Baraboo-based Teel Plastics is one of six state companies to win Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year awards.

Winners were announced Thursday at a dinner honoring the 38 nominees at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.

Celebrating its 28th year, the program recognizes manufacturers of all sizes and industries for helping to drive the Wisconsin economy.

Companies were evaluated in areas such as financial growth or consistency, technological advances, product development, environmental solutions and sustainability, operational excellence/continuous improvement, commitment to employees and effective research and development.

“This is not an easy award to win as the competition is at a very high level,” said Jay Smith, Teel chairman. “This accomplishment takes a team. We take pride in what we do.”

Teel, which employs about 225 people, was established in 1951 as Insemikit Co., according to the company website.

Insemikit made agricultural implements and tools for the veterinary and emerging livestock artificial insemination industries.

The business saw a need for plastic tubing to replace glass insemination tubes. In 1958, the company changed its name to Teel Plastics Inc. and started making liquid-proof sampling bags still used today in laboratories worldwide.

Now, Teel Plastics makes close-tolerance custom plastic tubing and profiles. Products include WHIRL-PACK laboratory sample bags, cosmetic barrels, medical tubing, fuel lines for the automotive industry and fiber-optic cable, among others.

In 2007, Teel built a new 150,000-square-foot headquarters and expanded its extrusion division in Baraboo.

“We’ve modernized a lot of our equipment. (The new facility) really kind of launched our business from there,” Teel president Tom Thompson said in a December interview. “We’ve seen a lot of good growth and improvement in the business — not only just because of the facility but because of the systems and processes that we were able to install when we built the facility.”

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 awards program.

Grand Award winners were:

Generac Power Systems, Waukesha — Mega Category.
Alto-Shaam, Menomonee Falls — Large Category.
Teel Plastics, Baraboo — Medium Category.
Felss Rotaform, New Berlin — Small Category.

Special Awards for Company Culture winners were:

Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth.
Amerequip Corp., Kiel.

“These six companies represent the best of the best of Wisconsin’s manufacturers. All of the nominated companies are recognized around the world for their technological improvements, sustainable business practices, dedicated workforce and an unwavering commitment to their customers. We are proud to honor them through this annual awards program” said Kurt R. Bauer, president and CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

 

Source : host.madison.com

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