Elkhart Brass Manufacturing's XD Glow‑in‑the‑Dark Smooth Bore Nozzle landed the top prize in the annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana contest.
The firefighting innovation competed against 48 others in 36 communities in Indiana.
“Elkhart is a manufacturing heavy region, and we’re proud to be a part of that,” said Chris Martin, Elkhart Brass vice president of marketing, in a press release.
The nozzle is designed to help firefighters quickly identify the right hose for specific uses.
“This is a life-saving piece of equipment,” Martin said. “It could make or break an incident for a fire department. In addition to that, it’s now the Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana. To win this contest against a lot of great competition is a true honor, and something we’re not taking lightly.”
Stone Horses, based in Shipshewana, earned runner-up honor for its model horse art. Goulding & Wood Pipe Organ Builders of Indianapolis and Harpsicle Harps of Rising Sun made the final four.
The TikTok Small Business of the Year was Borshoff, an Indianapolis advertising and public relations agency.
The champion was announced during the Best in Business Awards luncheon at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
“This competition continues to draw strong interest from around the state and showcases Indiana’s deep manufacturing roots,” said Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO. “The quality, creativity and real significance of some of these products make it clear why Indiana manufacturing continues to stand out.”
Elkhart Brass was founded in 1902 and makes more than 2,000 types of firefighting and fire protection products.
