Cast your vote for the Coolest Thing Made in Alabama’s Manufacturing Madness competition

Alabama’s manufacturers build some of the most technically advanced, economically vital products in the world – and now they’re going head-to-head to prove it. Manufacture Alabama has launched the second annual Manufacturing Madness: The Coolest Thing Made in Alabama, an online bracket-style competition that invites the public to celebrate the products rolling off factory floors across the state.

Nominations opened Feb. 17 at almanufacturingmadness.com. Any product manufactured in Alabama is eligible, and the nomination window stays open through March 6.

Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said Manufacturing Madness showcases the state’s competitive position in advanced manufacturing.

“Manufacturing is at the core of what makes Alabama’s economy work, and the people behind these products are the reason we compete at the highest level,” McNair said. “Manufacturing Madness is a great way to put that talent and ingenuity on display for the whole state to see. We’re proud of what’s being built here, and we want every Alabamian to be proud of it too.”

Alabama is home to more than 4,000 manufacturing facilities, spanning industries from aerospace and defense to automotive, biotech and food production. The companies behind those facilities — and the workers who run them — are the economic engine of communities across the state.

Manufacture Alabama President and CEO Jon Barganier said Manufacturing Madness is about recognizing the innovation driving the state’s manufacturing sector.

“Manufacturing Madness is about more than a competition — it’s about celebrating the innovation happening in every corner of our state,” said Barganier. “From advanced technologies to everyday essentials, Alabama’s manufacturers are producing world-class products that power our economy.”

Last year’s competition was won by the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Seeker, built by Boeing in Huntsville. The PAC-3 Seeker is the guidance system at the heart of the Patriot air defense missile, engineered to identify, track and intercept airborne threats with extraordinary precision. It’s the kind of product that reflects what Alabama’s workforce does every day: solve hard problems at the highest level.

How the competition works

After nominations close March 6, online voting opens March 10 to whittle the field to a Top 16. From there, the bracket plays out in three rounds: the Top 16 to Top 8 (March 17–20), Top 8 to Top 4 (March 24–27) and the Final Four to champion (March 31–April 3). The winner will be announced and recognized at a special ceremony alongside the four finalists, with state leaders and industry representatives on hand to mark the occasion.

The format is intentionally accessible. There’s no technical jury, no complex judging rubric. The public votes, and the product with the most support advances. It’s a direct line between Alabama’s communities and the manufacturers who employ them.

“We’re excited to bring this event back for a second year that will provide companies and communities with another opportunity to rally behind the incredible work being done right here in Alabama,” Barganier said.

Manufacturing Madness is a reminder that what Alabama makes matters — to national defense, to the global economy and to the families and towns that depend on those jobs. The competition gives everyone a stake in something worth being proud of. –

Nominations are open now. Go to almanufacturingmadness.com to submit a product or cast your vote when voting opens March 10.

Key dates:

• Feb. 17 – Nominations open at almanufacturingmadness.com.
• March 6 – Nominations close (11:59 p.m.).
• March 10-13 – Public voting to determine Top 16.
• March 17-20 – First Round: Top 16 to Top 8.
• March 24-27 – Second Round: Top 8 to Top 4.
• March 31-April 3 – Final Round: Winner determined by public vote.
• April – Recognition ceremony honoring the 2026 winner and four finalists.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.