Manufacturing

Johnson Controls Inc. is considering locating a major new office development in the Milwaukee area and said the Milwaukee Common Council's upcoming vote on a financing plan for a downtown streetcar will be a factor in determining the site of the project.

Waukesha-based V&L Tool Inc. plans to create as many as 25 new jobs to meet current demand for its products and services. It held a two-day job fair last week and may hold a second job fair/open house in the coming weeks.

Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. is currently showcasing several new innovations at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, one of which is a stain-fighting seat coating.

Sussex-based Quad/Graphics Inc. announced on Friday that it will acquire Courier Corp. of North Chelmsford, Mass., the nation's second-largest book manufacturer, for approximately $260 million.

Chicago-based MillerCoors LLC, which brews much of its beer in Milwaukee, is introducing its first 100 percent gluten-free beer. Called Coors Peak Copper Lager, it will be available beginning Feb. 1 in Seattle and Portland, Ore.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Motor Co. has been named the official motorcycle of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, a bike enthusiast gathering held each year in Sturgis, S.D.

Hartford-based Broan-NuTone LLC today unveiled the Broan Ventilation Fan with Sensonic Stereo Speakers, which allows consumers to easily enjoy music or their favorite audio wirelessly from their own devices during their morning routines in the bathroom.

Durham, N.C.-based Cree Inc. has filed complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to curb alleged infringement on Cree’s patented technologies. Cree, an innovator of LED lighting, manufactures lighting products in Sturtevant, where it employs more than 1,100 employees.

Wixon Inc., a St. Francis-based manufacturer of seasonings, flavors and technologies for the food and beverage industry, has hired Jenny Vonckx as controller. She will be responsible for managing the company’s accounting department, and will report to Wixon’s chief financial officer Peter Caputa.

Handheld devices aren't new to the factory floor. Hardened bar code readers have been an industry staple for more than a decade. Today, dedicated single-function devices are being replaced by open source mobile operating system devices. iOS and Android have created a fertile field for industrial applications and, with a hardened cover, an iPad can be a better fit for the factory than a one-purpose handheld device.