Guest ContributorArizona’s manufacturing leaders gathered in Phoenix on Tuesday to celebrate the companies and individuals driving the state’s manufacturing renaissance. At the Arizona Manufacturers Council’s 2025 Manufacturer of the Year Awards Luncheon, six standout firms and one public leader were recognized for their innovation, commitment to sustainability, and advocacy for Arizona’s economic growth.
The annual event honors manufacturers large and small whose work is powering Arizona’s fast-growing industrial sector. This year’s edition recognized semiconductor suppliers and technology innovators, brewers, and construction product manufacturers, all reflecting the breadth and vitality of the state’s manufacturing economy, which now employs more than 200,000 Arizonans and continues to attract national attention for its rapid expansion and skilled workforce.
“Arizona’s manufacturers continue to set the bar for excellence, whether they’re developing next-generation technologies, investing in their workforce, or strengthening the communities where they operate,” Arizona Manufacturers Council Executive Director Grace Appelbe said. “This year’s honorees represent the innovation and leadership that make Arizona a national leader in manufacturing.”
Among those honored were Swift Coat, named Small Manufacturer of the Year for its advanced coating technology improving the performance and sustainability of solar panels and glass products; Pure Wafer, a Prescott-based company reclaiming silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry; and Axon, the Scottsdale public safety technology firm recognized as Large Manufacturer of the Year.
“We’re changing the world here from Arizona,” Axon Sr. Vice President Chris Camacho said in accepting the honor. “Companies like this are what we’ve been trying to grow in this state for so many decades. We are the top manufacturing hub of the United States. The hope is that we’ll continue to nurture companies like Axon and many others, so we continue to build headquarters, build manufacturing, build R&D, and create high-wage jobs for our citizens.”
Other awardees included Copper State Bolt & Nut Co., named as the Arizona Success Story; Associated Materials Innovation, which won for Excellence in Innovation; and Four Peaks Brewing Company, which won for Excellence in Sustainability. Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Kevin Thompson who was named Manufacturing Champion of the Year for his work advancing pro-business and energy reliability policies.
Honeywell nabs Hottest Thing Made in Arizona win
Honeywell’s 131-9 Auxiliary Power Unit won the competition for the Hottest Thing Made in Arizona, an annual contest celebrating the innovation, talent, and economic impact of Arizona’s manufacturing sector.
This year’s bracket-style vote attracted more than 10,000 votes through the contest’s website.
Manufactured in Phoenix, the 131-9 APU is a small engine located in the tail of an aircraft that serves as a backup generator, providing power for lights, instruments, and air systems when the main engines are not running. Trusted by airlines around the world, Honeywell’s APU is a global standard in aviation safety and reliability.
Also represented in the contest finals were Lucid’s all-electric and Casa Grande-built Gravity SUV—which delivers up to 450 miles of range and 828 horsepower, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds—and the Axon Body 4, the latest generation of Scottsdale-based Axon’s body-worn camera technology which is equipped with artificial intelligence features that enhance safety, efficiency, and accountability.
Add comment