As voting opens in the final round of the 2026 “Makers Madness” contest, just four products remain in the competition for the title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.
The annual bracket-style tournament, held by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA), celebrates the work of Illinois’ manufacturers. The contest is presented by Comcast Business.
Over the past week, nearly 34,000 votes were cast by the public in four head-to-head matchups. From an original field of more than 100 products, these nominees have made it to the Top 4:
- NASA Standard Initiator (NSI) manufactured by Chemring Energetic Devices in Downers Grove. The NSI is an electrically activated pyrotechnic device that plays a critical role in modern spaceflight enabling essential mission functions such as vehicle staging, satellite separation, and spacecraft maneuvering. The technology is included on the current Artemis II /Orion mission carrying astronauts around the moon.
- John Deere Combine manufactured by John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline. An icon in the agriculture industry, John Deere’s combine lineup focuses on massive capacity and advanced automation to improve harvesting productivity. The Moline-based manufacturer’s Starfire 7500 Receiver won the Coolest Thing Made in North Dakota earlier this year. It was designed and manufactured by John Deere’s Intelligent Solutions Group.
- Duck Skimmer made by Elastec in Carmi. This self-adjusting, floating weir skimmer is used to advance environmental protection and safety. Suitable for use in inland waterways and ponds, the skimmer works by taking the surface layer off the water, making it ideal for removing duckweed or water meal as well as assisting in oil spill cleanups.
- Aerapy PPR HVAC UV System manufactured by Aerapy in St. Charles. The PPR (Packaged Power Rooftop) HVAC UV system is a patented ultraviolet (UV-C) disinfection system engineered to deliver a germicidal dose to moving air within HVAC equipment. By maintaining coil cleanliness and heat transfer efficiency, the system can increase HVAC efficiency by up to 20%.
Winner named April 15
“Our final contenders showcase the diversity and creativity of Illinois’ manufacturing industry, which makes the world a better place to live every single day,” said IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler said in a news release. “As voters make their final choices, we look forward to seeing which product will take the coveted title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.”
Voting in the Final Four round is now open at www.makersmadnessil.com through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, April 12. Voters may cast one vote per day for any of the four finalists.
The winner of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named at an awards ceremony Wednesday, April 15, at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield.
“Best of luck to all the contestants who have made it to this final stage,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s regional vice president of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “Comcast Business is proud to support manufacturers and this exciting competition that showcases the best of the manufacturing industry in Illinois.”
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.
