SPRINGFIELD – The first round of voting is now open in the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s (IMA) sixth annual “Makers Madness” contest, a bracket-style tournament in which the public will decide what product earns the 2025 title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.
Presented by Comcast Business, the competition celebrates the incredible work of manufacturers across Illinois, who have long served as the backbone of our state’s economy. Manufacturing is the largest contributor of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product, supporting nearly a third of all jobs in Illinois and contributing more than $580 billion to the state’s economy each year.
More than 250 unique products from every corner of the state were nominated for this year’s contest, with candidates ranging from agriculture and energy storage equipment to life-saving medical products, iconic pantry staples, sweet treats, and a variety of vehicles. Voting throughout the contest will take place at www.makersmadnessil.com, where voters can now choose which products will advance to the Top 16. Voting for this round is open now and runs through 11:59 p.m. on March 16, and participants can vote up to five times per day. Consecutive rounds of voting in head-to-head matchups will take place each week thereafter to further narrow the field, culminating with an awards ceremony at the Governor’s mansion on April 9 when The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named.
“The products nominated in this year’s contest represent the wide diversity of our state’s dynamic manufacturing industry, which anchors our economy and drives our communities forward,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “We wish all of the manufacturers nominated the best of luck and extend a special appreciation to the women and men on shop floors across Illinois who make these incredible products.”
Manufacturers in Illinois produce everything from life-saving therapies and medicines to electric vehicles and components used for space exploration. Our manufacturers keep store shelves stocked with nutritious food and delectable snacks and create sporting equipment used everywhere from neighborhood fields to professional leagues. They build incredible agricultural and road construction equipment, create high-tech gadgets and components used for national defense, as well as produce energy to power our homes and businesses.
“Good luck to all of the hardworking nominees. We look forward to seeing which products will be fan favorites as the field is narrowed,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “Comcast is proud to support the Makers Madness contest to showcase the latest innovations from manufacturers across Illinois.”
Last year’s champion was the Komatsu mining truck, a rugged, large capacity vehicle used for construction and mining made by Komatsu in Peoria. Previous contest winners include the Rosenberg Moon Habitat, a 3D printed polymer structure designed to house humans on the moon manufactured by Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford; Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck made in Normal, the first all-electric truck in production featuring four motors, with one powering each wheel; the Self-Regulating Traffic Signal Heater by Termico Technologies in Elk Grove Village, which uses conductive particles to heat traffic signals so they remain free of ice and snow and traffic can safely navigate our roadways; and the 797F Mining Truck manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc. in Decatur, the world’s largest mechanical truck.
Timeline of events:
February 12 – March 2: Nominations open and accepted at www.makersmadnessil.com
March 4 – March 16: Nomination voting
March 18: Top 16 Announced
March 18 – March 23: First round of voting
March 25: Top 8 Announced
March 25 – March 30: Second round of voting
April 1: Top 4 Announced
April 1 – April 6: Final round of voting
April 9: Winner of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois announced during awards luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield
About the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, visit https://ima-net.org/.