Bloomer company wins Governor's New Product Award
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Friday, April 25, 2008 4:11 PM CDT
Special to the Herald
Catalytic Combustion Corporation of Bloomer was recently awarded the 2008 Governor’s New Product Award, receiving first place Best of State for their innovative Heated Catalyst System.
In the mid 1960’s Catalytic Combustion Corporation (CCC) developed a technology that is used in self-cleaning ovens to help control the smoke and odors emitted during the self cleaning cycle. To this day CCC continues to provide over 1.5 million catalysts used in this application to major appliance manufacturers every year. In October 2006 CCC was approached to develop a better system, one that controls the odors during the baking of foods.
CCC had only four months to design, test and get tooling underway for this new product. Initial production runs began in July 2007. What CCC accomplished is a catalyst that is used in ovens across the nation that reduces the concentration of odors by an average greater than 95%. The versatile function of this new catalytic device is that it may be used at the discretion of the home owner. Some foods — for example salmon or trout —emit odors which may be unpleasant to people while greasy foods such as bacon or other high fat meats emit odors that may be acceptable but linger and result in a rancid smell. Those who want to enjoy the smell of fresh baked cookies or bread can turn off the device and the oven will function as a standard residential appliance.
Eighteen CCC employees contribute to the manufacturing process, as does the services of PMI, another Bloomer manufacturer, to make the components. Each week CCC delivers between 1,000 and 3,000 devices depending on Sears demand.
This catalytic device is a major feature of the new Sears Kenmore model and was the reason why it was selected for a 2008 Good Buy Award by Good Housekeeping Magazine.
CCC knew it had a good product when during a demonstration to Sears by CCC’s client, an engineer loaded a frozen pizza into the oven and accidentally left it in the oven for 30 minutes (most frozen pizzas cook in under 18 minutes) the pizza was turned into a blackened hockey puck, but because of the catalytic device no one had noticed the pizza burning because their were no odors emitted until the oven door was opened to take the pizza out.
Governor Jim Doyle congratulated 15 recipients of the Governor’s New Product Awards.
“These Wisconsin manufacturers contribute to the state’s economic growth through the development, manufacturing and marketing of new and innovative products,” Doyle said. “Wisconsin manufacturers are making products that can compete anywhere in the world, and our exports are up 60 percent during my administration. I want to congratulate the winners on their outstanding new products, and thank them for their commitment to excellence in manufacturing.”
Catalytic Combustion Corporation was honored at the 37th annual banquet in Wisconsin Dells April 17, winning 1st place Best of State for the Medium Company Division. Accepting the award on behalf of Catalytic Combustion was John Robinson, vice president -catalyst group, research and product development; Brandi Ronnestrand, customer support and material planning; Pauline Graham quality control -process engineer; Sue Sarauer production scheduling; Chuck Patellis senior sales and marketing development manager; and Steve Stokke director - business integration.
The Governor’s New Product Awards program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers (WSPE), with support from the Governor’s Office and Commerce. The program recognizes Wisconsin’s leading manufacturers who have contributed to the State’s economic growth through the development, manufacturing, and marketing of new and innovative products, to be eligible for the award a company must include a new product, machine, process, or material that was developed in Wisconsin and placed on the market between 2002 and 2007.
Award categories include small company, medium company, large company, and mega company which are determined by the number of employees.
The four Best of State winners will go on to compete in the 2009 National Society of Professional Engineers New Product Awards for national recognition.
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