California Manufacturers & Technology Association

10/14/2026

California makes some really cool things. 🧡

Check out this year’s Coolest Thing Made in California contest, by the numbers:
💡 115+ nominations
📍 56 California cities represented
🗺️ 23 California counties represented
🗳️ 124,000+ votes cast

Whether it's dry suits or satellites, our state's manufacturers make it all. Thank you to everyone who nominated, voted, and cheered on their favorites.

Stay tuned. This year’s winners will be announced soon! 🏆

10/13/2026

California aerospace is scaling up, with 1 million+ new square feet in Palmdale. ✈️

CMTA board member company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and the U.S. Air Force broke ground last month on a new final assembly line at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. The project will increase annual B-21 production capacity by 25%, supported by $4.5 billion in federal funding to speed delivery.

It’s a major vote of confidence in California’s aerospace and defense manufacturing base, and a reminder that our state’s engineers, technicians, and suppliers are central to the nation’s advanced manufacturing strength.🙌

With cash from the One Big Beautiful Bill, the California build will add more than 1 million square feet to produce B-21 Raider machines.

10/11/2026

Last call to vote!⌛️ Eight finalists, two brackets, and only hours left to pick your champions. Swipe through, choose your favorites, and get your votes in before 11:59 PM tonight.

👉 CoolestThingCalifornia.com (link in bio)

Coolest Thing Made in California, California-made, manufacturing, technology

10/09/2026

The votes are still rolling in, so we’re extending voting, just like last year.

Voting in the Top 4 round of the Coolest Thing Made in California contest will now stay open through Sunday, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT. That’s the whole weekend to back your favorites!

Click the contest link on our profile to go straight to the voting site.

10/06/2026

October is Manufacturing Month!⚙ If that makes you think of dark, dirty, and dangerous factories, we want to set the record straight.

Many modern manufacturing floors actually run on robotics, automation, and advanced digital tools, alongside skilled workers who operate and maintain that technology.

🔔 Follow CMTA's page to see the industry myths we're addressing throughout the month.

10/05/2026

Who will take the 2026 title?💭 YOUR votes this week will decide!

Vote in the Top 4️⃣ round now through Thursday, Oct. 8 at CoolestThingCalifornia.com.

You can vote up to 5 times per day, per device in each bracket. Go show your favorite California manufacturers some love!👏

10/02/2026

Drumroll please… 🥁 What better way to celebrate National Manufacturing Day than by announcing the Top 4 in each bracket of the Coolest Thing Made in California contest? Meet your finalists for the 2026 competition:

Large Manufacturers:
🛰️ MicroGEO Communications Satellite, made by Astranis Space Technologies in San Francisco
🤖 da Vinci Surgical System, made by Intuitive Surgical in Sunnyvale
📡 Condor-M Satellite Platform, made by Muon Space in San Jose
🚀 Talon-A, made by Stratolaunch in Mojave

Small & Medium-Sized Manufacturers:
🛶 Icon Dry Suit, made by KOKATAT INC. in Arcata
🧭 Fiber Optic Gyroscope, made by Northstar Photonics in San Jose
🧑‍🚒 First Due Fire Helmet, made by Phenix Technology, Inc. in Riverside
🚤 DBATS 5.2, made by Wing Inflatables, Inc. in Arcata

Congratulations to all eight finalists! Voting for this final round opens Monday, Oct. 5.

10/01/2026

Today's the LAST DAY to vote in the Top 8 round of the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in California contest! Your votes today could determine if your favorite moves on to the championship round. Vote NOW at CoolestThingCalifornia.com

⏰ Top 8 polls close tonight, Oct. 1, at 11:59 p.m.

10/01/2026

Happy Manufacturing Month!⚙ This October, CMTA will be your manufacturing mythbuster, addressing misconceptions about the industry's operations, career paths, and sustainability. Let's start here:

Myth: Manufacturing is a declining industry. ❌

Fact: California manufacturing remains one of the state's largest economic drivers, generating billions in annual output and supporting 1.2 million jobs statewide. ✅

👋 Follow our page to keep getting the facts on California manufacturing.