The Fusion Between Wolter & Big Joe Powers Reactor Research at UW Madison’s College of Engineering

Opportunity: Replace the over 50 year-old walkie-stacker at UW Madison’s College of Engineering with a brand new Big Joe IBH to keep their fusion reactor research running smoothly.

When a 1960s-era Big Joe walkie stacker was discovered still in use at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Engineering, the team at Big Joe Forklifts knew they had to do something special. In honor of the decades-old workhorse still serving the university’s engineering department, Big Joe donated a brand new IBH stacker, branded with the University of Wisconsin’s signature red & white, to support & empower the next generation of engineers.

Big Joe’s New Product Development Engineer & former intern and alumni at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Zach Skelton noted, “I was walking through the basement of the engineering building and did a double take. I thought, ‘Wait a minute… that’s a Big Joe!’ At that moment, I knew there was an opportunity not just to celebrate this equipment standing the test of time, but to help the university modernize its processes. I’m glad to be a part of making this a reality and providing new resources to students and faculty alike.”

The new Big Joe stacker will be used in instructional and operational settings within the College of Engineering, giving students hands-on experience with modern material handling equipment.

“We are truly excited to not only help the University of Wisconsin at Madison continue on its mission to train future engineers, but to see the full life cycle of Big Joe products in action,” said Big Joe’s VP of Engineering, Mat McEachern. “We look forward to working with our dealer partner Wolter as well as university staff and students as a part of the Madison community.”

“As a Big Joe dealer, this opportunity to support UW Madison is a huge priority as Wolter is focused on supporting the future of Wisconsin industry & the community at large,” said Ross Jeremiah, president of Wolter Midwest. “We are happy to continue to support UW Madison as this new stacker provides support & dependability to the engineering department for years to come.”

Wolter, like the Big Joe IBH, is Wisconsin-born & built & has also been serving Wisconsin since the 1960s. Since its inception, Wolter has spread throughout the Midwest, Southeast, & beyond, providing material handling, storage, & power solutions to thousands of customers.

Staying true to its Wisconsin roots, the original forklift will be moved from the university to a new home at Big Joe’s Madison headquarters, where it will serve as a testament to the longevity of Big Joe equipment, the spirit of innovation, and partnership that powers progress.