Waukesha-based Generac Holdings Inc. was named the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year in the “mega category by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) Thursday night.
The winners were announced at a black tie banquet honoring 52 nominees.
Founded in 1959, Generac has earned a reputation as the company that home and business owners turn to when the power goes out. The first to engineer affordable home standby generators, along with the first engine developed specifically for the rigors of generator use, the company now sells more home standby generators than all of their competitors combined. Generac manufactures the widest range of power products in the marketplace including portable, recreational vehicle, residential, commercial and industrial generators.
Generac has experienced consistent growth, even in the face of a difficult economy. Generac added 400 new jobs at all Generac locations and 70 new jobs at their newly-purchased company, Magnum.
Generac president and CEO Aaron Jagdfeld said, “We are honored to have won the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award. Wisconsin has a rich heritage of manufacturing and we are proud to have called this state our home for more than 50 years. The manufacturing sector is experiencing a strong rebound in the United States and Wisconsin is leading the way back for this vital part of our economy."
In addition to Generac, the other grand winners in the program were: Bell Laboratories Inc., Madison, Large Category; Edstrom Industries Inc., Waterford, Medium Category; Waukesha Metal Products, Sussex, Small Category; and Linetec, Wausau, Sustainability Category.
Special Awards went to: Cambridge Major Laboratories Inc., Germantown, Investing Locally, Growing Globally Award; KHS USA Inc., Waukesha, Educational Stewardship Award; and Power Test Incorporated, Sussex – Operational Excellence & Community Support Award.
The Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges representing industry, education, and the public sector.
The accounting and advisory firm of Baker Tilly, the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and the business association Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce sponsor the MOTY awards program.
