Sen. Tammy Baldwin Touts Tax Relief Bill For Manufacturers In Superior

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, made a stop at FeraDyne Outdoors in Superior on Tuesday. The democratic lawmaker is touting a bill she introduced earlier this month that would allow more investment in research and development for small and medium-sized businesses.

Sen. Baldwin and Craig Tinsley, vice president of operations of FeraDyne, toured the production floor of the outdoor products manufacturing facility. Tinsley said the company, which employs around 300 workers, produces targets and archery equipment for 18 different brands.

“We make a whole wide range of products. Everything to do with archery,”he said. “We have a product line that has binocular holders for bird-watching, bird-viewing, tripods for your phones, a bike mount for your cell phone to put on your bike or what have you. We’re pretty diverse.”

Tinsley said they want to grow to become a one-stop shop for customers like outdoor stores Dunham’s and Cabela’s. He said they’re making efforts to streamline production in order to reach that goal. Sen. Baldwin said the 21st Century Manufacturing Act that she introduced this month would make it easier for businesses like FeraDyne. The legislation simplifies the application process and increases a research and development tax credit. Baldwin said it would also count efforts to streamline production as a research expense.

“In our tour at FeraDyne here today, I was hearing about all sorts of ways in which employees have been given the task of redesigning the production process in ways that are more efficient, safer, less strenuous on the body in terms of ergonomics and less costly,” she said.

Baldwin said the bill would also encourage manufacturers to invest in new technology, which FeraDyne has done in the last year. The company bought a high-tech machine called a super mini mill, which carves parts for their products out of blocks of metal. Tinsley said it allows them to put a prototype of a product design together within hours. Prior to the investment, the company would have to ship parts elsewhere to develop prototypes and the process would take months.

“You go through multiple changes and multiple variations of a new idea. Being able to make those changes on the fly helps us be more competitive, keeps our costs down and, plus, we’re quicker to market,” said Tinsley.

The current process to apply for the tax credit and comply with rules for receiving it proves too costly for the company right now. Tinsley said he hopes the proposed reforms go through as they look to create 75 new products this year.