From Closure to Comeback

How Wisco Metal Solutions, LLC, is Making a Difference

By Wendy Schoggins and Muriel Nelson

The year 2025 has brought significant change in the Clear Lake Business Park. Established more than 75 years ago through the efforts of civic-minded individuals including the late John Campion and the late Bill Barthman, the park was created to transform empty acres on the west side into a hub that would support local business and make the community proud.

Over the decades, companies like Pixall in the earlier years and then Oxbo, brought manufacturing activities to the site, creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.

So, it was difficult news for the community when earlier this year, Oxbo announced that it was relocating its business to Western New York state. As manufacturing activities wound down and employees started to move on, one Oxbo worker decided to make an offer to acquire the facility. Fast forward to today and you’ll see the business complex has a new name, Wisco Metal Solutions, LLC. Matt Norberg is owner, founder and CEO.

So how did all this happen? Even before Oxbo announced publicly that they would relocate, Matt saw the potential to establish a new company in metal fabrications. One could call it a “golden opportunity” to acquire a facility already fully equipped with state-of-the-art  equipment. Plus, he could hire some of the well-trained people from the former company with whom he had worked through the years. Even though it may have seemed sudden, it wasn’t an overnight process.

Matt assures us that Oxbo came to the table with good intentions, as did he. In fact, he speaks highly of the process and the end result, that is to say, he now owns the land and assets. He views it as a “Win-Win” situation.

Matt started at Oxbo in 1999 after getting a certificate from WITC, now Northwoods Technical College, and worked his way up to Service Manager. Now, as sole owner of the new Wisco Metal Solutions company, Matt is starting a new era at this somewhat historic site while also continuing to fulfill Service Manager duties for Oxbo.

Decades ago, it was home to Bernie Paulson and his twin brother Bruce’s bean-picker manufacturing business, Pixall. Bernie told Matt, “We started it. You saved it.” There had been a real possibility that Oxbo would sell off its facility in “pieces and parts”, which would have left a large empty complex spanning more than half of the business park. But this buyout prevented that. Both Matt and Bernie agreed that they each had a father who played an important role in their son’s success.

The purchase was finalized on September 19, 2025. Since then, Matt brought in Justin Swenby as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Justin was a 10-year Oxbo employee and held the Manufacturing Shop Supervisor position when Oxbo closed.

In a relatively short time,16 former Oxbo employees were hired, and efforts are ongoing to establish contracts for fabrication work in the “turnkey” manufacturing facility.

Oxbo hasn’t left the area entirely. The company decided to lease space from Wisco Metal for their accounting, engineering, and some other office work. Today, approximately 20 Oxbo employees work in leased office space in Wisco Metal Solutions Building 1. In addition, another 7-plus Oxbo workers are situated in the service and parts area located in another building. Wisco Metal Solutions also retains other ties with Oxbo through contracts with the former owner to make specialty items and take on various overflow work.

With a facility composed of five large buildings and ample parking lot space, the new owners plan to offer leased space in Building 5 to local businesses, such as mechanics, farmers and more. The available shop bays are 24’ x 56’ and are equipped with large overhead and jib cranes. They are appropriate for working on farm equipment, other heavy equipment, automotive and more . The bays are stocked with welding equipment and forklifts and are wired for large shop tools. In addition, the entire space is well lit, heated, and has restrooms plus a large breakroom.

Helping farmers succeed is deeply rooted in Matt’s upbringing. Matt was raised on a farm near Prairie Farm, and his love for agriculture has never faded. Today, he and his wife, Kara, along with their two teenagers, own and operate a large beef cattle farm not far from his original home.  Matt compliments Kara (nee Alvermann) for utilizing her accounting, Human Resources, and other skills to support the new business while still maintaining a job elsewhere.

Justin is also a northwest Wisconsinite, raised on a farm in the Downing area. After getting a degree from Stout, he followed his interest in welding by attending Northwoods Technical College in Rice Lake. From there, he entered the welding field and has continued building the experience and expertise that defines his work. As COO, he oversees the entire workforce at the new company.

Wisco Metal looks forward to supporting the local community, that is, to work with local businesses to meet their metal fabrication needs.

For example, after a recent flooring project at the Clear Lake Area Community Center, a new handicap access ramp was needed for the gymnasium entrance. Wisco Metal Solutions custom-built a perfect ramp according to the specifications provided by the center. 

Matt stated that giving back to the community is a very important business goal. Looking ahead, Matt hopes to provide tours of the plant to local students. These tours would provide exposure to engineering and design, laser cutting, welding, painting and other aspects of the metal-fabrication process. He hopes the experience might foster an appreciation for metal fabrication and just maybe encourage some students to go into the field. Matt also plans to show visiting students the Oxbo service area to encourage them to consider the mechanics business also.

Wisco Metal Solution’s presence at the Clear Lake Business Park can only strengthen the local economy. The company will bring untold benefits to the community as a whole.

Matt and Justin are growing the business with the confidence that they have the necessary knowledge and contacts for success. They have an ambitious plan to acquire more contractual work and increase the size of their workforce with employees who share their desire to have a good, local place to work, and a job they enjoy. 

The community is grateful to see more activity around the former Oxbo facility, now Wisco Metal Solutions, LLC. As Bernie Paulson said, “It makes me feel good to see cars in the parking lot”.