Haven't looked at this thread in awhile. Sorry about steering you wrong w/forgeting the .php part.
Just to clarify things a little.
Use the code weckie posted in product.php if you need the manufacturer to show up in product.tpl, products.php if it in products.tpl, and in include/search.php if you need it in the search.
This is the original thread I found all of this originally:
http://forum.x-cart.com/viewtopic.php?t=13883&highlight=manufacturer