CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2026 ERGO CUP® AND ERGO EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS!

The internationally recognized Ergo Cup competition, sponsored by the Ergonomics Center of North Carolina and Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University and presented by the Applied Ergonomics Society, provides an exciting opportunity for companies to highlight their successful ergonomic solutions. The general theme across all Ergo Cup categories is innovation.

Ergo Cup® 2026 Winners

Ergonomics Program Improvement Initiatives: “A Leap Forward in Ergonomic rick Assessment Using Vision AI” – Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA
New Product or New Job Design Solutions: "Heavy-Lift Rotary Wing Aircraft Borescope Lighting Sled" – Lockheed Martin Corp., Stratford, CT
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Manual Material Handling Tasks: “Trolley Tugger” – Cintas, Bedford, VA
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Repetitive and/or Awkward Posture Tasks: “Pin Retention Tester” – Lockheed Martin Corp., Archbald, PA
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Maintenance and Other Non–Standard Tasks: “Body Weld Offline Dollies” – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Blue Springs, MS
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Miscellaneous or Multi–Task: “Rolling Reliability Semi-Automated Boilerclave Cart” – GE Vernova, Schenectady, NY

Innovation: “Revolutionizing Workstation Design: A Material Stock Rack Solution for an Ergonomic Issue” – Ford Motor Company, Louisville, KY
Simplicity: “Slurry Savvy” – Toyota Motor North America Battery Manufacturing, Liberty, NC
Business Impact / ROI: “Container Tugger Modification” – PPG, Greensboro, NC
Ergonomic Risk Reduction: “The Manipulator” – ATI, Huntsville, AL
Transferability / Scalability: “Project Levitote - Raising totes to New Heights with Regional Innovation” – Amazon, Seattle, WA
Presentation Quality: “Design and Implementation of an Ergonomic Lever Tool for Vehicle Assembly" – Ford Motor Company, Louisville, KY

Ergonomics Program Improvement Initiatives: “ToyotAbility’” – Toyota Motor Manufacturing, San Antonio, TX
New Product or New Job Design Solutions: "Unboxed Manufacturing - Seats on Pack" – Tesla, Inc., Palo Alto, CA
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Manual Material Handling Tasks: “Eyewash Ergo Handle” – Cintas, Bedford, VA
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Repetitive and/or Awkward Posture Tasks: “The Smooth Lacerator” – Toyo Tires of North America, White, GA
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Maintenance and Other Non–Standard Tasks: “Wireless Bobbin Lock Detection” – Michelin, Anderson, SC
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Miscellaneous or Multi–Task: “Advanced Rocket System Platform Rollover” – Lockheed Martin Corporation, Camden, AR

Innovation: “MexTech Mixer” – Gulfstream Aerospace, Pooler, GA
Simplicity: “Remove Wheels Tanks” – PPG, Valladolid, Spain
Business Impact / ROI: “Radiator Sliders” – Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, Lincoln, AL
Ergonomic Risk Reduction: “Arm Support for Phi Harness” – Gulfstream Aerospace, Baja California, Mexico
Transferability / Scalability: “Project Rise - A no bending solution” – Amazon
Presentation Quality: “May the Force Be with You: Jedi Training for Perfecting Door Garnish Installation" – Honda of Canada Manufacturing, Alliston, Ontario

Ergonomics Program Improvement Initiatives: “Driver Ergonomics Program – The Driver ‘Ergo Coach’” – Enbridge Inc., Kingston, ON
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Manual Material Handling Tasks: “Rail Bearing Breakdown Sorting and Redesign” – The Timken Company, North Canton, OH
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Repetitive and/or Awkward Posture Tasks: “Semi–Automatic Drum Install Assist Project” – GE Appliances, Louisville, KY
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Maintenance and Other Non–Standard Tasks: “No Strain with the Membrane” – GE Aerospace, Cincinnati, OH
Task–Focused Workplace Solutions: Miscellaneous or Multi–Task: “The Best Tool – Centre Pillar Shelf Install Tool” – Honda of Canada Manufacturing, Alliston, ON

Innovation: “Pivot Swing Bolt Improvement” – Michelin Americas, Anderson, SC
Simplicity: “Extended Cutter” – Coca Cola Consolidated, Inc., Silver Spring, MD
Business Impact / ROI: “The Chip Dipper – Solder Tinning Station” – Lockheed Martin Corporation, Syracuse, NY
Ergonomic Risk Reduction: “Powered Cart for Ergonomic Handling of Cotton Unit Assembly” – John Deere, Ankeny, IA
Transferability / Scalability: “Rex's Kaivac Handle” – Cintas, Woodstock, GA
Presentation Quality: “Rad Tool” – Honda South Carolina Manufacturing, Timmonsville, SC

Young Investigator Award: Denny Yu, Purdue University
Practitioner of the Year: Julie Brazier and Patty Racco, Ford
Students of the Year: Hari Iyer, Arizona State University; Brandon Phillips, UC Berkeley; Setareh Kazemi Kheiri, University at Buffalo; Victoria Ballard, Auburn University