COOL STUFF

COOLSTUFF

designed, made and built in southeastern Wisconsin

It may not always be obvious driving by an industrial park or a factory, but there are thousands of companies in southeastern Wisconsin making products we use every day. The region is home to major brands like Milwaukee Tool and InSinkErator, but also smaller companies that are hiring, too. Here are just a handful of the region’s manufacturers and some of their recent job openings.

PIZZA

PALERMO VILLA: Drawing on its founder’s Italian roots and family recipes, Palermo’s makes several brands of pizza, including Primo Thin, King Cheese, Screamin’ Sicilian, Urban Pie Pizza Co. and Connie’s Pizza from its facility in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley. Its job descriptions also note that job perks include 20 free pizzas per month.

JOBS AT PALERMO VILLA

PACKAGING DESIGN PROCESS COORDINATOR: This position coordinates the development of private label packaging graphics across internal departments and with clients, including quotes, invoices and purchase orders. Also reviews artwork for spelling, grammar and non-regulatory graphics to mitigate risks. Needs organized and methodical approach to problem solving in often time-sensitive and tight-deadline situation.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDITOR: This position makes sure the proper quality techniques are used, gathers and analyzes data on quality audits, and helps implement improvements to quality systems. Job requires at least one year of experience with food industry quality assurance.

HAND TOOLS

Milwaukee Tool: Brookfield-based Milwaukee Tool makes power tools used by professionals in construction and other industries with much of the design work done by teams in Brookfield, Menomonee Falls and Milwaukee. The company also recently opened a manufacturing facility in West Bend to make a line of hand tools and its subsidiary Empire Level has a factory in Mukwonago.

JOBS AT MILWAUKEE TOOL

OPERATOR: Operates and inspects all primary machines and auxiliary equipment and provides instruction and training to new hires. Position requires a high school diploma, one year of previous manufacturing experience, attention to detail and ability to read and understand work instructions. AUTOMATION ENGINEER TECHNICIAN: Supports manufacturing equipment and employees in setting up, maintaining and troubleshooting automated assembly machines. Requires associate degree or equivalent apprenticeship, two years of manufacturing experience, knowledge of hand tools and basic fabricating machines and prioritization skills.

CABLE MANAGEMENT TOOLS

HellermannTyton North America: From cars to data centers to solar panels, many of the products HellermannTyton makes at its Milwaukee facilities may be small, but they are key to keeping wires and cables organized. The products are used for bundling, securing, identifying, protecting and installing wires.

JOBS AT HELLERMANNTYTON NORTH AMERICA

PROCESSING TECHNICIAN: A processing technician installs molds in injection molding machines and sets up other related equipment. The role also requires making adjustments and troubleshooting during production runs to make sure specifications are met. Three years of experience in plastics or injection molding are preferred, but the company will train those with mechanical aptitude. A complete set of personal hand tools and the ability to work overtime is also required. AUTOMATION ASSEMBLY TECHNICIAN: This role builds, starts and debugs electro/mechanical and pneumatic machines for the company’s internally designed automation, assembly machines and robotic tooling. Also responsible for developing training plans for production personnel and the automation department. Technical degree and two years of experience preferred, or five years of experience with a high school diploma.

GARBAGE DISPOSALS

InSinkErator: There is a good chance the garbage disposal in your kitchen was made by InSinkErator, but the company also makes instant hot water dispenses and commercial equipment. Its headquarters are in Mount Pleasant, and the company has invested millions in its Racine manufacturing facility.

JOBS AT INSINKERATOR

AUTOMATION TECHNICIAN: Responsible for set up and operation of automated manufacturing systems, including monitoring, adjusting and repairing equipment to produce quality parts. Works independently and needs to troubleshoot and resolve issues. Five years of experience with mechanical or electrical equipment plus some training and understanding of PLCs and robotics. ASSEMBLER: Pay starting at $17.84 per hour with $1 shift premium and opportunity to reach $23 per hour with regular raises. On-the-job training in safety and meeting production goals. Assembles products, loads conveyers, stocks parts, and handles materials as required. Rotates among tasks to learn entire assembly process.

KEY FOBS AND VEHICLE ACCESS

Strattec: Whether it’s General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Hyundai or Kia, Milwaukee-based Strattec makes vehicle access products – think key fobs, start buttons, tailgates and sliding doors – for some of the world’s biggest car companies.

JOBS AT STRATTEC

TOOL & DIE MAKER STAMPING: Supports toolmaking in the development, construction, calibration and repair of tooling, dies, fixtures and other equipment. Works with maintenance to plan proper repairs. Responsible for supplying sketches to engineering. Must be able to operate all toolroom machines and able to independently produce tooling. Requires journeyman card or eight years of experience. Pays $33.57 per hour, plus shift premiums. ENGINEERING TEST LAB TECHNICIAN: Performs engineering evaluation, design validation and process verification testing. Position requires an understanding of the fundamentals of machine operation, electronics, pneumatics and print reading. Generates test reports using photos and spreadsheets, documents new testing procedures, assists with 3D printing workload and helps with troubleshooting nonconforming products. Requires high school diploma and two years of related experience or training.

HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRO-MECHANICAL PARTS

Husco International: Waukesha-based Husco makes high-performance hydraulic and electromechanical parts for the automotive and off-highway markets. The parts help maximize fuel efficiency, performance and vehicle safety. Husco’s nine global facilities includes one in Whitewater. The company also has an advanced manufacturing group that helps other companies improve their own production.

JOBS AT HUSCO INTERNATIONAL

MACHINE OPERATOR: Loads, inspects and processes parts from machining centers following work instructions, visual aids and quality alters. Ensures parts meet manufacturing requirements. May make small adjustments and changes to maintain process stability. Requires problem solving, basic math and computer skills, and ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Pay starts at $18.90 per hour, plus shift premiums. FINAL OPERATIONS ASSEMBLER: This position at Husco’s Whitewater facility starts at $17 per hour with shift premiums and flexible hours available. The job involves assembling hydraulic components using manual and automated equipment, performing self-inspection, data entry and basic material handling.

GUMMY BEARS

Haribo: For the past several years Haribo has been building a brand-new manufacturing plant in Pleasant Prairie. The company is known for its Goldbears but also makes numerous other candies.

JOBS AT HARIBO

PACKAGING MACHINE OPERATOR: The machine operator could operate a range of different machines, including tanks, vats, boilers and kettles. This position resolves changes in production flow, checks packages, makes sure machines are supplied with the right material and reports food safety issues. The job requires a high school diploma and three years of manufacturing or packaging experience. PACKAGING MECHANIC: The packaging mechanic monitors equipment for proper operation and makes adjustments to optimize performance. The job is also responsible for diagnosing breakdowns and operational issues, making repairs as necessary. An associate degree in robotics, industrial maintenance or technology is a plus, and three years of experience related to electronical repairs, programmable logic controls and wiring in an industrial setting is required.

SAUSAGES

Johnsonville: Johnsonville is the number one national sausage brand, making fresh and fully cooked varieties of bratwurst, Italian, snack and breakfast sausages. In Wisconsin, the company has facilities in Sheboygan Falls and in Watertown.

JOBS AT JOHNSONVILLE

OPERATIONS LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT COACH: This position will work with leaders in manufacturing facilities to develop and implement learning and development strategies. Those strategies could include formal classroom education, on-the-job training, cross-functional team development, technical skill advancement and more. A bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership or human resources is required, a master’s is preferred. FORMULATION TEAM LEADER: This position is responsible for coaching formulation team members to deliver continuous improvement in food safety, quality, cost, customer service and much more. The team leader is also responsible for crewing and scheduling team members, verifying timecards, meeting daily schedules and shipping products to other facilities. An associate degree and one to two years of experience in a food manufacturing environment is required.

WATER METERS

Badger Meter: Brown Deer-based Badger Meter Inc. is among the leading manufacturers of water meters in the world. These products are increasingly shifting from mechanical devices to high-tech pieces of equipment that use cellular data and a software suite to allow municipalities to track water usage for billing. Badger Meter also makes flow instrumentation products used in other sectors like the oil and gas industry.

JOBS AT BADGER METER

SUSTAINING MANUFACTURING ENGINEER: This position is responsible for addressing current product support issues, customer troubleshooting and validation testing. The job requires an ability to learn, work effectively in a multidisciplinary team, problem solve and take initiative. ASSEMBLER: This position builds, assembles and tests a variety of meters and meter-reading products. Work includes leak testing, operating plastic injection molding machines and following assembly drawings. Requires at least one year of experience, a high school degree and basic computer and math skills.

HAIR CLIPPERS AND TRIMMERS

Andis Company: Founded in 1922, Andis Company is a family-owned manufacturer of clippers, trimmers and other hair care products in Sturtevant. The company makes products used by barbers and stylists; pet, equine and livestock groomers; and for consumers to use at home.

JOBS AT ANDIS COMPANY

ELECTRICIAN: Reporting to the maintenance and facility manager, this position installs, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs electrical systems and equipment. The position requires someone who is a licensed journeyman electrician with an understanding of relevant electrical codes and systems and a verifiable, strong work history with a great attendance record. MAINTENANCE MECHANIC: This position performs a large variety of predictive, preventative and routine maintenance tasks, including running basic machine shop equipment to diagnose problems, disassembling equipment to remove defective parts, initiates purchase orders, provides insights to engineering teams for automation projects, and welds and fabricates parts for certain repairs. At least two years of experience preferred.