Key Industries
Technology + Electronic Manufacturing
Advanced electronics powering the connected world from southeastern Wisconsin
From sensors that monitor the factory floor to the semiconductors and embedded systems behind the next generation of connected devices, the Milwaukee region is home to a deep and diversified electronic manufacturing ecosystem. The same local engineering heritage that propelled the first wave of American manufacturing excellence now produces the intelligent hardware that powers Industry 4.0. We build smart sensors, semiconductors, embedded controls, motion systems, and the software platforms that link them.
The region is home to global technology and electronic manufacturing headquarters, including Rockwell Automation, a Fortune 500 global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation; Johnson Controls, a Fortune 500 leader in smart, connected buildings; and Milwaukee Tool, whose battery-powered electronics and connected jobsite platforms have redefined the power tool category. Yaskawa, one of the world's largest manufacturers of robotics and motion control systems, also calls Milwaukee home. Across hundreds of small and mid-sized component manufacturers, contract assemblers, and engineering firms, these companies form one of the densest concentrations of electronics and intelligent manufacturing output and talent in the United States.
Wisconsin companies in the technology + electronic manufacturing ecosystem
In annual industry sales
National-average employment concentration
(location quotient > 2.09)
%
Wisconsin manufacturing tax rate
The engine room of Industry 4.0
Southeast Wisconsin's electronic manufacturing base spans the full value chain, from printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication, to intelligent sensors, embedded systems, industrial controls, motion control, power electronics, and the software platforms that connect them all.Â
Regional companies design and manufacture the components that go into electric vehicles, energy storage systems, medical devices, factory automation, and the industrial Internet of Things (IoT). This depth makes the Milwaukee region a natural home for companies developing the hardware behind artificial intelligence, robotics, edge computing, and advanced connectivity.
A talent pipeline built for technology
Engineering talent is the foundation of the region's competitive advantage. Within the seven-county Milwaukee region, we have four world class technical colleges and three top Engineering programs at our universities/ The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Marquette University graduate thousands of students each year in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechatronics, and related disciplines. Within a 90-mile radius, we have an expansive network of 212 colleges and universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Northwestern University. Our top tier talent feeds the region's established pipeline of engineers, computer scientists, and skilled electronics technicians.
Built for global business
The Milwaukee region sits at the center of the upper Midwest's manufacturing corridor, with a metro of two million people along the shores of Lake Michigan. We have easy access to two international airports and are only 90 minutes from Chicago, the nation's third-largest city. Wisconsin's manufacturing and agriculture tax credit effectively reduces the state's manufacturing tax rate to 0.4%. Along with the state's fully funded pension system, high credit rating, and low exposure to natural disasters, companies located in our region enjoy an unmatched long term stability that is needed when investing in capital intensive operations.
Leading technology + electronic manufacturing companies
"Milwaukee was just stunning, pristine.
I thought, God, this place is heaven on earth."
SATYA NADELLA
CEO of Microsoft and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate
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Expansion or relocation is always a challenge. The Milwaukee 7 Partnership is your local advocate, simplifying and streamlining the investment process.
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