Eleven Utah companies have been named winners of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership's 2005 Manufacturer of the Year Awards.

The announcement of the winners was made Thursday evening at the Capitol complex.

The Manufacturer of the Year is Coverstar Inc. of Lindon. The company produces automatic pool covers.

The Major Manufacturer of the Year is Communication Systems-West of Salt Lake City. A division of L-3 Communications Holdings, CSW produces systems for intelligence collection, imagery processing and satellite communications for the defense industry.

Other award winners are:

• Innovation & Technology Commercialization (Product): Dupont Holographics of Logan.

• Innovation & Technology Commercialization (Process): Elkay West Corp. of Ogden.

• IT Edge: American Pacific Corp., Utah operations, of Cedar City.

• Rural Development (North): La-Z-Boy of Tremonton.

• Rural Development (Central): Paiute Trailers of Salina.

• Rural Development (South): Smead Manufacturing of Cedar City.

• Environmental Consciousness: Staker & Parson Co. of Ogden.

• Continuous Improvement: Futura Industries of Clearfield.
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• Marketing & Sales Expansion: Cobblestones Activewear of Salt Lake City.

Award winners will be honored at luncheons in their respective cities during March and April. Details are available by calling 801-368-0468.

MEP Utah is a nonprofit partnership involving the U.S. Department of Commerce, the state of Utah and the private sector. It is chartered with increasing the competitiveness, performance and profitability of Utah's manufacturers.