The competition is intended to celebrate the state’s manufacturing legacy.
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For a third consecutive year, the Connecticut Business & Industry Association will conduct its competition to determine the “Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut.”
The state’s largest business organization on Tuesday announced the bracket for the 16-manufacturer competition.
The single-elimination, bracket-style challenge is produced by the CBIA Foundation in partnership with CONNSTEP, and is intended to celebrate the state’s manufacturing legacy.
This year’s bracket was revealed at Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense in Simsbury, home to the frangible joint, which won the 2025 competition. Electric Boat's Virginia-class Submarine won the inaugural competition in 2024.
CBIA said the 16 products in the competition this year represent a range of Connecticut manufacturers, from medical and safety devices and aerospace products to food, consumer goods and household items.
For each round of the competition, products compete head-to-head, with the public voting online to determine which ones advance. Voting opens Aug. 20.
The first round matchups are:
- Medtronic Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery System vs. Eljen Corp. Geotextile Sand Filter
- Martin Rosol’s Kielbasa vs. Inline Plastics Safe-T-Fresh Packaging
- The Lee Co. Satellite Propellant Isolation Valve vs. Whelen Engineering Co. Arges Remote Spotlight
- Ti-Trikes Roadster 750 vs. Accurate Lock and Hardware JAM for Accurate Designer Hardware
- RBC Bearings Satellite Bearing Cartridge vs. Sheffield Pharmaceuticals Dr. Sheffield’s Toothpaste
- Waterbury Button Co. Santa Claus Brass Button vs. Chapco-Fastcorp Dippin’ Dots DIVI Vending Machine
- BD Syringe vs. Poly-Tech America Tilt-N-Deploy
- Calzone Case Co. Calzone Go Live Workstation vs. Omar Coffee Breakfast Blend
