Manufacturing

A key measure of Milwaukee-area manufacturing activity indicated contraction in February. The Purchasing Managers Index was below 50 for the first time in six months, according to the Marquette ISM Report on Manufacturing.

Milwaukee-based Renaissance Power Systems has acquired Roebuck, S.C.-based Griffin Gear Inc.

Kewaskum-based Regal Ware Inc. announced the appointment of Tracy Pearson as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

New Berlin-based Velvac Inc., a manufacturer of components to the truck, bus, recreational and specialty vehicle industries, announced today it has acquired the assets of the ViewMaster mirror product line from the former Mirror Lite Company of Rockwood, Mich.

Milwaukee-based Brady Corp., a world leader in identification solutions, announced it has reached an agreement to sell its Die-Cut business to Boyd Corp. of Modesto, Calif.

Milwaukee-based Brady Corp. reported fiscal second quarter net earnings of $16.4 million, or 31 cents per share, up sharply from a net loss of $8.7 million, or 17 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2013.

Racine-based Modine Manufacturing Co. is developing a series of compact heat exchangers designed to capture waste heat from the exhaust stream of a diesel engine and convert the heat into useful power to improve engine efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.

Important issues and the latest trends for the manufacturing sector will be examined next week when the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership hosts the 17th annual “Manufacturing Matters!” conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Milwaukee.

MillerCoors has announced Miller64 is becoming the first U.S. beer to feature new, more detailed voluntary nutritional labeling permitted last year by the federal government.

American Transmission Co. has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to rebuild a 12.5 mile, 138,000-volt electric transmission line in western Kenosha County.