Elkhart Brass epitome of best in manufacturing, says Indiana Chamber leader
In a statewide contest spotlighting the best of Indiana products, the winner wasn’t a flashy consumer gadget or a high-tech app.
Instead, the title of 2025 Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana went to a tool built for the most extreme conditions imaginable: a glow-in-the-dark firehose nozzle made by Elkhart Brass Manufacturing.
“Firefighting in real life isn’t how you see it in movies or on TV,” said Chris Martin, Elkhart Brass vice president of marketing. “It’s hot, it’s dirty, and most of the time you’re in the dark. This nozzle gives firefighters an embedded sense of safety. You can find it and operate it when seconds matter.”
The XD Glow-in-the-Dark Smooth Bore Nozzle, designed and built in Elkhart, outlasted 48 competing products from 36 Indiana communities to win the fan-voted, single-elimination tournament hosted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The nozzle bested products ranging from space satellites to gourmet pie mixes to pipe organs.
Public voting closed Jan. 15, and the winner was announced Feb. 4 at the chamber’s Best in Business Awards luncheon at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
For Elkhart Brass, a company founded in 1902, the recognition was both surprising and affirming.
“We saw the contest and thought, ‘we make something cool — it would be neat to see what happens,’” Martin said. “We knew we had a good product, but we also knew the competition would be tough.”
Saving lives
The XD in the nozzle’s name stands for “extreme duty.” The name is well earned. The nozzle is engineered to withstand intense heat, impact, and stress on the fire ground.
“Firefighters are usually pretty hard on equipment,” Martin said. “Making something that can be repeatedly dropped, dragged, put back on the truck and reused is important.”
The nozzle’s integrated glow-in-the-dark components helped propel it to victory in the contest. The nozzle’s tip and handle emit a steady luminescence that helps firefighters quickly locate and orient their most critical tool in zero-visibility environments.
“The nozzle incorporates many proven features we’ve relied on for years, with the added benefit of a glow-in-the-dark design,” said Jason Gour, division chief of operations for the Elkhart Fire Department. “That enhancement improves visibility in IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health) environments, in which we routinely operate.”
Elkhart Brass and the Elkhart Fire Department have a longstanding partnership, with research and development serving as a key component.
Community support
While the product’s design and performance impressed voters, Martin said the company’s deep ties to the firefighting community made the difference.
“I honestly didn’t think we’d get this far,” Martin said. “But we have a massive community of firefighters and first responders who use our products. They shared it, supported our brand and really showed up for us.”
Elkhart Brass sells firefighting equipment all over the world, but the XD nozzle is primarily used in the United States and is the company’s most popular product. Tens of thousands have been sold, making it a familiar and trusted piece of equipment for fire departments nationwide.
“This is a life-saving piece of equipment,” Martin said. “It could make or break an incident for a fire department.”
Redefining manufacturing
The Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana contest, now in its fifth year, was created to celebrate the state’s manufacturing sector and the people behind it. While Indiana is often associated with traditional industries like steel and automotive production, the competition highlights how manufacturing has evolved.
That evolution is embodied by Elkhart Brass. With over 2,000 firefighting and fire protection products in its catalog, the company blends old-school craftsmanship with modern engineering, all while maintaining its headquarters and manufacturing base in Elkhart.
“Elkhart Brass Manufacturing represents the very best of Indiana manufacturing: innovation with real-world impact,” said Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “Their glow-in-the-dark nozzle is not only an impressive product, but also a lifesaving tool for firefighters that underscores how Hoosier manufacturers are solving critical challenges every day.”
The XD Glow-in-the-Dark Smooth Bore Nozzle may be designed for moments when visibility disappears, but its win casts a bright light on Indiana’s manufacturing ingenuity — and on a 124-year-old company still finding new ways to innovate when lives are on the line. ▪
Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.
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