South Carolina’s “Coolest Thing Made” contest reveals top 16 finalists for 2024

South Carolina – South Carolina is known for having a wide range of manufacturing industries. This year’s search for the “Coolest Thing Made in SC” has hit an exciting point. The people voted last month, and now the top 16 finalists for the 2024 contest have been chosen.

Once again, this competition shows how innovative the Palmetto State is and how many different industries it can support. From cutting-edge medical scanners to next-generation delivery vehicles, the contest displays off the high-tech goods that are proudly made in South Carolina.

“Coolest Thing Made” contest its in the third year

The competition, which is now in its third year, began with nominations from February 12 to 22. There were 166 outstanding products that were put forward. The public then had their say from February 26 to 29, when they cast more than 56,000 votes to narrow the list down to the top 16. There are two great examples from Florence among these finalists, further underscoring the region’s contribution to the state’s manufacturing prowess.

The 2024 Top 16 finalists are:

• Next-Gen USPS Delivery Vehicle, Oshkosh Defense, Spartanburg
• Honda Talon 1000R-4 Fox Live Valve, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. South Carolina Manufacturing, Florence
• TGIF Baby Back Ribs, Spartanburg Meat Processing Company, Inc., Spartanburg
• 9-Speed Automatic Transmission, ZF Transmissions, Laurens
• BMW XM Plug-In Hybrid, BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC, Spartanburg
• High Noon Sun Sips, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Chester
• Counterbalance Trucks, KION North America, Dorchester
• M240 Series Machine Guns, FN Manufacturing, LLC, Richland
• Dixie Paper Plates, Georgia-Pacific, Darlington
• Fire Sprinklers, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., Pickens
• Kazoobie Kazoos, Kazoobie Kazoos, LLC, Beaufort
• 670LXS, Scout Boats, Dorchester
• Michelin Earthmover Mining Tire, Michelin, Lexington
• Reishi, MycoWorks, Union
• Sleep Number Climate360 Smart Bed, Sleep Number, Richland
• Signa Hero MRI Scanner, GE HealthCare, Florence

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The next steps of voting will happen on the Manufacturing Madness website, where people can continue to pick their favorites in a way that looks like a bracket. Each week, the group will be cut in half, and there will only be four left to compete for the title of “Coolest Thing Made in SC.” A celebration at the Statehouse on March 28 will name the winner for 2024, as people across the state are getting more and more excited.

Remaining Contest Timeline:

• March 4 to 7: Top 16 bracket voting
• March 11 to 14: Top 8 bracket voting
• March 18 to 21: Final round of bracket voting
• March 28: Winner announced

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The F-16 Fighting Falcon made by Lockheed Martin in Greenville won the contest in 2023, and steel made by Nucor Steel Berkeley in Huger won it in 2022. This shows the importance and competitiveness of this event every year. South Carolina is proud of its manufacturing sector. The Coolest Thing Made in SC event not only shows off the state’s industrial successes, but it also gets people to recognize and appreciate the innovation and creativity of its workers.