What do a man-made floating wetland, a wood-burning sauna stove and a rainbow freezer pop have in common? They’re all made in Minnesota.

Wool map blankets, a shrimp processing machine and a sit-to-stand device for people with physical disabilities are just some of the products competing to be the “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” and it’s up to the public to decide the winner.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and BMO Bank announced last week 64 products competing head-to-head to claim the inaugural title of “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota.”

Over 100 products were submitted to the competition and each was vetted by a group familiar with manufacturing and Minnesota’s economy, said Matt Bohm, a public relations associate for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, in an email. Other factors were taken into account including product categories and types, geographic location and the size of the company, Bohm said.

As of Monday only 32 products remain and the head-to-head pairings are as innovative as the products themselves.

A few of the products going head-to-head this week:

Sugar from the American Crystal Sugar Co. versus LED video displays from Daktronics
The leather Beckman boot from Red Wing Shoe Co. versus Forma, a line of colorful and asymmetrical outdoor play sets from Landscape Structures
An automatic cycling trash compactor from Harmony Enterprises versus EyeBOX, a device from Minnetronix Medical that tests for concussions
A new snowmobile from Arctic Cat versus Lotzza Motzza Pizzas

Other matchups include Minnesota staples like Spam, which will take on custom electrical test setups from Celadon Systems and 3M’s Scotch Magic Tape versus Trystar’s GridPak, a rolling, solar-powered electrical generator designed, developed and manufactured in downtown St. Paul.

“The products in this year’s contest truly represent the best of what our state has to offer,” said Doug Loon, president and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, in a news release. “This contest is not just about recognizing great products made in our state but also about showcasing the diverse and innovative spirit of Minnesota’s manufacturing sector.”

The top 16 products will be announced Sept. 16, followed by the top eight on Sept. 23 and the final four products will be announced Sept. 30.

Voting is open to the public until Oct. 4 and the winner will be announced Oct. 8 at the 2024 Manufacturer’s Summit.

To vote, go to: www.mnchamber.com/coolest-thing-made-minnesota.

Related Articles

Business People: Former U.S. attorney and NFL counsel B. Todd Jones rejoins Robins Kaplan

Black and Latina-owned businesses receive $2M in funding from St. Paul nonprofit

After burglary at well-loved St. Paul family auto repair shop, owner asks neighbors how to bring about change

Business People: Andersen names George Bandy to lead sustainability efforts

St. Paul: A hard look at the struggling corner of Snelling and University avenues