Manufacturing

The Wisconsin economy is expanding at a moderate pace, as manufacturing continues to lead the state’s recovery, while the state’s agriculture output is on pace for another solid year, according to the State Monitor report released by BMO Capital Markets Economics.

President Barack Obama visited Master Lock Company LLC’s Milwaukee production plant, where he called on companies to promote more investments and more jobs in the United States.

Sign Effectz. Inc, a Milwaukee custom sign manufacturer, has been nominated for the 2011 Manufacturer of the Year award, a statewide recognition of manufacturing excellence.

Racine-based household cleaning product manufacturer SC Johnson has received a Wisconsin Business Ethics Award from the Society of Financial Service Professionals-Milwaukee.

Do you know of a company that is innovative? BizTimes Media is seeking nominations for its 2012 IQ (Innovation Quotient) Awards.

SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company reported that MillerCoors’ fourth quarter underlying net income increased 32.5 percent to $194.0 million.

Brady Corp., a Milwaukee-based provider of identification solutions, reported a fiscal second quarter net loss of $90.0 million, or $1.72 per share, compared to a net profit of $24.2 million, or 46 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Wisconsin agricultural exports reached a record high in 2011 at $285 billion, with Wisconsin-produced ethanol as one of the top exports for the year.

General Motors Co. reported a record annual profit, two years after the nation's largest automaker emerged from bankruptcy with the help of a federal bailout.

St. Louis-based chemical manufacturer Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC is expanding its Milwaukee distribution facility and adding 40 jobs to make the city one of two global shipping hubs.