Crestron Wins Manufacturer of the Year from AV Magazine
An independent judging panel honored Crestron at the inaugural AV Awards Americas
May 18
Crestron Wins Manufacturer of the Year from AV Magazine

Since 1972, AV Magazine has been a leading trade publication and buyer’s guide in the field of audiovisual technology. This year, for the first time in the magazine’s history, AV Magazine held its AV Awards Americas.

We’re proud to announce that Crestron was honored as the inaugural winner in the category of Manufacturer of the Year.

There’s a symmetry here: Like the magazine, Crestron has been around since 1972. That 50-plus-year history, with Crestron’s continued focus on the constant evolution of products and processes to meet the industry’s needs, was noted by the judges:

[We] recognized Crestron for … demonstrating sustained leadership, broad market impact, and a deep commitment to innovation and workforce development. With its global reach, robust training programs, and continued investment in technology and ecosystem growth, the panel agreed Crestron remains a benchmark in the industry and a deserving Manufacturer of the Year winner.

The Judging Process and Summary

Those judges, “an independent panel of senior representatives from end-user organizations, consultants, and key industry leaders, followed a rigorous two stage judging process to select this year’s winners,” as outlined on the awards website.

The judges went on to say:

What distinguishes Crestron is the scale and consistency of its customer impact. The organization shows clear evidence of delivering solutions that address real-world challenges, supported by a well-developed ecosystem of products, services, and professional development. Its investment in training, certification, and workforce development, particularly through flagship programs, reinforces a deep and loyal technical community, setting a benchmark for industry engagement and capability building. Crestron exemplifies category leadership, enduring relevance, and forward momentum.

Notable Highlights

In addition to an executive summary for the awards entry, Crestron was asked to provide evidence of innovation, outline the company’s overall impact, and speak to sustainability initiatives. Some highlights from each category include:

Evidence of Innovation

After outlining some of the products Crestron brought to market in its early days, the focus turned to the acquisition of 1 Beyond camera technology. As we noted in the entry:

Building on this acquisition, Crestron launched a new lineup of intelligent PTZ cameras in early 2024. The Crestron 1 Beyond Camera portfolio delivers advanced capabilities that intelligently and clearly capture participants in large spaces, ensuring meeting equity and engagement for hybrid meetings. This innovation addresses one of the most pressing challenges in today’s workplace: creating inclusive, productive environments where everyone is seen and heard.

That’s just one example, of course — just a few months ago, Crestron introduced five innovations that work together as one ecosystem. The Collab Compute, the updated Automate VX 6.5 multi-camera speaker tracking solution, the 80 Series touch screens, the new 1 Beyond i12D camera (an intelligent PTZ camera with built-in speaker tracking), and the DM NAX® Intelligent Audio processing platform bring together content, collaboration, and control in ways that elevate the hybrid work and educational experience dramatically.

The entry further noted that Crestron released 121 new products in 2025, built for applications across a wide range of verticals, including enterprise, education, government, marine, residential, and hospitality. The company also notched 30 awards in 2025 beyond this one.

Crestron Tour
Crestron Tour
NJIT Award Dinner
NJIT Award Dinner
Interns at the Crestron HQ
Interns at the Crestron HQ

Impact of the Organization

Here, the judges were interested in Crestron’s training initiatives, internship programs, and diversity and equality strategies. In the entry, Crestron addressed the last points first with something of a mission statement: “The organization is deeply committed to uplifting individuals, supporting communities, and fostering a workplace culture rooted in opportunity, inclusion, and continuous development.” The entry noted Crestron’s commitment to helping military veterans and supporting breakthrough vision care in the developing world. (Find more info on those efforts here.)

As for training and internships:

Crestron invests significantly in education and professional growth through the Crestron Technical Institute (CTI), which offers flexible learning options, updated courses, and new certification paths tailored to individual needs. … The annual Crestron Masters event brings together certified programmers, designers, and sales professionals to learn the latest advancements in technology and best practices.

Crestron also offers robust internship and co-op programs that provide participants with valuable hands-on experience in a global organization. … Each participant receives one-on-one guidance from a designated mentor who assesses performance and helps shape long-term career plans.

Green and Sustainability Credentials

As we noted in the entry, “Sustainability is not a side initiative; it is a guiding principle that shapes Crestron’s decisions, drives innovation, and defines the future.”

Some concrete examples include:

  • Setting company goals guided by quarterly reviews from key team members and reinforced through engaging workshops focused on energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainable design,
  • Analyzing the entire lifecycle of the products, from design and sourcing to manufacturing, deployment, and end-of-life,
  • Building products to last, undergoing rigorous testing to ensure longevity, and reducing electronic waste,
  • Investing in advanced manufacturing processes and environmentally responsible materials,
  • Exploring eco-friendly packaging, responsible sourcing, and strategies to reduce Scope 3 emissions,
  • Adopting a Supplier Code of Conduct which outlines expectations for ethical and sustainable behavior, and regular assessments to ensure compliance,
  • Partnering with organizations like SAVe to amplify the impact and drive industry-wide change,
  • Designing products to help organizations and homes reduce energy consumption through automation, supporting environmental sustainability while meeting energy code standards,
  • And adherence to global environmental regulations, including WEEE, REACH, and RoHS, ensuring our products are free of hazardous substances and contribute to responsible recycling practices.

When the award was presented on March 10, 2026, Atma Hyett, head of events of AV Magazine, said, “The inaugural AV Awards Americas has set a remarkable benchmark for excellence across the professional AV industry. To be selected as a winner in this inaugural year is a significant achievement …  your work represents the very best of the AV industry across the Americas.”

“We’re very, very proud of this recognition,” says Brad Hintze, Crestron EVP of customer success and marketing.

“This is a great achievement, not tied to any one product line, department, or initiative, but instead highlighting our efforts company-wide and across every area of the business.”

featured products

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Governance at Crestron

We hold ourselves and our suppliers to a higher standard. Learn about how we ensure integrity, transparency, and excellence in all we do.

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Social responsibility at Crestron

We act to uplift and serve others. Whether it’s our support for breakthrough vision care in the developing world or our hybrid, family-sensitive work schedules, we believe that when you give more, you get more. See how we’re giving back to our local and global community.

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Crestron True Blue

Create exceptional experiences, together.” It’s been Crestron’s guiding principle and singular purpose from the beginning. True Blue is the embodiment of that spirit, woven into the fabric of our culture, fueled by and shared with our valued customers, partners, and employees.

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