Governor Doyle Recognizes Fifteen Governor's New Product Award Recipients

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2008
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661
Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Dale Swenson, Governor's New Product Awards Chairperson, 414/343-8452

MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today congratulated 15 recipients of the Governor's New Product Awards. The awards were made at the 37th annual Governor's New Product Awards Banquet, held on April 17, 2008 at the Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells. Department of Commerce (Commerce) Deputy Secretary Aaron Olver 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 up 60 percent during my administration. 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 2009 National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) New Product Awards for national recognition. Since 1993 Wisconsin has won the top award fourteen times.

Best of State Winners

Small Company (50 or less employees)

1st place: Standard Imaging, Inc.
Product: Tomo Electrometer & Scanner System
Middleton, WI
Raymond Riddle, 608-831-0025

2nd place: Aquarius Technologies Inc.
Product: Multistage Activated Biological Process (MSABP)
Port Washington, WI
David Lauer, 262-284-0113

3rd place: Aquila Corporation
Product: Airpulse PK
La Crosse, WI
Steve Kohlman, 608-782-0031

Honorable Mention (Small)

Infratrol Manf. Corp.
Product: EcoFlex Powder Coating System
New Berlin, WI
Steven Onsager, 262-797-8140

Marathon Engine Systems
Product: EcoPower Microcogeneration Appliance
East Troy, WI
Mike Cocking, 262-642-6436

Medium Company (51-200 employees)

1st place: Catalytic Combustion Corp.
Product: Heated Catalyst System (controls cooking odors)
Bloomer, WI
Steven Stokke, 715-568-2882

Large Company (201-9999 employees)

1st place: Astronautics Corp. of America
Product: Astronautics Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)
Milwaukee, WI
Robert Seinfeld, 414-449-4126

2nd place: Waukesha Engine
Product: APG2000/3000 (Advanced Power Generation Enginator)
Waukesha, WI
Corey Honl, 262-547-3311

3rd place: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
Product: ASF-75G Gas Fryer (commercial food fryer)
Menomonee Falls, WI
William (Bill) Hansen, 262-509-6450

Honorable Mention (Large)

Bruno Independent Living Aids
Product: Curb-Sider (Model VSL-6900)
Oconomowoc, WI
Michael Krawczyk, 262-953-5424

Bruno Independent Living Aids
Product: Electra-Ride Elite (Model SRE-2010)
Oconomowoc, WI
Michael Krawczyk, 262-953-5424

Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
Product: Apollo Light Pipe
Manitowoc, WI
Steve Heins, 920-482-1974

Rudd Lighting, Inc.
Product: Beta LED’s The Edge
Racine, WI
Wayne Guillien, 262-884-3236

Mega Company (10,000 + employees)

1st place: Kohler Company
Product: Express Vanities
Kohler, WI
Todd Weber, 920-457-4441, x72707

2nd place: Kohler Company
Product: Zofa Soft Comfort Toilet Seat
Kohler, WI
Todd Weber, 920-457-4441, x72707

The Governor's New Product Awards program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers (WSPE), with support from the Governor's Office and Commerce. 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 2002 and 2007. 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.

-30-