Nord Est (formerly La Continentale d'Entreprises) into a nice, neat little package. The holding company's main area of business is consumer packaging for beauty and health care items, including paperboard boxes and plastic cases. It also has mining and mineral operations including mica, zinc, and lead. Nord Est has divested some of its mining subsidiaries (Denain-Anzin Mineraux and Miniere de Touissit) and its stake in electronics company APEM (miniature switches and keypads used in the computer and aerospace industries). Nord Est company is owned by 21 Centrale Partners, a France-based private equity firm which is itself controlledbyItaly's Benetton family.

Wright Industries makes and delivers automated assembly systems and robotic integrators. It is a leader in nuclear automation and fiber formation and provides engineering, design and manufacturing services, including concurrent and reverse engineering, solid-modeling, prototype and process development, and full-scale production for the healthcare, automotive, aerospace/defense, energy, textiles, and nuclear industries. Once a subsidiary of Robotic Technology Systems, the company was acquired by the Doerfer Companies in 2004. Doerfer is an application manufacturer specializing in automation systems, controls integration, press systems, metal stamping, and forming dies.

Yaskawa America, Inc. - Motoman Robotics Division company makes industrial robots that weld, assemble, cut, and handle goods for manufacturers. It also offers related process controls, positioning systems, welding equipment, and operating software. Motoman and sibling Drives & Motion Division (a maker of control products, AC servo motors and drives, and inverters, formerly Yaskawa Electric America), combined to form Yaskawa America, a unit of Yaskawa Electric Corp. (YEC) of Japan, one of the world's top manufacturers of industrial robots.

QST continues to be family-owned and operated. The five generations of capable, visionary leadership began with Sam Haber and continued with his sons Michael and William, followed in the 1940s by Ely Lionheart, Michael's son-in-law, and Samuel Haber, William's son. The generational leadership has continued with Tom Danch, and Bill Haber. The fifth generation, the generation for the new millennium, continues with brothers Michael and Alex Danch.

The Michelin Man may look like a marshmallow, but what he's selling is tires. Behind that fluffy white figure is one of the world's top tire manufacturers, Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, which produces more than 150 million tires annually for all kinds of vehicles. The majority of its sales are made from supplying replacement tires to the passenger car and truck markets. It is also a world leader in aircraft and earthmover tires. Michelin sells to both consumers and vehicle manufacturers. Included in its stable are brands recognized regionally (Kleber in Europe, Warrior in China) and worldwide (Michelin, BF Goodrich). Compagnie Generale company also publishes about 10 million maps and travel guides per year.

International Road Dynamics (IRD) supplies transportation systems and equipment, including highway toll collection equipment, and traffic data collection and safety products. Its weigh-in-motion technology detects, classifies, and weighs vehicles at highway speeds. IRD systems are used in commercial vehicle operations, in management and safety at truck weigh stations, border crossings, and bus depots. IRD also provides delivery, installation, and maintenance. Customers are state and federal departments of transportation, municipalities, and private businesses, primarily in the US. IRD operates overseas subsidiaries, driving its presence in developing markets.

Tyco International Ltd. provides security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, valves and controls, and other industrial products to customers worldwide. The company operates in five segments: ADT Worldwide, Flow Control, Fire Protection Services, Electrical and Metal Products, and Safety Products. The ADT Worldwide segment designs, sells, installs, services, and monitors electronic security systems for residential, commercial, education, governmental, and industrial customers. The Flow Control segment designs, manufactures, sells, and services valves, pipes, fittings, valve automation, and heat tracing products for the oil, gas, and other energy markets along with general process industries, and the water and wastewater markets. The Fire Protection Services segment designs, sells, installs, and services fire detection and fire suppression systems for commercial, industrial, and governmental customers. The Electrical and Metal Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells galvanized steel tubing, armored wire, and cable and other metal products for non-residential construction, electrical, fire and safety, and mechanical customers. The Safety Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells fire suppression, electronic, security, and life safety products, including fire suppression products, breathing apparatus, intrusion security, access control, and video management systems. Tyco International Ltd. was founded in 1960 and is based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey.

Ariens Company makes a line of consumer lawn and garden equipment. Its mowers to tillers are sold under multiple brands including the Ariens name, and its snow removal equipment under the Sno-Thro brand. Semi-famous "Lawnmower Boy" Ryan Tripp used an Ariens mower to mow the grounds of 50 state capitols and the White House -- all for charity. The company's Stens Corp. offers aftermarket replacement parts for power equipment via catalog sales and dealers in more than 30 countries. Ariens also produces Gravely-brand commercial grounds-maintenance equipment, and the Locke and National brands for intricate golf course maintenance. The family of founder Henry Ariens owns Ariens.

Founded in 1849 as a woodenware business, the holding company now manufactures packaging and paperboard, returnable materials-handling systems, product labels, and promotional materials, as well as offers logistics and marketing services. Its three core operating units are Menasha Packaging (corrugated packaging and point-of-purchase displays), which includes Cortegra Group (pharmaceutical labeling and packaging), ORBIS Corporation (plastic reusable packaging), and LeveragePoint Media (in-store promotional services). Menasha also has investments in other manufacturing companies. Descendants of founder Elisha Smith own a majority of Menasha.

PSB Industries SA company specializes in creating and manufacturing packaging products, particularly for the beauty industry. PSB Industries' subsidiaries include Baikowski, which makes ultra-pure alumina powder and other fine mineral oxides for industrial use; CGL Pack, which makes custom packaging; and Texen, which specializes in plastic injection for beauty products packaging. PSB Industries has operations in France, Japan, Mexico, and the US. In 2008 Texen bought Mar-Lee Companies, an American maker of precision injection molds.

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