Klappa hosts M7 news conference to announce addition of 76 jobs at Bostik, Inc.



Gale Klappa, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Energy, hosted a Milwaukee 7 (M7) news conference today at the corporate headquarters of Bostik, Inc., in Wauwatosa. At the event, Bostik announced it was adding 76 new research and development (R&D) and corporate positions at its Wauwatosa location on Watertown Plank Road.

“Bostik’s operation here soon will become a global center of excellence for adhesives technology,” said Klappa, who also is co-chair of the M7. “The products developed here will serve Bostik’s worldwide customer base and strengthen the company’s position as a leader in the adhesives industry,” he said.

Klappa noted that “the global competition to attract jobs – especially high-skilled, high-wage manufacturing jobs like Bostik’s – is relentless. And the announcement we’re making today is the direct result of leadership and teamwork.

“Leadership, of course, is about setting a long-term economic vision, but it’s also about acting decisively on real-time opportunities to attract jobs like those Bostik will be adding here in ‘Tosa.

“Quite simply, the leadership and commitment of our partners in the state of Wisconsin and the city of Wauwatosa made today’s announcement possible,” said Klappa.

Bob Marquette, Bostik president for the Americas, said that the company considered several other options for the location of their global R&D operations, including Shanghai and Paris. “Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the efforts of the M7, the state of Wisconsin and the city of Wauwatosa. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with the collaboration of those groups to help us accomplish this initiative.”

Wauwatosa Mayor Jill Didier attended the event. “There’s good reason why Bostik has called Wauwatosa home for more than 25 years and is making a considerable investment to expand here. Wauwatosa is well-known for its attentiveness to the needs of business. Under the mayor’s leadership, ‘Tosa has continued to build on the assets that are attractive to companies and residents alike, making it all the more appealing to companies like Bostik.”

Bostik is among the largest manufacturers of adhesives and sealants in the world. The company provides bonding solutions for the construction, consumer, transportation, packaging, personal care and hygiene, and industrial assembly markets. Bostik currently employs 164 in Wisconsin, with 4,600 globally. In September 2011, Bostik selected Wauwatosa for its consolidated corporate and R&D operations.

Klappa is one of the founding members of the Milwaukee 7, which was launched in September 2005 to create a regional, cooperative economic development platform for the seven counties of southeast Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha and Washington. Its mission is to attract, retain and grow diverse businesses and talent.