Play Makers Madness; help pick Coolest Thing Made in Illinois

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) is once again on the hunt for nominations for its annual bracket-style tournament to select the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.

Online nominations are open here for the sixth annual Land of Lincoln Makers Madness contest. The event is held to determine the top product manufactured in the state, the IMA said in a news release.

Presented by Comcast Business, the competition celebrates “the incredible work” of Illinois manufacturers, who IMA said have long served as the backbone of the state’s economy. Manufacturing is the largest contributor of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product, according to an analysis by the trade association that advocates for manufacturers. 

The IMA report said manufacturing supports nearly a third of all jobs in Illinois. It contributes more than $580 billion to the state’s economy each year.

Online voting will take place throughout the 2025 contest. Any product manufactured in Illinois can be nominated. While qualifying products must be made in Illinois, the manufacturers’ headquarters do not have to be in the state. 

Nominations will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. Voting to narrow the field to the Top 16 products will begin Tuesday, March 4. Consecutive rounds of voting will take place each week. The contest will culminate with an awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 9, at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. That’s where The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois 2025 winner will be named.

“Makers Madness showcases the many amazing and unique products created by manufacturers that consumers enjoy throughout Illinois and across the globe,” IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler said in the release.

Manufacturers abound

“Illinois is a land of innovation and manufacturers are creating groundbreaking products that feed, heal, build and power our communities,” he added. “We look forward to the friendly competition ahead as manufacturers vie for votes and we shine a spotlight on their incredible work.” 

Manufacturers in Illinois produce everything from lifesaving therapies and medicines to electric vehicles and components used for space exploration, the release said. They also keep store shelves stocked with nutritious food and delectable snacks and create sporting equipment used everywhere from neighborhood fields to professional leagues. Companies build agricultural and road construction equipment, create high-tech gadgets and components used for national defense. They also produce energy to power our homes and businesses.

“We are thrilled to once again partner with the IMA to support this year’s search for The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois,” said Sean McCarthy. He’s Comcast’s regional vice president of business development and strategic initiatives. “The Makers Madness competition is an incredible celebration of our state’s creativity and ingenuity, and Comcast is proud to help manufacturers thrive by providing state-of-the-art connectivity and technology.”

The Komatsu mining truck, used for construction and mining and made by Komatsu in Peoria, took top honors last year. Other previous winners included: Rosenberg Moon Habitat, a 3D printed polymer structure 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, 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 roadways; and the 797F Mining Truck manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc. in Decatur, which is the world’s largest mechanical truck.

Here’s how to vote

This year’s Makers Madness schedule is:

• Feb. 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.

The IMA is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. It’s the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the U.S. It represents nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, visit https://ima-net.org/.