New Members to be Inducted into Made in USA Hall of Fame

SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Made in the USA Foundation announced 20 winners from 60 nominees to the Made in the USA Hall of Fame.  The Foundation held Made in the USA Hall of Fame Awards dinner Monday, July 2, 2012 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, California and gave out the awards.

Joel D. Joseph, Chairman of the Foundation, said, "The Hall of Fame Awards was established two years ago to celebrate the best that America produces.  I have heard many times that 'nothing is made here.'  The Hall of Fame showcases exceptional U.S. manufacturers and demonstrates that many high-quality products are made in the United States. The U.S. is still the leading manufacturing nation in the world.

Three judges were assigned to each category. Points were given for three criteria:  Quality Competitiveness and Impact.  Quality comparisons included use of Consumer Reports, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (awarded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology), and other evaluating entities. Competitiveness included the company's comparisons with imports and its ability to export. Last year, Boeing was named to the Made in the USA Hall of Fame because of its exceptional competitiveness in the world marketplace. Impact includes whether the company developed new breakthroughs in technology, a new product category or has exceptional designs.

About the Made in the USA Foundation

The Made in the USA Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1989 through matching grants from the United Auto Works and Ford Motor Company. The Foundation is dedicated to promoting products made in the United States, developing legislation supporting U.S. businesses and industry, and pursuing litigation against those misusing the "Made in the USA" label.  The Foundation championed the Country of Origin Labeling Act for food and the American Automobile Labeling Act.  Both were passed into law.

2012 Hall of Fame Winners:

Solar World-- SolarWorld Industries America Inc. is the largest U.S. maker of silicon solar cells and panels. SolarWorld, has led the U.S. manufacturers' complaints against Chinese subsides.  It employs 1,000 workers in Hillsboro, Oregon, the largest solar cell manufacturing facility in the United States. SolarWorld has been manufacturing solar panels in California since 1975.

Chevy Volt-- The Chevy Volt is the most fuel-efficient compact car with a gasoline engine sold in the United States, as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The Volt operates as a pure battery electric vehicle until its battery capacity drops, then its gasoline engine powers an electric generator to extend the vehicle's range. The Volt won the 2011 Green Car of the Year award, the 2011 North American Car of the Year and 2012 Car of the Year Award in Europe.

Zero Motorcycles-- Zero Motorcycles Inc., an American manufacturer of electric motorcycles, was founded in 2006 near Santa Cruz, California, by Neal Saiki, a former NASA engineer.  Each Zero motorcycle is optimized from the ground up to leverage the revolutionary electric powertrain and uses a specially designed rigid, aircraft-grade aluminum frame to minimize weight.  Zero launched a line of 2012 bikes specifically designed for police patrols and security agencies. 

Herman Miller-- Founded in Zeeland, Michigan in 1905, Herman Miller is a major American manufacturer of office furniture and equipment, as well as furniture for the home. It is notable as one of the first companies to produce modern 20th century furniture.  Among classic Herman Miller products are the Equa chair, Aeron chair, Noguchi table and the classic Eames Lounge Chair and ottoman. Herman Miller furniture is also credited with the invention of the office cubicle.

Channel Islands Surfboards-- Since 1969, Channel Islands Surfboards has been dedicated to performance and quality through hard work, innovation, and originality. Over the last 43 years, Channel Islands has grown from a local grass-roots operation to a cutting edge organization, catering to the best surfers in the world.

The driving force behind the company's success is greatly attributed to its star-studded team that includes some of the best surfers on the globe, including Kelly Slater.  The original brains behind Channel Islands surfboards is pro shaper Al Merrick. Channel Islands Surfboards is based in Santa Barbara, California.

Viking-- Viking originated the professional segment of kitchen appliances with its introduction of the first restaurant-grade gas range for home use in 1987. Based in Greenwood, Mississippi, Viking has expanded with its increased success and currently manufactures ranges and cooktops in many sizes and colors.

Armstrong Tools-- The Armstrong Brothers Tool Company was founded in 1890 by four brothers, the sons of a Scottish immigrant blacksmith.

From its modest beginning the company launched into expansion that's continued to today, more than 100 years later, with a product line which includes nearly 5,000 items of mechanic's tools, pipe and tubing tools, machine shop accessories, and cutting tools. In 1994, after 104 years of private ownership by the Armstrong family, the company was acquired by the Danaher Corporation.

Tito's Handmade Vodka-- Tito's Handmade Vodka is produced in Austin at Texas' first and oldest legal distillery.  Tito's is made in small batches in an old fashioned pot still by Tito Beveridge and distilled six times. Sales and distribution boomed in 2001 after Tito's Handmade Vodka unanimously won the Double Gold Medal for vodka at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating out 71 high-priced vodkas. Wine Enthusiast Magazine rated Tito's a score of 95.  By contrast, other top-shelf vodkas, Ketel One, Grey Goose, and Belvedere scored in the 80s.

McIntosh Amplifiers-- McIntosh was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. The first McIntosh amplifier included the patented Unity Coupled Circuit, still used in current products. McIntosh amplifiers were used at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. Home Theater Hi Fidelity said, the McIntosh "amplifier will drive any speaker to its utmost capabilities. . . . it is difficult to believe from its measured performance that the McIntosh MC275 was designed almost half a century ago." John Atkinson of Stereophile Magazine, said, "Good audio engineering is timeless."

Beaulieu Vineyard-- When Georges and Fernande de Latour first traveled to the heart of Napa Valley in 1900, Fernande took one look at the lovely Rutherford expanse and exclaimed "beau lieu," [bow loo] or "beautiful place." He also began selling wine to the Catholic Church, establishing a strong relationship that would allow Beaulieu Vineyard to become the only Napa Valley winery to remain in business during Prohibition. Wine critic Robert Parker awarded 95 points to a Beaulieu 2007 Reserve Cab.  Parker said this wine "is the greatest BV Private Reserve made since 1970."

California Olive Ranch-- The California Olive Ranch has 10,000 acres of olives grown for olive oil.  Olives were a part of the ranch's history, as far back as the 1880s, when they grew Mission olives for table and oil production. They found that many of the old trees were still viable for production, so they began by harvesting the original trees and then expanded the grove, gradually adding other varieties.  The California Olive Ranch's extra virgin olive oils have won more than 38 awards in the past 7 years.

Google-- Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while both attended Stanford University.   Google was first incorporated in 1998, and its initial public offering followed in 2004. The company's mission statement from the outset was "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."  The company's unofficial slogan is "Don't be evil."  Google just released its first "Made in the USA" hardware: the Nexus Q, a video and audio streaming device.

Worksman Bicycles--in 1898 when Morris Worksman established Worksman Cycles, his belief was that a well-designed three-wheeled cycle could replace the horse and wagon by providing a less expensive and more reliable way to move people and products. America's oldest bicycle manufacturer, Worksman manufactures industrial and recreational bicycles in Brooklyn, New York.

Kala Eyewear-- Handmade in Northern California, Kala Eyewear crafts handmade plastic frames in classic styles and frames in a wide range of colors and shapes: Round frames, oval frames, and square frames.

Dodge Dart-- Mike Hanley of Cars.com raved, "The 2013 Dart is an athletic, refined and highly customizable sedan that gives Dodge some much-needed respect in the compact-car market. The brand set its sights on the class leaders, and it hit the bull's-eye." Every Dart has 10 airbags.  Car and Driver raved, "the Dart's cabin feels more like a sports sedan's than a budget-conscious family hauler's."

Boyd Lighting-- William Boyd opened Boyd Lighting in San Francisco in 1920.  Boyd Lighting is a family of luxury lighting brands renowned for excellence in quality and design. For over 90 years, Boyd has been bringing the architectural and interior design community premier lighting fixtures that beautifully complement exclusive interiors. Handcrafted designs, fine materials, and excellent customer service continue to be the hallmark of Boyd's lighting collections. Boyd Lighting won the Edison Award in 1996.

Zometool-- Zometool is a plastic construction set produced in Denver, Colorado. It is perhaps best described as a "space-frame construction set." Its elements consist of small connector nodes and struts of various colors. Zometool won the Child Magazine "the Year's Top Toys," award, Dr. Toy's 10 Best Toys and the Parents' Choice Award.

Marin French Cheese Co-- The Marin French Cheese Company is a manufacturer of artisan cheese located in Marin County, California. The company was founded in 1865 and produces cheeses under the Rouge et Noir brand name. In 2005, the company's Triple Creme Brie won top honors at the World Cheese Awards in London.  Marin also won the America's National Trophy - Best American Cheese, for its Yellow Buck Chevre Goat's Milk Camembert, and many of other awards.

Master Lock-- Master Lock is recognized around the world as the enduring name in padlocks.  Founded in 1921, Master Lock is the largest manufacturer of padlocks in the world selling 50 million locks a year.  In 2012, Master Lock President John Heppner participated in the "Insourcing American Jobs Forum" at the White House. President Obama visited Master Lock this year and praised the company for moving production back to the United States.

Letarte Swimwear-- Letarte is a Maui-based brand created by sisters Lisa Letarte Cabrinha and Michele Letarte Ross. 

The Hawaiian authenticity and exclusivity of the Letarte label have blended a bohemian island essence with chic global aesthetics that the sister duo have made recognizable around the globe. Designer Lisa Letarte Cabrinha, who lives in Maui, infuses her island lifestyle into Letarte's signature trademarked prints, intricate adornments and lavish detail. Letarte's swimsuits have been featured in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue every year for the past ten years.

SOURCE Made in the USA Foundation