SPRINGFIELD – With nearly 80,000 votes cast, the field of contenders competing in the seventh annual “Makers Madness” contest has been narrowed to the Top 16. Hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Makers Madness is a bracket-style tournament in which voters will decide which product is 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 100 unique products from across the state were nominated for the 2026 title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. Following two weeks of voting, the field has been narrowed to the Top 16. The top four vote-getters from the initial round of voting are NASA Standard Initiator made by Chemring Energetic Devices in Downers Grove; John Deere Combine made by John Deere in East Moline; 6000-RLA Ice Flaker manufactured by Howe Corporation in Chicago; and NERDS Juicy Gummy Clusters made by Ferrara Candy Company in Chicago.
“The products that advanced to the Top 16 in this year’s Makers Madness contest highlight the amazing creativity and innovation that drives our state’s manufacturing sector,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Manufacturers serve as the pillars of our economy – they are the makers, innovators and job creators driving investment and fueling growth. We wish all the contestants the best of luck as they compete to make it to the next round.”
The Makers Madness Top 16 matchups are as follows:
Bracket A:
(1) NASA Standard Initiator (Chemring Energetic Devices, Downers Grove) v. (4) Gindo’s Whiskey Acres Maple Bourbon Whiskey Sauce (Gindo’s Spice of Life, St. Charles)
(2) 6000-RLA Ice Flaker (Howe Corporation, Chicago) v. (3) Kinder Bueno (Ferrero, Bloomington)
Bracket B:
(1) John Deere Combine (John Deere, East Moline) v. (4) CHEESEWICH Colby Jack Cheese and Hard Salami (Cheesewich Ltd., Hodgkins)
(2) Advanced Quantum Computing Ultra-High Vacuum Chamber (Meyer Tool & Manufacturing, Oak Lawn) v. (3) ADA Bus Transport Seat (Freedman by Lippert, Chicago)
Bracket C:
(1) MQ-25 Stingray (The Boeing Company, Mascoutah) v. (4) ROHN Self-Supporting Tower (ROHN Products, LLC, Peoria)
(2) Adobo and Sazon All-Purpose Seasoning (La Criolla Inc., Alsip) v. (3) Duck Skimmer (Elastec, Carmi)
Bracket D:
(1) NERDS Juicy Gummy Clusters (Ferrara Candy Company, Chicago) v. (4) Aerapy PPR HVAC UV System (Aerapy, Elk Grove Village)
(2) Aerosol Spray Cheese (Berner Food & Beverage, Dakota) v. (3) Curved Blazed Diffraction Grating (Inprentus, Inc., Champaign)
Voting for the next round is now open and will take place at www.makersmadnessil.com through 11:59 p.m. on March 29. Voters may cast one vote per day in each of the eight head-to-head matchups between individual products. Consecutive rounds of voting will take place each week, with vote totals reset to zero at the beginning of each round. The contest will culminate with an awards ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion on April 15 when The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named.
“Illinois manufacturers continue to set the standard for innovation, ingenuity and impact, and the products advancing in this year’s Makers Madness competition reflect the strength and diversity of the state’s manufacturing ecosystem,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “Comcast Business is proud to partner with the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association to spotlight the companies and makers driving economic growth across the state, and we’re excited to see the competition continue.”
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/.