Illinois ‘Makers Madness’ moves into voting on the Top 16 products made in-state

Bradley Zimmerman
·2 min read

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is moving into the next stage of naming “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.”

The IMA’s Maker Madness kicked off earlier this month with nominations of more than 200 products made across Illinois, including more than 20 in East-Central Illinois. More than 122,000 votes from the public were cast, narrowing down the list of over 200 to just 16.

Now, the Top 16 will go head-to-head in bracket style to determine a winner. The public will vote again on the products across four more rounds of voting until there is a winner.

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The Top 16 products are:

  • The BoulePro 200AX, a grinder made by USACH in Elgin

  • The Smart Handle, a car door handle that unlocks the door by touch, made by Aislin Electronics Illinois in Marion

  • Semi-truck tires, made by Continental Tire in Mt. Vernon

  • Mining trucks, made by Komatsu in Peoria

  • Mullen’s Imitation French Dressing, made by Mullen’s in Palestine

  • Nature Valley Bars, made by General Mills in Belvidere

  • The D11 Bulldozer, made by Caterpillar in Peoria

  • Vulcan Rocket Thruster Launchers, made by Chemring Energetic Devices in Downers Grove

  • P15 flexible pouch packaging, used for Icee Slushes, made by Hoffer Plastics in South Elgin

  • The MQ-25 Stingray, a refueling drone made by Boeing in Mascoutah

  • The Driver Assist System, a 100-degree automotive camera, made by ZF in Marshall

  • The ActivWall, a school cabinet with fold-out dry-erase boards, made by Aurora Storage Products Inc. in Aurora

  • Gindo’s Hot Sauce, made by Gindo’s Spice of Life in St. Charles

  • Jaws-themed pinball machines, made by Stern Pinball in Elk Grove Village

  • Nerds Gummy Clusters, made by the Ferrara Candy Company in Forest Park

  • The Mod Box, a modular building, made by Craig Industries in Quincy

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“These products represent the diversity and creativity of Illinois’ manufacturing industry, which is the heartbeat of our state’s economy and central to the success of communities large and small,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “We congratulate the innovators who made it to the Top 16 and applaud the hard work of women and men on factory floors throughout Illinois. As we showcase these impressive products, we remain committed to working with policymakers to pass legislation that will help the manufacturing sector grow for generations to come.”

Voting for the Round of 16 is now open and will take place online through 11:59 p.m. on March 24.

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