Ejection seats, water purification systems, beer darts: Who took home the title of ‘Coolest Thing Made in Colorado’?

The ballroom on the Sheraton in Downtown Denver was fairly packed on a current Thursday as folks gathered to rejoice the so-called Coolest Factor Made in Colorado, a brand new contest dreamed up by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce to showcase the state’s manufacturing base.

Attendees appeared excited to be in the identical room collectively after shutdowns through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the amount steadily constructed from a low murmur to a boisterous rumble. There was loads of backslapping and enthusiastic handshakes as companies from throughout Colorado loved a lunch of steak and boiled carrots, identical to they did earlier than the pandemic largely put a cease to those sorts of occasions for greater than two years.

“Zoom is nice, however it’s so a lot better … the human connection is so a lot better,” mentioned Jamie Jackson, COO for Colorado Kids’s Marketing campaign, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Jackson’s group wasn’t entered within the contest – she was there to soak within the vibe.

“We’ve been attending some occasions, and we’re simply actually excited to attach and community with folks,” Jackson mentioned.

There was an eclectic mixture of merchandise on show, too. For instance, an ejection seat from Colorado Springs-based Collins Aerospace that does precisely what it appears like – shoots pilot and crew out of army plane in emergencies. Meier Skis from Denver was there, in addition to a Longmont firm that makes insulation from hemp. 

The winner of the competition, nevertheless, was Rocky Ford-based SunSpring Water Purification Methods, which makes wind and solar-powered techniques. The merchandise are utilized in 38 nations, however its Colorado roots run deep.

“We invented it right here in Colorado. We patented it right here in Colorado, and we completely promote it from right here in Colorado,” mentioned Jack Barker, the president of the corporate. 

There have been some extra light-hearted pursuits on show, too. For instance, a distillery that filters vodka by marble from the city of Marble, which sits simply west of Aspen. In the meantime, two ski patrollers at Keystone Ski Resort, Ryan Kryak and Jonathan Cernanec, created a equipment for enjoying beer darts. It’s a fairly self-explanatory ingesting sport, the place individuals throw darts at beer cans. 

The pair are roommates and so they received the concept whereas cooped up at residence within the early days of the pandemic.

“We might been laid off from ski patrolling. We had on a regular basis on this planet, a stimulus test in our pockets. So we figured let’s hunker down, get to work,” Cernanek mentioned.

The product took residence the prize in the very best reward class of the competitors. They have been honored to be included on the occasion, however aren’t quitting their day jobs.

“At this level, we’re nonetheless ski patrolling. We’re nonetheless on the hill,” Kryak mentioned.