Wisconsin governor salutes top manufacturing exporters

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle recently presented his annual Export Achievement Awards recognizing Wisconsin firms and organizations that have achieved extraordinary results in international sales or have contributed to Wisconsin’s ability to compete in a global market. Last year, Wisconsin firms exported $16.7 billion worth of products.

“The strength of our international trade is a reflection of the hardworking people of Wisconsin and the outstanding products our businesses make,” Governor Doyle said. “I'm proud to recognize these Wisconsin companies and institutions that have demonstrated leadership and innovation in responding successfully to international market challenges.”

Wisconsin’s exports have grown 56 percent since Governor Doyle took office. In 2009, Wisconsin’s top five export destinations were Canada, Mexico, China, Japan and Germany. Wisconsin’s top exported products included industrial and electrical machinery, scientific and medical instruments, vehicles and paper products.

The Export Achievement Awards are presented to state companies actively involved in export trade. Criteria include degree of export-related growth; innovative techniques and approaches that resulted in the company’s success; and demonstration of extra effort in capturing worldwide markets.

The award winners for the manufacturing sector are as follows:

Small Manufacturing Exporter
Alpha Source Inc., Milwaukee
Alpha Source Inc. is a supplier of biomedical repair parts. The firm started in 1986 supplying and servicing microfilm equipment and has grown to handle medical batteries, power protection systems, xenon lamps, oxygen sensors, medical cables and lead wires, medical fiber optics, and diagnostic equipment. The firm’s international department was launched in 2005 with one employee. The current team is fluent in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and French. Exports represent 10 percent of gross revenue and even in a difficult year globally, export sales for fiscal year 2009 are expected to be 35 percent above 2008, which saw a 23 percent increase over the previous year.

Medium Manufacturing Exporter
ARIES Industries Inc., Waukesha
ARIES Industries is a global leader and one of the largest full line manufacturers of Closed Circuit Television Video (CCTV) inspection/rehabilitation equipment and pipeline assessment/asset management software for the world's underground infrastructure. Within two years of initiating a focused international effort in 2004, ARIES Industries obtained orders in excess of $1 million from the Middle East. The firm has since expanded sales to South America and Australia and now has equipment across the globe.