A Tomah-made glass product that can change from clear to frosted with the tap of an app has been named the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin for 2026. CLiC Smart Privacy Glass is manufactured by Cardinal IG in Tomah.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state's combined chamber and manufacturers' association, announced the winner with BMO at WMC's annual Business Day event on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Madison. The glass is installed in windows and doors for homes and businesses, and its technology switches the glass in milliseconds while keeping it clear at every angle, with no films or haze.
More than 100 Wisconsin products were nominated this year. The field went through an initial popular vote and then a bracket-style tournament called Manufacturing Madness before four finalists remained. The other finalists were Komatsu's 4800XPC Electric Rope Shovel from Milwaukee, AriensCo's Gravely ZT HD STEALTH 60 mower from Brillion, and Vortex's M157 Small Arms Fire Control from Barneveld.
This was the contest's 11th year, and it closes each October as part of Manufacturing Month. The trophy itself was made in Wisconsin, produced by EK in Fall River and EFCO Finishing Corporation in Menomonee Falls. This year also marked the first time WMC partnered with BMO on the contest.
Cardinal IG's CLiC general manager, Aaron Arntson, said the Cardinal team worked across multiple sites for more than 13 years to develop the product, and that the company is bringing it to the residential and commercial window market from its Tomah facility. WMC says manufacturing contributes $73.8 billion to Wisconsin's economy, and the state leads the country in manufacturing employment per capita, with 18.2 percent of its workforce in the industry.
