Ideas

The top executives of the 2013 Future 50 companies recently provided their recommendations about how to resolve some of the most significant challenges facing businesses in the region.

Racine-based Twin Disc Inc., facing a sales and earnings decline that the company blames on “continued weakness in the North American pressure pumping sector,” reported fourth quarter net earnings of $47,000, down from $1.26 million in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter.

Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation Inc. reported third quarter net income of $203.7 million, up 6.8 percent compared to $190.7 million in net income during the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Diluted earnings per share were $1.45, up from $1.33.

West Milwaukee-based Rexnord Corp. reported fiscal first quarter net income of $14 million, a recovery from a net loss of $1 million in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Weyco Group Inc. reported net earnings of $2.2 million, or 20 cents per share, the same as a year ago.

Modine Manufacturing Co. reported fiscal first quarter net earnings of $10.6 million, or 21 cents per share, up significantly from a $900,000 loss in the fiscal first quarter of 2013.

Racine-based Johnson Outdoors Inc. reported a slight fiscal third quarter net sales increase, from $128.6 million in 2012 to $129.8 million this year.

Funds affiliated with CCMP Capital are selling all of their 7.02 million shares of stock in Generac Holdings Inc. through a secondary offering, excluding small amounts held by directors and a former director that were given as compensation for service on the board of directors.

Actuant Corp. announced it is acquiring Viking SeaTech, a Scottish offshore oil and gas support company, for about $225 million.

The Milwaukee area manufacturing sector continued to recover in July, according to a report from the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee