MEQUON, Wis. —  What started as a project to fill an internal need has blossomed into full-fledged product for a Mequon company.

It also happens to be this year’s choice for the Coolest Thing Made In Wisconsin.

The Mobile Autonomous Robotic Cart — or MARC — from MuL Technologies is designed to repetitively move products from point to point in a manufacturing facility or other business with the push of a few buttons.

“There are multiple points it can be moved to, so it’s easy as pushing a button, waiting five seconds and that becomes one destination point, say point one,” said Dan Armbrust, founder and chief executive officer of MuL. “Pushing it to your second point pressing a button again, that’s point two.”

Voters across the state chose it as the winner of an annual contest from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce highlighting Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector, which employs one in six residents.

“It’s fun to just to see and learn about so many cool and unique things that are made right here in the state of Wisconsin,” said Jim Popp of Johnson Financial Group, one of the contest sponsors. “More importantly, it's a great way to showcase the depth, breadth and innovation of things that are really the lifeblood of the Wisconsin economy, and that’s manufacturing.”

Armbrust said MuL is taking the cart design — which is based around off-the-shelf technology — further with a larger model and longer battery life.

But the 10-person staff also took a little time to reflect on the award Wednesday.

“I just get shivers up my spine realizing something we created, that we had a need, is going to start affecting many other people’s lives and making them more productive,” said Bob Grabon, the company’s chief technology officer.