Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»The Arizona Manufacturers Council has announced the recipients of the 2026 Manufacturer of the Year Awards, recognizing companies and leaders making an impact across Arizona’s manufacturing sector.
The annual awards recognize excellence across seven categories, from manufacturing growth and innovation to sustainability and industry leadership. This year’s honorees will be recognized Oct. 13 at the Manufacturer of the Year Awards Luncheon presented by APS.
“Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»anufacturers continue to grow, invest and innovate in ways that strengthen the state’s economy and expand what gets made here,” said Grace Appelbe, executive director of the Arizona Manufacturers Council. “This year’s honorees reflect the depth of that work, from longstanding Arizona companies to major industrial operations and emerging technologies.”
2026 Award Recipients
Small Manufacturer of the Year — Valley Forge & Bolt: The Phoenix-based manufacturer makes industrial bolts and fasteners used in demanding environments such as mining, steel and oil and gas. The company is also known for patented technology that allows operators to monitor bolt tension in real time, helping improve safety, reliability, and maintenance.
Medium Manufacturer of the Year — Nucor Steel Kingman: Nucor’s Kingman mill produces reinforcing bar and wire rod used in roads, buildings, bridges and other infrastructure. In 2025, the facility brought a new $100 million melt shop online, allowing Nucor to recycle scrap metal into new steel products directly in Kingman and expand production for customers across the West.
Large Manufacturer of the Year — Shamrock Foods Company: Founded in Tucson in 1922, Shamrock has grown from a small dairy operation into one of the nation’s largest family-owned food companies. The Arizona-based company’s operations include Shamrock Farms, foodservice distribution, dairy manufacturing and a portfolio of food and beverage businesses serving customers across the West and nationwide.
Arizona Success Story — Pivot Manufacturing: Phoenix-based Pivot Manufacturing is a locally grown manufacturer specializing in precision machining, assembly and production work for complex industries, including aerospace and defense. Over more than two decades, the company has expanded its capabilities while building a team of engineers, machinists and quality specialists.
Excellence in Innovation — Florence Copper: Florence Copper began commercial copper production in 2026, using a process that recovers copper from underground without the large open pit, blasting and hauling associated with conventional mining. The operation is currently ramping up and is expected to produce up to 85 million pounds of copper annually at full capacity.
Excellence in Sustainability — Swire Coca-Cola: The Coca-Cola bottler has made water conservation and replenishment a major part of its sustainability work, reducing the amount of water used in manufacturing while supporting projects designed to return water to communities and nature. Swire Coca-Cola also operates throughout Arizona as part of its 13-state western U.S. footprint.
Champion of the Year — Rep. Michael Carbone: Carbone is recognized for his work on policies supporting Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»anufacturing, including sponsoring HB 4026, legislation backed by the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» and Arizona Manufacturers Council to strengthen the state’s public infrastructure program for major manufacturing projects. The program helps communities fund roads, water and other infrastructure needed to support large-scale manufacturing investment.
The 2026 honorees will be recognized at the Arizona Manufacturers Council’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards Luncheon on Oct. 13.
Add comment