MOSES LAKE - The Association of Washington Business recently recognized five state companies, including three with operations in Grant County, for their contributions to Washington's economy.

The group handed out its 2013 Manufacturing Excellence Awards during the annual Manufacturing Summit recently, according to a recent AWB news release.

AWB Vice President of Operations Kris Johnson said the award winners are all examples of the innovation that takes place in the state's manufacturing sector.

"They represent where the manufacturing industry is headed," he said.

SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers received the 2013 Manufacturer of the Year award for supplying carbon fiber to BMW for their new i3 electric car.

BMW unveiled the car simultaneously in New York City, London and Beijing this past summer. The automotive group uses carbon fiber produced at the BMW/SGL plant in Moses Lake to make its i-series line of care, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald article. The i3 will be assembled in Leipzig, Germany.

The Moses Lake plant's second carbon fiber line started production this past August, SGL spokesperson Katharina Schraidt said recently. The second production line brings the plant's capacity to 3,000 metric tons a year.

Construction also recently began on a second building at the plant, she said.

The second building is a strategic expansion, to make sure the plant will be able to meet any rising demand from BMW for more carbon fiber, Schraidt said.

SGL Vice President of Operations Steve Swanson said receiving the award was an honor for the company.

"The SGL ACF carbon fiber facility is one of the most cost efficient of its kind worldwide and our position in the region underlines our strong commitment to the State of Washington," he said. "In Moses Lake, we are ensuring that carbon fibers play a revolutionary role in lightweight automotive construction."

Genie received this year's Innovation Award for their industrial lifts, including the new 180-foot "superboom" lift.

The Innovation Award highlights significant progress in designing, developing and delivering a blockbuster product concept, according to AWB.

Genie is based in Redmond, but also occupies a 500,000 square-foot building at the Port of Moses Lake, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald article.

In May, Glenn Gere, of Moses Lake's Genie facility, said the plant manufactures about 16 different models of machines. One of the plant's product assembly areas will soon handle production of Genie's new Sx-180 boom lift, he said at the time.

The Sx-180, or "superboom," lift is the world's tallest self-propelled boom lift, Gere said.

AWB also recognized Genie for some of their other products, including a new tubular bolt-on safety device, a 15,000-pound telehandler and a 44-foot lift height.

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston was given the Green Manufacturing Award for its sustainability initiatives.

Judges looked at whether companies have maximized energy efficiency levels, gone above and beyond regulatory requirements, minimized waste from the production process and reduced their carbon footprint.

The company's seven facilities throughout Washington, including its Quincy location, divert more than 95 percent of their waste away from landfills, read the AWB release. In addition, the company has saved 22 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 350 million gallons of water over the past five years.

Kent-based Fluid Motion received the group's Operational Excellence Award for its line of recreational boats and Seattle-based Lighthouse for the Blind received the Continuous Commitment Award for its employment and empowerment of the deaf and deaf-blind.