SPRINGFIELD – Voting is now open in the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s (IMA) 2026 “Makers Madness” contest, a bracket-style tournament that lets the public decide what product will be crowned The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois
Presented by Comcast Business, the annual competition celebrates the incredible work of manufacturers across Illinois, which 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 100 unique products from every corner of the state were nominated for this year’s contest, with candidates ranging from farming, construction, aeronautics and energy storage equipment to iconic pantry staples, beverages, 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 runs through 11:59 p.m. on March 22, 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 15 when The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named.
“Illinois manufacturers make amazing products that deserve to be celebrated for their innovation, creativity and excellence. Our manufacturers are solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges while creating jobs and generating economic investment in communities throughout our state,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “We wish all the products nominated the best of luck as we showcase the best of our state’s dynamic manufacturing sector.”
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.
“These innovative teams rely on fast, reliable connectivity to design and deliver the products that move our state forward. As the largest connectivity provider in the U.S. to businesses of all sizes, Comcast Business is proud to help power that progress,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “We’re honored to support Makers Madness and celebrate the groundbreaking work happening across the state.”
Last year’s champion was the Aerial Firefighting Helicopter Refill Pump, a pump that provides rapid and reliable water access for aerial firefighting teams, made by MTH pumps in Plano. Previous contest winners include the Komatsu mining truck made by Komatsu in Peoria; the Rosenberg Moon Habitat by Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford; Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck made in Normal; the Self-Regulating Traffic Signal Heater by Termico Technologies in Elk Grove Village; and the 797F Mining Truck, the world’s largest mechanical truck, manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc. in Decatur.
Timeline of events:
February 16 – March 8: Nominations open and accepted at www.makersmadnessil.com
March 10 – March 22: Nomination voting
March 24: Top 16 Announced
March 24 – March 29: First round of voting
March 31: Top 8 Announced
March 31 – April 5: Second round of voting
April 7: Top 4 Announced
April 7 – April 12: Final round of voting
April 15: 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/.