Manufacturing

Michael Kopper has always gravitated toward the fast things in life – from centrifuges that rotate water at 3,000 times G-force to Lotus and Audi cars that can easily handle speeds close to 160 miles/hour.

Airgas Inc., one of the nation's leading suppliers of industrial, medical and specialty gases and related products, today announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and operations of The Encompass Gas Group Inc.

Milwaukee-based Brady Corp. today announced the sudden retirement of president and chief executive officer Frank Jaehnert and the appointment of current senior vice president and chief financial officer Thomas Felmer as interim president and chief executive officer.

Port Washington-based Allen Edmonds Shoe Corp. announced the start of its annual Rediscover America national sales event, the company's largest sale of the year.

Super Steel LLC's recent designation as the fastest-growing company in the Future 50 for 2013 reflects one of the most remarkable corporate turnarounds in Milwaukee history.

Menomonee Falls-based Actuant Corp. reported fiscal fourth quarter net earnings of $58.3 million, or 78 cents per share, up from a net loss of $16.5 million, or 22 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Robert Arzbaecher, the outgoing chief executive officer of Menomonee Falls-based Actuant Corp., and Glen Hackmann, managing director, general counsel and secretary of Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., will be co-chairs of the 2014 fund drive for the United Performing Arts Fund of Greater Milwaukee.

Scan-Pac Mfg. Inc. has purchased another manufacturing facility adjacent to its headquarters in Menomonee Falls and plans to expand its business.

Mary Isbister, president at Mequon-based GenMet, will be the next chair of the Council of Small Business Executives board of directors.