Iverson Language Associates of Milwaukee has acquired Wordnet Inc., a small localization company located outside of Boston with sales under $1 million. The acquisition price was undisclosed. Wordnet was founded in 1982. The majority of the exiting customer base being acquired is located on the East Coast of the United States.
"A key reason Wordnet is a good fit is because of its geographical client base, said Steve Iverson, president of Iverson Language Associates. "The acquisition of Wordnet fits well with the long-term focus of our company to increase market share on the East Coast. I truly think this is a positive move for both companies, and look forward to the coming challenges." Iverson (www.iversonlang.com ) provides translation, desktop publishing and project management to a wide variety of industries such as manufacturing, finance, travel, advertising, high tech, health care and education.
TriCore AEA, a Racine-based systems integrator specializing in food and beverage applications, has joined forces with Rockwell Automation via Rockwell Automation’s Solution Provider Program. "We are delighted to name TriCore AEA a Rockwell Automation Solution Provider," said Chris Vaidean, manager, Rockwell Systems Integrator Programs. "TriCore AEA continuously provides the technology, research and product analysis necessary to insure that client needs are met now and in the future. They fully understand this industry, therefore always yield the highest quality and value for our mutual clients." TriCore AEA works with the food, dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical and consumer products industries.
Visual Systems Inc., a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of book components, overhead transparencies and ancillary products for educational publishers, has expanded its printing capabilities with a new six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster.
The state-of-the-art $2 million+ press from Germany is one of the only presses like it in the United States, according to the company. It allows the company to print unique, high-impact work faster and at a lower cost to customers.
The Speedmaster also gives Visual Systems the ability to handle larger production runs with shorter lead times. "The new press solidifies our leadership position in the production of high-end book components, transparencies and related products," said Mike Humber, operations manager for Visual Systems. He said the press brings a new level of automation to Visual Systems’ pressroom with its major functions monitored and controlled digitally by Heidelberg’s press operating system. That system allows the press to be set and run from a single console. As a result, only one pressman is needed to operate the press.
Another feature of the Heidelberg Speedmaster is its closed loop color-measuring system, which can distinguish even the subtlest differences in color intensity on printed page proofs.
Clifton Gunderson and the information technology-consulting firm of Network Technology Solutions (NTS) joined forces on June 1 to launch Clifton Gunderson Technology Solutions.
Clifton Gunderson Technology Solutions will be the name under which Clifton Gunderson will now market its technology consulting services throughout Wisconsin and the other 12 states in which it has offices.
"This winning combination offers our clients enhanced capabilities and an even greater depth of valuable products and services," said Ted Hart, managing partner, Clifton Gunderson.
The addition of NTS brings Clifton Gunderson’s Wisconsin presence to 340 partners, consultants and staff in 15 locations throughout the state. Clifton Gunderson Technology Solutions will continue to serve clients from the former NTS office location at 1111 Deming Way, Madison.
Hampshire Co. in Milwaukee (www.hampshirecompany.com) has announced the appointment of Reptron as its first US distribution partner. Hampshire develops universal touch-screen controller programs. While the company has other sales distribution in Europe and Asia, Reptron is the first US distributor to be approved by Hampshire to re-sell the TSHARC touch-screen controller products domestically.
According to Carl Bauman, president of Hampshire, "The versatility and performance benefits of Hampshire’s products combined with Reptron’s ability to supply a variety of display and overlay products makes this new partnership a winning combination for all US customers wanting to implement touch screen technology into there products."
Target Logistic Services, an international air, surface and ocean logistics provider, has opened a full-service facility in New Berlin. The new 27,000-square-foot facility is at 5065 S. Emmer Dr. It has a staff of 25, headed by John Teraoka, managing director, and David Fortier, general manager.
"The Milwaukee area has many different industries ranging from the most advanced high-tech electronic and computer businesses to traditional printing and the building-supply materials companies," Teraoka said. "These businesses require reliable, precise and safe delivery of cargo. We are confident Target Logistic Services will be fulfilling these high-service standards."
Pro Graphics has consolidated its operations at its Waukesha site, closing its printing division facility just north of downtown Milwaukee. Four Heidelberg presses were relocated to the Waukesha facility, at W222 N600 Cheaney Rd.
"Having everything and everyone in the same facility is really refreshing for us," said Craig Jacob, who owns Pro Graphics with Will Massek and Greg Kryzston. "We are truly one company now."
Boxx Magazine has been launched in Milwaukee to focus on women’s issues. Stefanie Klopp is managing editor while Amy Grau is an editor and art director. Bet-z Boenning is an editor and business manager and Holly Grey is an editor and advertising sales and technical consultant.
"Unlike other free publications, Boxx offers more of an inside look at women in the Milwaukee community, focusing on the kind of people you may interact with every day, those who make the small differences in life, yet are so meaningful," Grau said. Klopp added, "Our mission is to reclaim the ideas of equality and help shed feminism of its stigmatic cultural status." Boxx (www.boxxmagazine.com) will be distributed through businesses serving as outlets for free publications.
Nemschoff Chairs Inc. in Sheboygan has launched the Foxxman brand of healthcare industry furnishings.
The "budget-conscious" line was created in deference to a heightened price-sensitivity among designers and buyers for health-care facilities, noted Mark Nemschoff, president and CEO of Nemschoff Chairs Inc. He said the company enhanced its manufacturing efficiencies to help reduce cost, and also developed a streamlined product offering, with fewer options or opportunities for customization. It also has standard wood finishes and a five-year warranty rather than a lifetime warranty. The new line can be seen on the Web at www.foxxman.com.
Centare Group (www.centare.com) of Brookfield has moved its offices from 15850 W. Bluemound Rd. to 125 N. Executive Dr. in Brookfield. The new offices have triple the space of the Bluemound Road site. "By moving to the new location we will have the space necessary to accommodate the growth we have experienced over the last few years, and be able to handle our expected future growth," said Dave Glyzewski, president of Centare Group.
The extra space will allow Centare to handle more software project development in-house. "We are seeing more and more software projects as opposed to staff augmentation," said Ed Chaltry, chief technology officer and a partner in the firm. "We expect that trend to continue and be the future of our industry."
The law firm of McCoy & Hofbauer has moved its offices from the Crossroads Corporate Center on Swenson Drive in Waukesha to the new Riverwood Corporate Center III, at N19 W24200 Riverwood Dr., Waukesha, according to the firm’s managing partner, John V. McCoy. "The new office space poised us for our firm’s projected growth over the next few years," he said. The firm has eight lawyers on staff, complemented by a support staff of seven.
Ace Precision Machining Corp. of Menomonee Falls is building a 90,000-square-foot facility at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc. The Ace Precision facility, going up at at 977 Blue Ribbon Circle North, will be the first commercial building to be constructed in the Pabst Farms development.
The facility will house a full range of manufacturing processes similar to those offered at the Menomonee Falls location. Those processes include five-axis laser cutting, vacuum brazing and heat treat, hydroforming, machining, turning, resistance and TIG welding, sheet metal fabricating, and plasma spray coating.
Ace Precision is a supplier to the domestic and international aerospace gas turbine marketplace, manufacturing combustion liners, heat shields, tailpipes, and compressor housings. Ace Precision is also a FAA approved and licensed component repair and overhaul facility, for both the commercial and military marketplace.
Stephen Perry Smith Architects, Menomonee Falls, is the project architect and designer. Hunzinger Construction, Brookfield, is the project contractor.
Construction, which has begun, is expected to be done by December.
The design of building will feature precast exterior wall panels in the 70,000-square-foot manufacturing area, and a stone exterior skin panel with limestone accent columns in the 20,000-square-foot, two-story office area. Maximum flexibility for future equipment and operations will be designed into the facility. A commitment has been made to use American made building materials when possible.
Ground has been broken in the Town of Oconomowoc for AngelsGrace Hospice, a $5-million facility that will be Waukesha County’s first inpatient hospice.
AngelsGrace Hospice, which will provide end-of-life care to all ages regardless of ability to pay, is an initiative led by ProHealth Care and made possible with donations from three individuals.
Situated next to a tree-lined pond just East of Highway P and north of Highway K, the hospice will have 27,000 square feet of space and 15 private rooms.
Construction of the hospice, scheduled for completion by next spring, is being funded by a donation from the Walter L. and Grace M. Merten Charitable Trust.
The 7.5-acre hospice site was donated by Waukesha County residents Robert and Diana Schowalter.
Those major gifts will be supplemented by additional donations for operating expenses, all raised through the Waukesha Memorial Hospital Foundation and Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital Foundation.
"We had dreams of building a residential hospice to answer the great need for this type of care in our area, and they became a reality with the generous gifts from our donors," said Mary Jo O’Malley, executive director, ProHealth Home Care and Hospice, who will serve as the new hospice’s administrator.
The organization’s Rolland Nelson Crossroads Hospice last year served more than 450 patients and their families in their own homes.
"While the focus of hospice is to have patients remain at home, this facility will offer another important patient option to the community," O’Malley said.
Grace Merten and the Schowalters were actively involved in the hospice design as part of a planning team including ProHealth Care staff, architects from EngbergAnderson Design Partnership, and builders from the C.G. Schmidt construction company.
The hospice design is residential, divided into three wings of five rooms each to help convey a homey feeling.
ProHealth Care, based in Waukesha, is a healthcare delivery organization that also includes Waukesha Memorial and Oconomowoc Memorial hospitals, a network of primary care clinics, assisted and independent living for seniors, home care services and a fitness center.
The Redmond Co., Waukesha, is designing and managing construction of Fox River State Bank at 256 N. Dodge St. in Burlington. Redmond will design the $1 million, 10,400-square-foot construction project which will include partial demolition and remodel of an existing building. The project requires Redmond to turn an existing car dealership into Fox River State Bank. Construction began in May and will be completed July 15.
The Redmond Co. has completed construction of th 22,000-square-foot Trane Federal Credit Union Operations Center. The $3.3 million project is located at 1700 Oak Forest Dr. in Onalaska. The two-story facility has the capabilities of a call center as well as a training and operations center for their multiple branches located nationally. The new facility houses the accounting, human resources, and marketing departments, as well as the executive management staff.
The Redmond Co. will provide consulting, brokerage and architectural services as well as manage the construction of Northwoods Community Credit Union in Park Falls. The $2.2 million construction project will be a 10,800-square-foot branch facility, including 500 square feet of tenant space. The new facility includes a vault with safe deposit boxes, a training room, a fireplace and cultured stone veneer on the exterior. The project will be completed July 1.
June 13, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
