Recognizing the Gold Winner in EC&M's 2026 Product of the Year Competition
On Day 2 of the NECA 2026 Show in Las Vegas, members of the EC&M editorial staff stopped by the Arlington Industries booth to recognize its low-profile furred wall box for winning the Gold award in this year's EC&M Product of the Year competition. Representing the boxes category, this product allows installers to use the existing furring strip for a quick and easy placement of an outlet in a concrete block wall. If a different location is needed, they can mount the box directly onto the concrete block using the built-in block wall flange.
The low-profile furred wall box allows installers to use the existing furring strip for quick, easy placement when outlets are needed on a concrete block wall. If a different location is needed, the box can be mounted directly on the concrete block using the built-in block wall flange. These features eliminate installation steps as installers no longer need to break out/seal the concrete block or add additional furring strips. The product includes integral cable securement and retention and a heavy-duty block wall flange. It accommodates standard and GFCI devices, including decorator-style wall plates, and withstands freeze-and-thaw weather cycles.
According to Richard Temblador, VP of Product & Business Development at Arlington Industries, flexibility with this product is key. "The nice thing is this box kit can be mounted directly to a furring strip or directly onto the CMU wall, so it allows it to be positioned where needed," he said. "But best of all, there's no more knocking out holes in the CMU walls and then having to seal the opening.”
When asked what it means to win this award, Temblador expressed deep appreciation for the industry recognition. "For us, it's a confirmation of our effort and our brand to introduce innovation that solves installation challenges and simplifies installation,” he said.
This year’s competition featured products introduced to the market between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025. A hand-picked panel of judges narrowed down the 144 entries to 35 category winners for the first phase of the competition. These category winners were then narrowed down to our three finalists through an online poll available to EC&M readers, who cast their votes to determine the three award-winning products.
About the Author
Ellen ParsonEllen Parson
Editor-in-Chief - EC&M
Ellen Parson is the Editor-in-Chief for EC&M. She has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She's been a business-to-business writer and editor for more than 25 years, most of which have been covering the construction and electrical industries. Contact her at [email protected].