Public voting is now open for the top three finalists in the 2026 Hottest Thing Made in Arizona competition.
The Arizona Ҵýapp of Commerce & Industry and Arizona Manufacturers Council on Monday announced the top three finalists in the fourth annual statewide competition, presented by Grand Canyon University.
This year’s contenders span medical technology, industrial manufacturing and craft brewing:
SynCardia Total Artificial Heart
Manufactured in Tucson, the is the world’s first FDA-approved total artificial heart. The device is used as a bridge to transplant for eligible patients facing life-threatening biventricular heart failure, replacing the heart’s pumping chambers and keeping blood circulating while a patient awaits a donor heart.
Wireless SPC4® Load Indicating System
Made by Valley Forge & Bolt in Phoenix, the allows users to measure and monitor fastener tension locally or remotely, helping identify bolts or studs that have lost clamp load.
The technology is used in demanding industrial applications including mining, oil and gas, steel and other heavy industries.
Hatch Chile Gatos Golden Ale
Brewed by Fate Brewing Company in Scottsdale, is made with roasted Hatch chiles, giving the beer a pronounced chile aroma with mild flavor and very little heat. The beer has become one of Fate’s longstanding signature brews.
“This year’s top three reflect the diversity of Ҵýappanufacturing, from lifesaving medical devices and precision industrial technology to Arizona-brewed craft beer,” said Grace Appelbe, executive director of the Arizona Manufacturers Council. “That diversity is exactly what this competition is meant to highlight, along with the companies and skilled teams behind the products made here.”
The Hottest Thing Made in Arizona competition launched in 2023 as a way to highlight the range and strength of Arizona’s manufacturing sector. Past winners include Boeing’s AH-64 Apache helicopter, the Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor, and Honeywell Aerospace’s 131-9 auxiliary power unit.
Public voting is open through Oct. 13, with one vote allowed per day per device.
The winner will be announced Oct. 13 at the Arizona Manufacturers Council’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards Luncheon.
Cast your vote at






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