The arrival of the Manufacturing Express in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, radiated an infectious energy today at Super Products, coinciding with their annual fundraising event. Every year, Super Products hosts a silent auction to raise funds for the Mukwonago Food Bank, which helps feed over 500 local families. This tradition of giving back is not an afterthought; it’s ingrained in Super Products’ core values. “It’s not just about the work we do here; it’s about giving back,” said Randy Buening, President of Super Products, underscoring the company’s commitment to their community and the values they uphold both on and off the shopfloor.
Founded over 50 years ago, Super Products began as a small business and quickly expanded to develop five unique vacuum product lines. Today, although they are headquartered in Mukwonago, the company boasts a nationwide network of advanced facilities and dealers and employs more than 200 dedicated men and women across the country.
As the Manufacturing Express nears the final stop of our celebratory journey across the United States, a visit to Super Products represents everything this tour is about: manufacturers that have become a leader in equipment manufacturing, created jobs, made investments in their communities, and yes, built vacuum trucks! Super Products embodies not just the impact manufacturers have on industries and customers but also the communities they call home.
Buening’s pride toward Super Products and equipment manufacturing runs deep. His passion for manufacturing traces back to his childhood, where his love for building houses, barns, and buildings out of “American Logs” sparked a lifelong interest in putting things together. “There’s just something satisfying about seeing something whole again,” Buening shared. This hands-on appreciation led him through a distinguished career in heavy equipment manufacturing and distribution, eventually becoming Super Products’ president in 2021.
Super Products is one of many equipment manufacturers committed to creating new opportunities for the next generation of manufacturing workers, like welder Beau Rosenow. Beau’s journey to Super Products is anything but ordinary. A former chef who discovered welding after a high school injury sidelined his basketball career, Beau has spent the past five years honing his craft. “You learn a lot, and you learn fast,” he said. “When you come into these jobs, you have to go in with an open mind. Just when you think you’ve got something, you find out that you can always learn more.”
Beau, who works at the Mukwonago facility, exemplifies the culture in the weld shop—a place where both young and seasoned welders share knowledge. “There’s a constant adjustment and merging of multi-generational knowledge,” Beau explained. This combination of experienced hands and fresh talent allows Super Products to not only keep pace with the demands of heavy equipment manufacturing but to continually innovate and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive industry.
Super Products’ story is the larger U.S. manufacturing landscape. Manufacturing isn’t just about products—it’s about people, communities, and the nation’s future. As Heather Hastings from the Waukesha County Business Alliance put it, “Manufacturing is not just an industry—it’s a community.” The Manufacturing Express stop in Mukwonago is a poignant reminder that manufacturing remains a driving force in America, creating jobs, bolstering small and mid-sized towns, and instilling a sense of pride unmatched in other industries.
As the Manufacturing Express rolls on to our 80th and final stop, we are reminded of how important equipment manufacturing is to American communities, like the one in Mukwonago, where the heart of American manufacturing still beats strong.
