Final round voting is open now through noon on Thursday, October 19
Products from two Fox Cities businesses have advanced to the final round of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce ‘Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin’ competition.
Plexus Corp., based in Appleton, was nominated for their Bevi Bottleless Water Dispenser. Bevi smart water dispensers offer on-demand filtered, flavored and sparkling water with a mission to unbottle the future. Bevi offers users the ability to customize their hydration while vastly reducing their carbon footprint. 5,000+ companies across North America, including Apple, Delta Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, Microsoft, Netflix and Plexus, offer Bevi to their employees, customers and guests. Bevi users have saved over 400 million single-use bottles to date. This product represents the powerful collective impact made possible through partnering to bring a sustainable product to life and embodies the Plexus vision of helping create products that build a better world.
“The Bevi Bottleless Water Dispenser, manufactured at our Appleton facility, is a true embodiment of a product that combines innovation and sustainability, aligned with our vision to help create the products that build a better world,” said Todd Kelsey, Plexus Chief Executive Officer. “I am proud of our Appleton and global Plexus teams for bringing the Plexus vision to life. With its ability to deliver countless combinations of great-tasting water and its commitment to reducing plastic waste, we are proud to have Bevi as a finalist for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.”
AriensCo, based in Brillion, was nominated for their 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Sno-Thro snow blower. To mark its 90th year in business (1933 – 2023), AriensCo is honoring its rich outdoor power equipment manufacturing legacy with the Ariens® 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Sno-Thro®. This unique snow blower merges the King of Snow’s™ original paint scheme with the innovation of today’s popular Platinum-series models for homeowners who want both style and epic snow clearing performance from a 24-inch snow blower. The 90th retains Ariens trademark all-steel construction, gets power from a 369cc TecumsehPower® SnowKing® engine, and features other bells and whistles like a super-high-output (SHO) impeller to throw snow up to 55 feet, heated hand grips, and Auto-Turn™ steering for easy maneuverability.
“We’re honored that our fellow Wisconsinites and customers know that our products are cool,” said AriensCo Snow Product Manager Nik Krueger. “The Ariens Sno-Thro is not just cool on its own, but it represents a really cool story, and making it to the top four in the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest in the Ariens brand’s 90th year with our commemorative 90th Anniversary Sno-Thro is extra special. Winning the competition would be the cherry on top.”
These two local companies are competing against two other finalists from the greater Wausau area. This year, over 100 products were nominated for the competition. Following a popular vote round and the Manufacturing Madness bracket style rounds, Wisconsinites narrowed the field down to these Top 4. Over one million votes have been cast in the competition over the last eight years, highlighting Wisconsin’s diverse manufacturing industry, which contributes roughly $70 billion to the state’s economy each year.
“Out of the 100+ products initially nominated for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin, we are honored that two of the four finalists are made right here in the Fox Cities!” said Becky Bartoszek, President & CEO of the Fox Cities Chamber. “But then again, we’ve always known that anything made in the Fox Cities is the best. I encourage all of our community to reinforce this message by voting in this prestigious statewide competition.”
Here’s how to vote:
- Visit https://www.madeinwis.com/final-round/
- Click on the image of the product you think is the Coolest from the four finalists.
- The product you selected will open up in a new window. To vote, click “Vote Now!” at the bottom of the page.
- Individuals can vote once per day, per device. So, make sure you come back each day to cast your vote!
- Voting will end at 12 PM on Thursday, Oct. 19.
About Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce
The Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce captures the energy of one of Wisconsin’s most dynamic regions and transforms it into innovative programs and services for its business members. The Fox Cities Chamber serves all of the Fox Cities communities within the counties of Outagamie, Calumet and the northern portion of Winnebago. The Fox Cities Chamber plays a leadership role in regional economic development efforts in Northeastern Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.foxcitieschamber.com.
