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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber of Commerce today announced the top ten finalists for its fifth annual Coolest Thing Made in Colorado competition, sponsored by PNC Bank. View a teaser video of the finalists here.
“Colorado manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and this year’s finalists are a great example of the innovation happening across our state,” said Loren Furman, president and CEO of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. “From technology supporting astronauts in space and first responders on the ground to advances in health care, robotics, aviation and outdoor recreation, these products showcase the rich diversity of Colorado manufacturing.”
The finalists were chosen by an independent selection committee that reviewed and assessed each nomination. The finalists will be honored at the Colorado Chamber’s Coolest Thing Awards Banquet on November 12, where the 2026 winner will be announced and presented with the Coolest Thing Made in Colorado trophy. The Chamber will also announce the runner-up and a “People’s Choice” award based on an online vote that will open in the coming weeks.
The Coolest Thing Made in Colorado top ten finalists are as follows:
Carbon Core Brick by Summit Brick
Carbon Core is a lower-carbon masonry technology developed to turn a traditional building material into a tool for carbon sequestration. Manufactured by Lakewood-based Summit Brick using technology originally invented at the Colorado School of Mines, each Carbon Core brick incorporates approximately 1.5 pounds of olivine sand and is designed to sequester roughly one pound of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The technology also improves resistance to freeze-thaw cycles and cracking. If one Colorado brick manufacturer converted its production entirely to Carbon Core technology, the company estimates it could remove approximately 30 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.
Cheetah Automated 3D Inspection System by Cheetah Engineering LLC
The Cheetah Automated 3D Inspection System gives manufacturers “superhuman vision” by combining industrial robotics, advanced 3D scanning and proprietary software to automate one of the most challenging aspects of production: quality inspection. Designed and built in Craig and Longmont, the system captures millions of measurement points to create a highly detailed digital twin of each product it inspects, automatically identifying defects, missing features, dimensional errors and assembly issues that can be difficult to detect using traditional methods. The technology is already being deployed in various industries including aerospace, medical devices, electronics, industrial equipment and data center hardware.
Collaborative Robot Welding and Cutting Systems by Vectis Automation
Loveland-based Vectis Automation pioneered commercially successful collaborative robot, or “cobot,” welding systems in North America in 2019, helping make welding and cutting automation more accessible to small and midsize manufacturers. Unlike traditional industrial robots that typically require safety fencing and interlocks, cobots are designed to stop when they come into contact with a person, allowing them to work safely alongside employees. Vectis systems can also be taught by workers manually guiding the cobot through the desired path, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming robot programming.
EarthRoamer LTx by EarthRoamer
Handcrafted in Dacono, the EarthRoamer LTx combines luxury with true off-grid capability in an expedition vehicle designed to reach places traditional RVs cannot. Built on a Ford F-550 4WD chassis, the LTx features a vacuum-infused carbon-fiber body manufactured entirely at EarthRoamer’s Colorado facility, along with an advanced 24-volt electrical system, high-capacity lithium battery bank, rooftop solar and Starlink connectivity. Inside, the vehicle pairs its expedition capabilities with amenities such as sleeping and dining spaces, a kitchen and a bathroom.
LavaBox Portable Campfire by LavaBox
The Denver-made LavaBox is a compact portable propane campfire built into a rugged military-style steel ammo can. Created by longtime expedition leader and outdoor guide Josh Thurmond during Colorado fire season, LavaBox offers outdoor enthusiasts a portable alternative to traditional wood-burning campfires. Featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” the original LavaBox weighs approximately 8.5 pounds, produces up to 280,000 BTUs and can also be used for cooking.
MEGA FlackTek Mixer by FlackTek LLC
Designed, manufactured and tested in Louisville, the MEGA FlackTek Mixer is a groundbreaking bladeless dual asymmetric centrifugal mixer capable of processing batches at a scale previously considered out of reach for the technology. The only mixer of its kind globally, the MEGA increased the scale of bladeless mixing from 50 kilograms to 300 kilograms, opening the technology to large-scale manufacturing and automation. Initially developed in partnership with Anduril Industries for solid rocket motor production, the MEGA can reduce mixing processes that traditionally take hours to just minutes and deliver more than 24 times the production throughput of conventional mixers.
The OnMed CareStation is a private, 8-by-10-foot “clinic-in-a-box” that combines telehealth with diagnostic capabilities typically associated with an in-person medical visit. The CareStation allows patients to connect in real time with a licensed clinician while integrated technology captures vital signs and enables guided examinations using tools such as an HD camera, stethoscope and thermal imaging. Patients can receive a diagnosis, treatment plan, referrals or an e-prescription during the visit, helping expand access to health care in communities and locations where traditional medical services may be difficult to reach. The modular wall systems used to construct the CareStation are manufactured in Westminster, with production assembly completed in Grand Junction.
RoGO DropBlock by RoGO Communications
Designed in Morrison and manufactured in Fort Collins, the RoGO DropBlock is a small, lightweight, satellite-enabled communications and situational-awareness device built to keep wildland firefighters connected in remote areas where cellular service is unavailable. Firefighters can use DropBlock to track the GPS locations of crews and resources, exchange tactical messages and access critical fire-weather information to help teams coordinate their response more quickly and safely.
Spirit SE-1 Light-Sport Aircraft by Spirit Engineering
Designed and manufactured in Grand Junction, the Spirit SE-1 is an all-metal light-sport aircraft engineered to make personal aviation more accessible, efficient and affordable. Selling fully built and ready to fly for under $70,000, the SE-1 features Spirit Engineering’s proprietary 42-horsepower, air-cooled V-twin engine, which burns just 1.8 to 2.2 gallons of fuel per hour. Its wings can be stowed to reduce its ground width to just 7 feet 5 inches, making storage and ground handling more practical.
Ventilation Oxygen Loop Fan by Barber-Nichols
The Ventilation Oxygen Loop Fan, manufactured by Arvada-based Barber-Nichols, is designed to support next-generation spacesuit life-support systems by safely supplying 100% oxygen to astronauts for breathing during spacewalks. Developed to meet stringent requirements for size, weight, reliability and safety in human spaceflight, the fan underwent a 15-month test campaign and more than 9,000 hours of life testing without signs of failure or diminished performance.
This year’s finalists are announced during Manufacturing Month, an annual celebration of the manufacturers and workers that drive economic growth across Colorado. Manufacturing is a major contributor to the state’s economy, with more than 5,000 manufacturing firms employing roughly 150,000 Coloradans and contributing more than $31 billion to the state’s economic output. Throughout October, the Colorado Chamber is proud to join manufacturers and partners across the state in recognizing the industry’s impact and highlighting the opportunities ahead for Colorado manufacturing.
Learn more about the Coolest Thing Made in Colorado contest and register for the banquet on November 12 at www.CoolestThingColorado.com.
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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.