LANSING (Aug. 15, 2023) — The Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) announced a historically broad field of contenders for the 2023 Coolest Thing Made in Michigan competition, which kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The program is part of MMA’s annual recognition of the products made by the manufacturers of our great state. 

“From the tip of the Upper Peninsula to the bottom of the mitten, these nominees exemplify the broad and diverse manufacturing industry here in Michigan,” said Delaney McKinley, MMA Executive Vice President of Operations. “These creative thinkers and doers are leading our industry – and humanity – into the future.”  

MMA created the Coolest Thing Made in Michigan competition to shine a light on the champions of manufacturing, whose home-grown ingenuity has made this state the most diverse manufacturing center in the world. And, because these products impact more than just manufacturers, the Association is giving everyone in Michigan the opportunity to vote for their favorites. 

In Round 1 of the competition, open from Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023 through Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, anyone can vote daily for up to four products at micoolestthing.org.

These votes determine which products make it to the Top Ten in Round 2. The winner of the Coolest Thing Made in Michigan will be announced live during the Manufacturing Excellence Awards gala on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in East Lansing.

The 2023 “Coolest Thing Made in Michigan” nominees are:  

•  2-Piece Snap-On Compression - EXCEPTIONAL Metals, Saginaw
• 360 LED Safety Vest - Washington Enterprise, Rochester Hills
• Aluminum Fishing Bait Molds - Angling Ai, Jackson
• Amigo TravelMate - Amigo Mobility, BridgeportARMOR VCI Rust Prevention Packaging -
• Armor Protective Packaging, Howell
• Aurora Plasma Thruster - Orbion Space Technology, Houghton
• Balancing Machines - Hines Industries, Inc., Ann Arbor
• Bolt Eater - Stillion Industries, Dexter
• CorrLoc Brace - CorrPak, Zeeland
• Custom Chaco Z/Sandals - Chaco, Rockford
• Custom Jeans and Jackets - Detroit Denim, Detroit
• Custom-Fabricated Deck Sheets - Duro-Last, Saginaw
• Dataspeed Drive-by-Wire Kit - Dataspeed Inc, Rochester Hills
• Duro-Fleece® Membrane - Duro-Last, Saginaw
• Duro-Last X™ membrane - Duro-Last, Saginaw
• Duro-Last® EV Membrane - Duro-Last, Saginaw
• Duro-Last® Membrane - Duro-Last, Saginaw
• Duro-Tuff® Membrane - Duro-Last, Saginaw
• Engine Ion Sensor - Detroit Engineered Products (DEP), Troy
• EOTECH® Vudu® 1-10x28 Rifle Scope - EOTECH, Plymouth
• Fish Grade Geomembrane - Plastatech, Saginaw
• Food For Thought Boozy Jams and Wine Preserves - Tamarack Holdings, Traverse City
• Fox River Michigan Whiskey - Ann Arbor Distilling Company, Ann Arbor
• GANTEC GP100 - Gantec, Midland
• Global Modular Solutions - AptumBuild, Melvindale
• Hazelnut Coffee Liqueu - Green Door Distilling Co., Kalamazoo
• Heritage Guitars - Heritage Guitar Company, KalamazooHeroboard - Heroboard Fitness, Clinton Township
• Industrial Grade Geomembrane - Plastatech, Saginaw
• INFRALED PRO Motorized Exam Lights - Kirlin Lighting, Detroit
• LED SOUND ACTIVATED GUITAR STRAP - Washington Enterprise, Rochester Hills
• Lilypad - Lilypad Labs, HollandMack's Ear Plugs - McKeon Products, Inc., Warren
• MOOMERS HOMEMADE ICE CREAM - MOOMERS, Traverse CityMRI Breast Positioning
• System - Domico Med-Device, Fenton
• Natural Dog Ear Cleaner - Celsius Organic Herbs, Ann Arbor
• Pallets - DT Fowler Manufacturing, Lapeer
• Perimeter & Drip Edge Metal Flashings - EXCEPTIONAL Metals, Saginaw
• Pet Flashlight - Washington Enterprise, Rochester Hills
• Portable Parallel Bars - Wareologie, Sterling Heights
• PROFLEX® Vinyl Expansion Joints - Oscoda Plastics, Oscoda
• ProShot Concrete Sprayer - Getman, Kalamazoo
• Posi-Snap - GreenRod Solutions, Vermontville
• Protect-All Designer Series® - Protect-All Flooring, Oscoda
• RANGER Energy-Efficient Pet Door - Access Magnetics LLC, Bay City
• Roofing Fasteners - TIP-TOP Screw Manufacturing, OscodaROUSH Mustang Phase 2 - 625 HP
• Supercharger Upgrade Kit - Roush Performance, Livonia The Runwell - Shinola, Detroit
• SAGE® UMT - Armstrong International, Three Rivers
• Soil Water Retention Technology - SWRT Solutions, Inc., Okemos Storch SuperMag - Storch
• Products Co Inc, Livonia
• Swan Paddle Boat - Paddle Wheeler, Owosso
• Tech 5® Geomembrane - Plastatech, Saginaw
• T-Edge - EXCEPTIONAL Metals, Saginaw
• TELESCOPIC SEATING RISER - StageRight Corporation, Clare
• Tel-O-Pole(R) Hot Stick - Hastings Fiber Glass Products, Inc., Hastings
• The Runwell - Shinola, Detroit
• The SSP-2800 Commercial Cherry Pitting Machine - Dunkley International, Inc., Kalamazoo
• Urbarn Pro Series IFLEX - Abundant Lighting, Grand Rapids
• VersaWare Smart Kitchen Appliances - VersaWare, Southfield
• Vertical Aluminum Paint/Powder Finishing System - Belco Industries inc., Belding
• vTron - Xoran Technologies, Ann Arbor

Learn more about MMA and the Coolest Thing Made in Michigan at micoolestthing.org or contact MMA’s Delaney McKinley at 517-487-8530 or mckinley@mimfg.org.

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