The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network announced today that 14 Alabama companies have been named as finalists for the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year Awards. The winners will be announced at a luncheon on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at the RSA Activity Center in Montgomery following a keynote presentation by Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange. Also participating in the event from Washington, D.C. will be Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). BCA represents NAM exclusively in Alabama and Timmons will present the third annual Governor Bob Riley Building a Better Alabama Award.

In its 13th year, the awards program recognizes Alabama manufacturing enterprises that exhibit excellence in leadership, performance, profitability and work force relations. The awards are presented in small, medium, and large size categories to ensure fair recognition of all applicants regardless of the size of their work force. Winning manufacturers are selected by an independent panel of judges who look for demonstrations of superior performance in the areas of customer focus, employee commitment, operational excellence, continuous improvement, profitable growth and investment in training and retraining.

This event also provides an opportunity to recognize the excellent performance of high achieving Alabama manufacturers and to increase public awareness about the significance of manufacturing to Alabama’s economy.

“These existing manufacturing companies epitomize what it takes to grow the private sector, create jobs, and move Alabama’s economy forward,” said BCA president and CEO William J. Canary. “We applaud all the finalists for their commitment to a better quality of life for their employees and for their commitment to the local community they serve.”

Small Manufacturer Finalists (1-99 employees)
Cascades Sonoco—Birmingham
Earthborn Studios—Leeds
Electrifil Corporation—Elkmont

Medium Manufacturer Finalists (100-399 employees)
3M Company—Guin
Daikin America Inc.—Decatur
Gambro Rental Products—Opelika
Heritage Wire Harness, LLC—Ft. Payne
Lear Corporation—Montgomery
Prystup Packaging Products–Livingston

Large Manufacturer Finalists (400+ employees)
Austal USA—Mobile
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company—Gadsden
Rheem Water Heating—Montgomery
Sikorsky Aircraft—Troy
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.—Huntsville