Pack Air Inc. Returns to the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Competition

Pack Air Inc. is back and ready to compete in the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin competition!

After reaching the Top 16 last year with its Turntable Swing Gate, Pack Air is returning to the competition with its 1 to 3 Trap Door Divert. The custom conveyor system was designed to move shredded cheese bags into three lanes at high speeds while working within a tight production footprint.

The annual competition is hosted by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and BMO Bank. It highlights innovative products manufactured throughout Wisconsin. This year, 107 Wisconsin-made products are competing for the title.

Pack Air Inc. is a small Wisconsin manufacturer that is excited to once again represent the custom manufacturing and conveyor industry.

“We don't build products that you typically see sitting in inventory. We build the equipment that helps manufacturers make, package, and move those products. This cheese bag conveyor is a great example of the custom engineering Pack Air does every day. It was designed around a very specific product, production rate, and space limitation.” - Pack Air General Manager Michael Sohn.

A Custom Conveyor for a Unique Challenge

The nominated system moves shredded cheese bags into a three lane strapper. It uses friction surfaced modular belt conveyors along with a 45-degree Zero Tangent curve and servo-controlled trap doors.

This type of project represents what Pack Air does every day. Designing and engineering custom conveying solutions around a customer's product, production needs, and available space.

Every conveyor project is different. Pack Air's job is to figure out how to make the entire system work around the customers specific conveyor needs.

Supporting Wisconsin Manufacturing

Pack Air's nomination highlights the role Wisconsin manufacturers play behind the scenes of products people use every day. While consumers may never see the equipment moving their food and other products, companies like Pack Air help keep those manufacturing processes moving.

Public voting for the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin competition is underway. Voters can vote for Pack Air's entry once every 24 hours during the Popular Vote Round. First round of voting ends Tuesday, September 29th @ 5:00pm. 

Help support Pack Air and Wisconsin manufacturing by voting for the 1 to 3 Trap Door Divert for Shredded Cheese Bags at www.madeinwis.com! 

Click here to see the 1 to 3 Trap Door Divert in action