Conexus Indiana, in partnership with TechPoint, has named MSP Manufacturing of Bloomington as the recipient of the third annual Manufacturing Innovation Award. The award was announced at the 27th annual Mira Awards gala, commonly known as “The Oscars of Indiana Tech,” at The Palladium in Carmel on April 24.
The Conexus Indiana Manufacturing Innovation Award recognizes industrial firms that have taken an exceptional leap into the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) through cutting-edge technology adoption. The 2026 finalists were selected from a group of statewide applicants operating in and serving diverse manufacturing subsectors, including safety hardware, precision machining, contract manufacturing and automation. Collectively, the four firms deployed a broad range of advanced manufacturing technologies like AI-assisted process management, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), adaptive CNC control systems and digital material tracing to drive productivity and efficiency gains.
This year’s winner, MSP Manufacturing, exemplified manufacturing innovation through a significant digital transformation that modernizes operations while preserving the company’s decades-long commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The Bloomington-based precision machining company serves the aerospace, defense and commercial markets and has invested in AI-assisted process management, advanced CNC automation and modern ERP systems to better integrate production, scheduling and quality across the shop floor. MSP has paired these technology investments with a homegrown workforce development pipeline, recruiting and training a new generation of skilled machinists.
“Winning this award is a reflection of every single person on our team — and I mean that. Innovation doesn’t happen because of one decision or one investment. It happens because people show up every day and find ways to do things better. Our team has done that consistently, and to have that work recognized on a stage like this is incredible,” said Johnny Goode, President of MSP Manufacturing.
All of this year’s finalists embraced cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies and collectively invested in solutions that are reshaping how Indiana manufacturers design, build and deliver products.
Alongside this year’s winner, MSP Manufacturing, the 2026 finalists are:
- DoorBlockade, South Bend: The South Bend-based safety hardtech startup was nominated for its development of a code-compliant door-securing device designed with life-safety and accessibility in mind. As the company scaled, DoorBlockade focused on manufacturability — strengthening its patented design, reducing complexity and implementing digital material tracing to support quality control and traceability.
- Major Tool & Machine, Indianapolis: The Indianapolis-based contract manufacturer specializing in large-scale, high-precision machining and fabrication was nominated for its partnership with Siemens to embed real-time adaptive control and monitoring directly into its CNC operations. The approach improved process control, reduced cycle times and unlocked additional machine capacity without adding new equipment.
- SMC Corporation of America, Noblesville: The Noblesville operations of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automation and pneumatic technologies were nominated for the deployment of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) equipped with integrated robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D vision to modernize material flow in a complex, high-mix manufacturing environment.
“The breadth of innovation across this year’s finalists is a strong signal of where Indiana manufacturing is headed,” said Jay Wirts, President and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “These companies aren’t waiting to see what Industry 4.0 looks like; instead, they’re building it. MSP Manufacturing’s combination of technology investment and workforce development is exactly the kind of approach that strengthens our state’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem for the long term.”
Learn more about the Conexus Indiana Manufacturing Innovation Award.