Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce named Mercury Marine Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year. The company said in a statement this is the third time it has won the award. The Fond du Lac-based company celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.

“We have invested more than $1 billion in expansion and R&D over the past 10 years, and in 2018 we had the largest product launch in the history of our company,” Mercury Marine president John Pfeifer said in the statement. “Although Mercury has unveiled many new innovations and has amassed many successes through the years, 2018 stands out as a particularly remarkable year of achievements that will help to shape the future of both Mercury Marine and the entire boating industry, and it is gratifying to be recognized for this honor by the WMC.”

A 2017 study by the Fond du Lac Economic Development Corporation, now known as Envision Fond du Lac, reported that Mercury has an annual impact of more than $4 billion on the Fond du Lac economy. Mercury invested more than $250 million in annual wages and benefits in 2017, and more than 80 percent of contracted work at the facility is awarded to Wisconsin-based companies. In 2018, Mercury was awarded its eighth consecutive Green Masters designation in Wisconsin and has won multiple awards for sustainability and innovation around the world.

Mercury’s 2018 highlights include:

  • the largest major new-product rollout, including the introduction of 19 V-6 and V-8 outboards and 26 new engines in total
  • breaking ground for, and completing construction of, a 20,000-square-foot research facility, and making major upgrades to other facilities
  • installing and implementing new, automated and efficient manufacturing equipment
  • adopting new manufacturing processes and adapting them for higher output when product demand exceeded expectations
  • acquiring Power Products, a major manufacturer of parts and accessories, to integrate with Mercury’s product portfolio and to enhance the consumer boating experience
  • expanding its workforce by 12 percent
  • surpassing $3 billion in sales in 2018 for the first time in company history