And the Coolest Thing Made In Wisconsin
Two Superior companies were among 148 vying for the title of Coolest Thing Made In Wisconsin. Fraser Shipyards entered a state-of-the-art car ferry into the annual contest and Epicurean entered their durable, knife-friendly composite-material cutting boards.
Although winning the title is a giant honor, the contest began 10 years ago simply as way to highlight manufacturing in Wisconsin.
“We started it 10 years ago. Now there are 25 other states, including Minnesota, that do it,” said Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC).
Bauer explained that the first Friday in October has long been considered Manufacturing Day, a day when manufacturers throw their doors open to the public and especially to schools for tours to show what they do.
“We decided, actually, independent of that, to turn October into manufacturing month,” Bauer said.
It was during a brainstorming session that he came up with the Coolest Thing idea.
“Our goal is to promote things that are made in Wisconsin,” Bauer said. “We want people – the public, young people, in particular, public policy makers as well – to understand that there are amazing things being manufactured in the state of Wisconsin that you’ve never heard of. And just to put a fine point on that, I’m the head of the Manufacturers Association. I’ve been in this role for 14 years. Every year we do this, I’m surprised by something that’s made in Wisconsin that I didn’t know about. That’s the whole point of the contest.”
In a piece about the contest in WMC’s website, Bauer wrote: “The real purpose is to showcase Wisconsin’s thriving manufacturing sector, which accounts for just under 20 percent of the state’s GDP, contributes $73.7 billion to the state’s economy, and directly employs 480,000 Wisconsinites, or one in six workers. Manufacturing truly is Wisconsin’s economic super sector, and it deserves the publicity the contest delivers.”
The winner is chosen by online voting (www.madeinwis.com), which started on Oct. 2. The winner will be named on Oct. 23
Fraser Shipyards, founded in 1888, has built the most technically advanced ice-breaking ferry operating on the Great Lakes, a 150-passenger, 36-car “roll-on/roll-off “ ferry for the Beausoleil First Nation of Christian Island, Ontario.
This state-of-the-art double-ended ice breaking ferry will operate 365 days per year making 12 daily round trips between Christian Island and the mainland in Cedar Point, Ontario. The vessel features two Voith Schneider Propellers, which are advanced propulsion systems that provide accurate maneuverability and control in demanding maritime environments, making it the most technically advanced ferry operating on the Great Lakes. The ferry is ideally suited for frequent docking and operating in confined waters.
Epicurean’s products are thoughtfully designed, manufactured and packaged in Superior at a 60,000 square-foot facility. Epicurean’s focus is for its cutting boards and kitchen utensils to be durable, long-lasting products one can depend on for years to come. Epicurean’s signature cutting boards have earned their place in the heart of the kitchen, meeting the highest standards of cooks and chefs worldwide. With a natural look and texture from a paper composite material, these boards are durable, knife friendly, and dishwasher safe.
“Since 2003, Epicurean has designed and manufactured its cutting boards and utensils here in the U.S. Our team is small but nimble, and we are proud of the thoughtful, functional products we create that are well made and last a long time,” said CFO and co-founder Dave Benson. “We are happy to be part of the “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” contest, which highlights the state’s vibrant manufacturing industry.”
