrace.

Thirteen finalists will present their ideas to a panel of judges, a crowd of attendees and potential investors. These include companies developing medical imaging technology for cell therapies, a sensor for soil moisture and chemical composition, a medical coating product for titanium implants and more.

“Starting a young company in the tech space or elsewhere isn’t easy,” Still wrote. “Given that reality, the history of the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest illustrates that many entrants are still in business, have attracted investors, made sales, been acquired or otherwise gone on to other productive ventures.”

Read the full column here and look for coverage of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Conference later this week.

— Machinery manufacturer Terex has announced plans to expand its Pewaukee facility and create more than 100 jobs in order to meet rising demand.

The company, which makes manufacturing machinery for construction, maintenance and industrial sectors, says it’s developing a new 60,000-square-foot production space for its Terex Utilities business. It makes bucket trucks and digger derricks for electric utilities, according to the announcement, and will have greater installation capacity once the project is complete.

Eric Kluver, says Terex Utilities is “focused on our strategic priorities around safety, world-class quality, competitive lead times, and innovation” as it seeks to meet customer demand.

Meanwhile, local officials are praising the move.

Pewaukee Mayor Steve Bierce says the expansion “brings quality jobs, strengthens our local economy, and showcases Pewaukee as a great place for innovative manufacturers to thrive.” And Therese Hill, executive director of the Waukesha County Center for Growth, says the company’s decision underlines the strength of the local workforce and business climate.

The announcement was made during the 2025 Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Virginia, according to a post from the National Truck Equipment Association.

See the release.

— A new abortion provider in Milwaukee, Care for All Community Clinic, has begun accepting appointments ahead of its planned June 10 opening.

The clinic recently posted an online flyer advertising its services, including medication abortion and procedural abortion, calling itself the state’s only independent nonprofit abortion clinic. It’s also offering contraceptive prescriptions and related procedures, and help connecting with transportation and lodging providers.

It currently offers procedural abortion up to 14 weeks, and plans to expand that timeframe to 21 weeks and six days, the flyer shows.

The anti-abortion group Pro-Life Wisconsin in April published a “red alert” blog post about the clinic’s plans to open in Milwaukee, with details about its plans for paying workers and its leadership. The group’s director, Dan Miller, noted in a separate post the 53208 ZIP code where it’s located is one of the poorest areas in Milwaukee.

“Please pray that their business plan fails,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the clinic is touting its “supportive, small and local team” as well as promising a “warm handoff” for pregnancy continuation and family care.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

Sign up here.

— The Water Council has announced Karen Frost as its new executive director.

Frost has been working as the organization’s vice president of economic development and innovation, and was recently approved by the council’s board of directors and assumed the role yesterday. She previously worked for the Racine County Economic Development Corporation.

Her appointment comes on the heels of former President and CEO Dean Amhaus stepping down from the role after leading the council for 15 years.

“I’m honored to lead The Water Council and continue our strong legacy of innovation and stewardship,” Frost said in a statement. “I’m grateful for Dean’s vision and leadership over the last 15 years and excited for the potential for future growth as we work to solve global water challenges.”

See the release.

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