Scroll through CMTA's round-up of manufacturing-related news and updates from May 2025. The articles below don’t reflect the views of the manufacturing industry or CMTA. They are a collection of the latest industry news from this past month. Latest Industry...
News & Insights
We’re changing the narrative of the manufacturing industry one story at a time. CMTA’s award-winning storytelling team showcases California’s 30,000 manufacturers by uplifting the voices of our makers. Find industry news and the stories from those “Making California” below.
Manufacturing Minute: Anheuser-Busch Invests $300M in U.S. Manufacturing
Anheuser-Busch is investing $300 million in U.S. manufacturing, continuing its 165-year legacy of American production. This week’s Manufacturing Minute highlights how CMTA member companies Anheuser-Busch and John Deere, along with the Small Business Administration,...
Nationally Recognized Firm Eide Bailly Joins CMTA
Sacramento, Calif. –The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Eide Bailly to the organization today. Eide Bailly is a certified public accounting and business advisory firm, providing leaders of all levels with solutions...
CMTA Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage with Manufacturing Leaders
Insights with Manufacturing Leaders: AAPI Heritage Month Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a time to honor the vibrant contributions, innovation, and leadership of AAPI individuals across all industries. In California’s diverse and...
California-Made Gift Guide for Mother’s Day & Father’s Day
California-Made Picks for Mother’s Day & Father’s Day With over 35,000 manufacturers across California, you're bound to find the perfect gift that’s thoughtful, high-quality, and locally made. This Mother’s and Father’s Day, surprise them with something...
J&J, Caterpillar Inc., and Novartis Invest in U.S. Manufacturing: Manufacturing Minute
This week’s Manufacturing Minute highlights CMTA members leading the way with major investments and advancements in workforce development, U.S. manufacturing, and pharmaceutical innovation. https://youtu.be/jMnlk4-ZJrk Watch the latest Manufacturing Minute episode in...
Manufacturing in the News: April 2025
Scroll through CMTA's round-up of manufacturing-related news and updates from April 2025. The articles below don’t reflect the views of the manufacturing industry or CMTA. They are a collection of the latest industry news from this past month. Latest Industry...
First Major Tankless Brand Assembled in U.S. Joins CMTA
Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Rinnai to the organization. Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974. With a global perspective to...
Manufacturing Minute: California’s First New Steel Mill in 50 Years Begins Construction
This week's Manufacturing Minute brings attention to significant developments in steel manufacturing, electrical products, and workers' compensation solutions for California manufacturers. https://youtu.be/8VbyGGXGdgk Watch the latest Manufacturing Minute episode in...
Porsche Consulting Joins CMTA’s Member Network
Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Porsche Consulting to the organization in March. The consulting firm is a leading management consultancy from Germany with offices located around the world. It...
Press Release
16 California-Made Products Advance in the First-Ever Coolest Thing Made in California Competition
Sacramento, CA – The excitement continues as the “Coolest Thing Made in California” competition enters its next thrilling phase! Hundreds of products were nominated and now 16 remain. Voting for which products will move into the Top 8 starts Monday, September 11 and concludes on September 14 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Hosted by the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) the Coolest Thing Made in California competition has already seen an outpouring of support during the popular round, with tens of thousands of votes determining the 16 products that would advance.
“We are thrilled to enter the Top 16 voting round of the Coolest Thing Made in California competition,” said Lance Hastings, CEO & President of CMTA. “This stage is crucial as it determines the top eight products who will compete for the first-ever title of Coolest Thing Made in California. We encourage everyone to participate, cast their votes, and support the products they believe truly represent the ‘coolest’ California has to offer.’”
The Top 16 products competing head-to-head for the title of the Coolest Thing Made in California include: Tri Tool Technologies’ 536 Fitting Machine, Fender’s American Vintage II 1972 Telecaster® Thinline, Siemens Mobility’s Amtrak Airo Venture Trainsets, Xcell Biosciences’ Avatar Cell Control System, Carmazzi Caramel Corn’s Caramel Popcorn, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cyltezo, High Sierra Showerhead’s Half Dome Rain Shower Head, Northrop Grumman’s James Webb Space Telescope, Lockheed Martin’s NIRCam, Petit Pot’s Petit Pot, TAVIS Corporation’s Pressure Transducer, Stratolaunch’s Talon-A Reusable Hypersonic Test Vehicle, Tesla’s Model Y, Millennium Space Systems’ Victus Nox, Wisk Aero’s Wisk Air Taxis, and Zoox’s Robotaxi.
Go to CoolestThingCalifornia.com to learn more.
Top 16 Round Details:
- Voting Open: September 11-14
- Voting Limit: The public can vote once per day, per device.
- Voting Method: Visit our official website CoolestThingCalifornia.com and follow the simple steps to cast your votes for your favorite product.
- Voting Impact: The Top 16 round votes will determine which products move on to the Top 8 round.
- Winners: After weekly elimination rounds, the winner will be announced at the MakingCA Conference hosted by CMTA on National Manufacturing Day, October 6. California’s Lt. Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, will present the award.
Coolest Thing Made in California Schedule:
- Top 8 Vote: Sept. 18-21
- Top 4 Vote: Sept. 25-28
- Winner Announced: Oct. 6, National Manufacturing Day at CMTA’s MakingCA Conference
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About CMTA:
The California Manufacturers & Technology Association has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before the California legislature and administrative agencies since 1918. The total output from manufacturing in California is $300 billion per year, roughly 10 percent of the total economic output of the state. Manufacturers employ 1.3 million Californians, paying wages more than $25,000 higher than other non-farm employers in the state. For more information, visit the CMTA website.