2025 Winners

Siemens Mobility, World Cat Boats, and Ordway Glass Company win statewide competition.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, the day before National Manufacturing Day (#MFGDay25), the NC Chamber revealed the winners for this year’s ‘Coolest Thing Made in NC’ competition:  Siemens Mobility’s passenger coaches for Amtrak in the large business category, World Cat Boats’ powered catamaran boats in the medium business category, and Ordway Glass Company’s custom stained glass in the small business category.

The contest recognizes three winners: one for businesses with fewer than 100 employees, one for businesses 100-999 employees, and one for businesses with 1000+ employees. Siemens Mobility’s product is manufactured in Lexington, World Cat Boats’ in Tarboro, and Ordway Glass Company’s in Fuquay- Varina.

Now an annual tradition, the NC Chamber launched the competition in 2020 to honor North Carolina’s manufacturers and raise awareness about the limitless potential of modern manufacturing careers. As the exclusive state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the NC Chamber knows that a strong manufacturing sector is central to North Carolina’s economic and competitive success. The state’s innovative manufacturing industry generates more than 13.3% of the gross state product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce.

2025 “Coolest Thing Made in NC” Finalists (in place order):

Large Business Category

Medium Business Category

Place	Product	Company	Manufacturing Location
Winner:	Powered Catamaran Boats	World Cat Boats	Tarboro
2nd Place:	Bright Leaf Hot Dogs	Carolina Packers	Smithfield
3rd Place:	Texas Pete Hot Sauce	Garner Foods	Winston-Salem
4th Place:	Cheerwine	Cheerwine	Salisbury
5th Place:	Regulator Boats	Regulator Marine	Edenton

Small Business Category 

Place	Product	Company	Manufacturing Location
Winner:	Custom Stained Glass	Ordway Glass Company	Fuquay-Varina
2nd Place:	Dual Agent Fire Suppression System	AFEX Fire Suppresion Systems	Raleigh
3rd Place:	12 Oz Can-dles	Blaze On Creations	Arden
4th Place:	Madam Colonel Pistachio Bourbon Cream	BHAWK	Southern Pines
5th Place:	Atlantic Beach Sea Salt	Atlantic Beach Sea Salt Company	Atlantic Beach

“Congratulations to Siemens Mobility, World Cat Boats, and Ordway Glass Company for winning the 2025 ‘Coolest Thing Made in NC’ title,” said NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido. “Tomorrow is National Manufacturing Day, and we are proud to recognize the strength and creativity of North Carolina’s manufacturers who continue to lead and inspire across our state, nation, and world.”

MFG Day, organized nationally by NAM and The Manufacturing Institute, champions the next generation of creators and kicks off a campaign to highlight the exciting careers in modern manufacturing.

Baxter is serving as the presenting sponsor of the online competition, and Business North Carolina is this year’s media partner.

Join the contest’s social media campaign by following #CoolestThingMadeinNC. In addition to receiving a trophy, this year’s winning products will be featured in NC Chamber and Business North Carolina publications, podcasts, social and digital media, among additional statewide publicity efforts. Information on last year’s winner and runners-up can be found here.

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About the NC Chamber

The NC Chamber works to research, develop, advocate, and communicate for solutions and policies that produce a nationally competitive business climate in North Carolina. For more information, visit ncchamber.com.