Signals Focus -- May 16, 2007

Congratulations Marchant Schmidt!

Marchant Schmidt, Inc., received a Governor’s Export Achievement Award on Tuesday at the 42nd annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference in Milwaukee. Governor Jim Doyle congratulated the six recipients of the awards, recognizing Marchant Schmidt and the other winners for achieving extraordinary results in international sales and helping move Wisconsin forward in the global marketplace.

The Fond du Lac company, a third-generation manufacturer, began as a welding and repair shop serving Fond du Lac area farmers in 1963. Since then, Marchant Schmidt has grown to be a major supplier of stainless steel products and equipment for the food and dairy industry. The firm's core products include cheese shredding systems, cheese cutting/cubing equipment, cheese slice lines and ultrasonic cutting equipment. 

For the last 15 years, Marchant Schmidt has seen its sales revenue grow by 20 percent each year.  Because the firm owned a dominant share of the domestic market, it was decided in 2004 to pursue future growth in international markets.  In just three years, the firm's international sales have grown from three Canadian customers to exports to three continents accounting for 27 percent of the Marchant Schmidt's total sales.  Their goal is to derive 50 percent of total revenue from international markets by 2010.

FCEDC congratulates Marchant Schmidt on this wonderful and well-deserved achievement. To find out more about the Hwy 41 International Development Program and the types of services that assisted Marchant Schmidt in their goal of expanding their export program, contact program manager, Fred Monique, at (920) 929-7541 or by email at monique@titletown.org.

Manufacturing tours available

Each time you use a pencil, turn on your computer or text message someone, you are interacting with a manufactured good. Manufacturing delivers, and not just the goods we use daily, but also high-skill, high-wage career opportunities. The following manufacturing tours are being offered as part of Manufacturing Month.

Thursday, May 17th, 5:30 p.m.: F. Ziegler Enterprises, 1209 Industrial Parkway, Fond du Lac. 5:30 p.m.: Creative Forming, 100 Creative Way, Ripon.

Monday, May 21st, 5:30 p.m.: Signicast Corporation, 1800 Innovation Way, Hartford.

Wednesday, May 23rd, 5:30 p.m.: Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation, 200 Industrial Drive, Beaver Dam.

Wednesday, May 30th, 5:30 p.m.: Serigraph, Inc., 3801 East Decorah Road, West Bend.

All tours last approximately one hour. There is no charge, but you must pre-register to attend. Registration for the tours is available at www.morainepark.edu/maytours.                                                                                  

Manufacturing symposium: “Building Your Competitive Edge”

Is your company concerned about finding and retaining talent? Do increasing competitive pressures have you wondering how your business will compete effectively? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you do not want to miss this final opportunity to register for the “Building Your Competitive Edge.” The one-day symposium is being offered by Moraine Park Technical College and co-sponsored by the New North Technical Colleges.

At the event, participants will have a unique opportunity to listen and dialogue with internationally-renowned business strategists and explore innovative ideas to transform global and workforce challenges into opportunities to build a sustainable competitive advantage.

Manufacturing executives, human resource managers, marketing and sales staff as well as other front-line leaders are especially encouraged to attend.

The event will take place on Tuesday, May 22nd from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at the West Bend campus of Moraine Park Technical College.

The registration deadline has been extended to Friday, May 18th. The cost is $95 per person. A copy of the speaker’s book is included in the price. ($50 per person registration available if no book is requested.) Lunch will be provided.

To register, call (920) 924-3449.

The mission of Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation, a county-wide private/public partnership, is to improve the economic well being of the businesses, communities, and residents of the county via business attraction activities, existing business development, entrepreneurial services, community preparedness and consultation and workforce development.