Manufacturing

The recent horrific bombings in Boston will hopefully remind the United States, China and the entire civilized world that our common enemies are those who believe that terror is a solution.

Neenah-based Bemis Company Inc. today reported first quarter net income of $49.3 million, or 47 cents diluted earnings per share, up 12 percent from 2012 first quarter net income of $44 million, or 42 cents diluted earnings per share.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. today reported first quarter net income of $224.1 million, or 99 cents per share, up from $172 million, or 74 cents per share, in the same quarter a year ago.

Rockwell Automation Inc. today reported fiscal second quarter net income of $175.9 million, or $1.24 per share, compared with $167.8 million, or $1.16 per share, in the same period a year ago.

Milwaukee-based A.O. Smith Corp. today reported first quarter net earnings of $39 million, or 84 cents per share, down 18 percent from 2012 first quarter net earnings of $47.5 million, or $1.02 per share.

Briggs & Stratton Corp. reported fiscal third quarter net income of $38.5 million, or 78 cents per share, down from $39.9 million, or 80 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

For the fifth straight year, Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. was the No. 1 seller of new street motorcycles (all engine sizes) in the United States to young adults ages, 18-34, women, African-Americans and Hispanics, as well as Caucasian men ages 35 plus. The newly available data from Polk shows that Harley-Davidson experienced a double-digit market share gain from 2008 to 2012 in the U.S. with these customer groups.

Over the years, Milwaukee has been called the brewing capital of the world, the toolbox of the world and most recently, the freshwater capital of the world. But it can also add another moniker to its mantel. It is the spice capital of the world.

Mequon-based Kendall Packaging Corp. will break ground on a 56,000-square-foot expansion to its plant in Jefferson on April 26.