CONTACT: Jenna Wines
jwines@vamanufacturers.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 8, 2024

Virginia Manufacturers Association Announces Award Winners at Annual Gala

– Coresix Takes Best in Show – 

Richmond, VA – The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) celebrated excellence and innovation in the manufacturing sector at its annual Virginia Manufacturing Gala, held on November 8, 2024, at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. The event brought together top industry leaders to recognize Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Virginia’s Woman of the Year and “the coolest things” made in Virginia. This year’s gala was made possible by generous sponsors, including Patriot Industries.

Belinda Black of Canon Virginia was recognized as WiM Virginia’s 2024 Woman of the Year award recipient at the gala. Black’s 30-year career in manufacturing, commitment to mentoring and leadership, and contributions to WiM Virginia earned her the highest honor by the Virginia chapter.

The Virginia Manufacturing Cup recognized top products in twelve industry categories. Justin Reese of Relation Insurance Services, the title sponsor for the 2024 Virginia Manufacturing Cup, announced the bronze and silver winners. Reese expressed admiration for the accomplishments of these companies, emphasizing their essential roles in driving economic growth, job creation, and innovation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Together, Reese and Brett Vassey, President & CEO of the VMA, announced the Best in Show and first-place winner, Coresix. “Coresix Precision Glass has set a new standard for innovation and excellence with cutting-edge glass solutions, and we are thrilled to recognize this product as the first place and Best in Show winner of the 2024 Virginia Manufacturing Cup,” said Vassey. “Their accomplishments underscore the exceptional talent and forward-thinking spirit that define Virginia’s manufacturing community, and we’re proud to celebrate Coresix as a leader in advancing technology and strengthening our industry.”

The 2024 competition saw an impressive 57 products and companies nominated, reflecting strong public interest with over 53,000 votes cast by enthusiastic supporters. The VMA congratulates all winners for their exceptional contributions to Virginia’s manufacturing sector, which continues to fuel growth, inspire innovation, and strengthen the state’s economy. 

2024 Virginia Manufacturing Cup Winners

1st Place and Best in Show: Coresix Precision Glass

• Coresix won overall with their Coresix Precision Glass that enables the advanced technologies of tomorrow. Manufactured by Coresix in Williamsburg. 

2nd Place: DuPont’s Nomex®

• Dupont secured second place with their Nomex® textile product, a heat-resistant fiber that protects first responders and utility and electrical workers. Manufactured by DuPont in Richmond. 

3rd Place: Sumitomo Drive Technologies Paramax 9000

• Sumitomo Drive Technologies claimed the third-place position for their product, the Paramax 9000. The Paramax 9000 is a large industrial gearbox that powers demanding applications worldwide. Manufactured by Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Chesapeake. 

Category Winners

Chemicals and Allied Products and Pharmaceuticals 

• Gold: AdvanSix for their product, Sulf-N® ammonium sulfate fertilizer. Sulf-N replenishes soil sulfur and provides efficient nitrogen, enhancing crop yields. Manufactured by AdvanSix in Hopewell. 
• Silver: Alfa Laval for their product, LKH Ultrapure Centrifugal Pump, an essential for high-purity biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications. Manufactured by Alfa Laval in Richmond. 
• Bronze: Merck & Co. for their products Gardasil and Gardasil 9, which are HPV vaccines that help protect against certain types of cancers. Manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc. in Elkton. 

Fabricated Metal Products 

• Gold: NASA Langley Research Center for their Spacesuit Portable Life Support System Backplate, a Titanium backplate with embedded cooling channels that provide life support in astronaut spacesuits. Manufactured by NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton. 
• Silver: Babylon Micro-Farms for their STEM Garden, a standalone indoor farming unit that also serves as an educational tool for K-12 students. Manufactured by Babylon Micro-Farms in Richmond. 
• Bronze: Aerofin for their Stainless Steel Evaporator Coil, that is known for cooling air to -45 degrees to chill or freeze fresh food. Manufactured by Aerofin in Lynchburg. 

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco 

• Gold: Sabra Dipping Company for their Buffalo Hummus made with Frank’s Red Hot. Manufactured by Sabra Dipping Company in Chesterfield. 
• Silver: Flowers Food for their Dave’s Killer Bread, an American brand of organic whole-grain products. Manufactured by Flowers Food in Lynchburg.  
• Bronze: Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA for their Kauai Coffee K-Cups, which are made with Hawaiian coffee beans and manufactured and packaged in Suffolk. 

Furniture and Fixtures 

• Gold: ivWatch’s Real Time IV Monitoring System is a noninvasive technology that continuously monitors your patient’s IV status using advanced optics to notify you in real real-time of the tissue changes that indicate a potential infiltration. Manufactured by ivWatch in Newport News.
• Silver: Evolve Stone for their mortarless, color-throughout stone veneer that is a fraction of the weight of other stone building products. Manufactured by Evolve Stone in Winchester. 
• Bronze: TXTUR Furniture for their TXTUR Smoke Chair are made with respect for not only the materials but also the environment. Manufactured by TXTUR Furniture in Roanoke. 

Industrial and Commercial Machinery 

• Gold: Sumitomo for their Paramax 9000, a large industrial gearbox that powers demanding applications worldwide. Manufactured by Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Chesapeake. 
• Silver: ITAC VersaGear Microgrid Switchgear, a piece of multi-megawatt electrical equipment made to back up the largest power plants, hospitals, and military bases. Manufactured by Industrial TurnAround Corp (ITAC) in Chester. 
• Bronze: MELD Manufacturing for their MELD Machine: K2, designed for the production and repair of large parts, boasting an impressive cubic build space along with extreme material flexibility. Manufactured by MELD Manufacturing in Christiansburg. 

Lumber, Wood, and Paper Products 

• Gold: Smurfit Westrock for their Tango Gift Card, a sustainable/recyclable replacement for plastic gift cards that matches the feel, sturdiness, and print. Manufactured by Smurfit Westrock in Covington. 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing 

• Gold: TW Controls for their PLC Trainer, a Compactlogix PLC Trainer with an AC Drive, Motor, and HMI. Manufactured by TW Controls in Roanoke. 
• Silver: Busch Vacuum Solutions for their MINK Dry Claw Vacuum Pump, an industrial vacuum pump used in packaging, healthcare, woodworking, robotics, and more. Manufactured by Busch Vacuum Solutions in Virginia Beach. 
• Bronze: STIHL for the MSA 60 C-B Battery-Powered Chainsaw, a powerful, lightweight battery chainsaw designed for convenient homeowner use. Manufactured by STIHL Incorporated in Virginia Beach. 

Primary Metal Industries 

• Gold: Gerdau for their PZC Sheet Piling, which utilizes a feedstock of 98% recycled scrap metal to make new, world-class steel products. Manufactured by Gerdau in Petersburg. 

Transportation Equipment 

• Gold: Volvo Trucks North America for their all-new Volvo VNL, a new standard for trucking in North America. Manufactured in Dublin. 
• Silver: Eagle Technologies for their Phenix Ultra2XL Unmanned Co-axial Helicopter Rotor System and Drive System, a co-axial helicopter rotor and drive system designed, patented, and manufactured by Eagle Technologies in Newport News. 
• Bronze: Newport News Shipbuilding for building the Gerald R. Ford CVN 78 Aircraft Carrier for the U.S. Navy, supporting national defense. Manufactured by Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News. 

Rubber, Miscellaneous Plastics, and Textiles 

• Gold: Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia for their passenger car and light truck tires. Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia (YTMV) has been manufacturing in Salem, VA since 1989. 
• Silver: AdvanSix for their certified Aegis® Post-Industrial Recycled and Post-Consumer Recycled grades nylon resins, used in carpet, floor coverings, packaging, plastic parts, now with certified 100% recycled content. Manufactured by AdvanSix, Inc. in Chesterfield. 
• Bronze: Mohawk Group for their EcoFlex™ ONE product, a beyond carbon neutral commercial carpet tile backing. Manufactured by Mohawk Group in Glasgow.  

Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete 

• Gold: Coresix won overall with their Coresix Precision Glass that enables the advanced technologies of tomorrow. Manufactured by Coresix in Williamsburg.
• Silver: MI Windows & Doors for their Thermal Double-Glazing Windows that offer high-quality impact-resistant windows. Manufactured by MI Windows & Doors in Prince George County. 

Textiles, Apparel, and Leather 

• Gold: DuPont for their Nomex®, a heat-resistant fiber that protects first responders and utility and electrical workers. Manufactured by DuPont in Richmond. 

About Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) 

The VMA develops and advocates for constructive public policies and supports a broad array of business services and programs to help ensure that Virginia manufacturing companies can be productive, profitable, and competitive in Virginia. Virginia’s 6,000+ manufacturers employ over 239,000 individuals, contribute $49.5 billion to the gross state product, and account for over 80% of the Commonwealth’s manufactured goods exports to the global economy. For more about the VMA, please visit vamanufactuers.com.