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* Press release…
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) launched the first annual “Makers Madness” contest, a bracket-style tournament in which voters will decide what product is the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.
The competition is designed to highlight the many different products manufactured in Illinois, ranging from food products and furniture to automobiles and components for the aerospace industry. Statewide, manufacturing generates more than $304 billion in economic output, contributing 12 percent to the state’s Gross Domestic Product – the largest share of any industry in Illinois.
Nominations are now being accepted at www.makersmadnessil.com, where all voting will take place. Voting to narrow the field to the Top 16 products will begin on February 26. Weekly matchups will follow, culminating in an awards ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion on April 1, when the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named.
“From combines and bulldozers to American flags and macaroni and cheese, Illinois manufacturers make some of the most iconic products in the nation. Manufacturers make the world a better place every single day by creating products that help feed the world, save lives, and explore planets beyond our own,” said Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “This contest is designed to not only showcase the many amazing things made in Illinois but to also highlight the great careers available in manufacturing, ranging from product designers and robotics specialists to cyber security experts and human resources professionals.”
Manufacturers employ 592,200 women and men in Illinois at an average salary of $88,691, providing $52 billion in wages and benefits. However, the industry is facing a worker shortage and skills gap as 300,000 baby boomers are set to retire in the coming years. The IMA worked in partnership with the Governor and lawmakers last year to extend the Research & Development tax credit and establish a new apprenticeship tax credit, which will allow manufacturers to jump-start their efforts to build a pipeline of workers to help fill the next generation of manufacturing jobs.
* The Question: What is (or should be) the coolest thing made in Illinois?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:00 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Comment by Timmeh Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:10 am
The mobile phone *ring* excuse me while I get this . . .
Comment by Dome Gnome Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:10 am
Cool particles… @Fermilab
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:10 am
Coolest in my opinion two days after the Super Bowl is Riddell Football Helmets.
Special honorable mention in Southwestern, IL is Ski Soda in Breese, Salsa Rose in Mascoutah (if you haven’t tried either you need to).
Silliest thing made in Illinois is Billy Bob Teeth in Hardin.
Comment by The Wombat Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:13 am
Soy sauce!
Comment by Suki Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:14 am
Beer Nuts
Comment by Dingo Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:15 am
Radio Flyer carts. Cool lit-up building with a large red cart on the grounds. Also reportedly a great employer.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:16 am
Salvation Army Kettles
Comment by 4 percent Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:17 am
Novec made by 3M in the Quad Cities. Used in fire suppression systems it is essentially water that wont get you wet. You could swim in a pool full of it and when you get out you would be bone dry. Electronics work just fine immersed in it. Amazing stuff.
Comment by George Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:20 am
John Deere’s self-scouring steel plow.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:21 am
John Deere combines
Caterpillar makes largest dump truck in Decatur
Comment by 4 percent Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:22 am
In Centralia, Honeywell makes triggers for nuclear bombs.
Comment by Al Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:27 am
The answer is beer. What’s the question?
Comment by Father Ted Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:29 am
Corn Syrup! in (Argo)Summit. Used to be Corn Products International. Now named “ingredion”
boo on the name change. But it’s a beautiful plant at night https://www.ingredionincorporated.com/content/dam/ingredion/pdf-downloads/corporate/Ingredion%20Timeline_Jan2017.pdf
Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:30 am
Weber grills, or (as the universe has a sense of humor) a majority of components for most military small arms.
Comment by Anon For Now Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:30 am
Soybeans.
Including the soybean meal and oil that they are processed into here. This provides food for humans and animals, oils (both cooking and industrial), and biodiesel among other uses. Soybeans grown and processed in Illinois, and the oil and meal are used in products worldwide. New uses for soy based products are replacing petroleum based products more every year.
Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:37 am
The Puck created by Smashtoast. Idea thought up in Springfield and it is made in Jacksonville.
https://smashtoast.com/
Comment by The Real Captain Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:38 am
For both good and ill, Fermi’s Chicago Pile-1 (first human-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction).
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:38 am
Ice cold craft beer
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:38 am
Equity Centricity
Comment by Leaf Garrett Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:38 am
Vienna Hot Dog, encased in Rosen poppyseed bun.
Comment by bogey golfer Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:42 am
Public corruption?
Comment by Moi Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:46 am
Sorry, I know corruption is not cool…but, man, it seems like they come up with a new way to do it.
Comment by Moi Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:50 am
Moi -
“Public corruption?”
Seriously?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 11:52 am
Ski soda in Breese.
Comment by Highland IL Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:04 pm
Solo Cups
Comment by Scamp640 Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:05 pm
Lava lamps
Comment by Angry Republican Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:05 pm
Zippers
Comment by Scamp640 Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:06 pm
Lemonheads and Mike & Ikes (tie)
Comment by Lefty Lefty Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:07 pm
Bunn-O-Matic coffee makers
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:09 pm
Jeez I just had it Saturday. Vito & Nick’s Pizza. It’s like magic–no other pizza like it anywhere.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:11 pm
Although it is headquartered and produced in Paducah, Dippin Dots were invented and developed in Pulaski County
Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:13 pm
==Radio Flyer carts==
Everything I can find says that they moved manufacturing offshore 15+ years ago except for “plastic wagons that are made for them in WI”
Have they moved production back here?
Comment by jimbo Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:13 pm
Third generation family owned Wahl Clipper
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:14 pm
In Centralia, Honeywell makes triggers for nuclear bombs.
Centralia is also home to Country Bobs Sauces
Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:17 pm
Super Slurper-
https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/1996/may/starch/
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:20 pm
Skittles are made in Yorkville
Comment by Ben Marc*m Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:21 pm
Horween leather.
Comment by Boots Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:33 pm
Butter Cows and Horseshoes
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:45 pm
Rivian R1T, someday.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 12:54 pm
Everything produced by Rock River Arms, Colona
Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:16 pm
Second City trained comedians
Comment by Groucho Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:21 pm
Weeeed, maaaan.
Comment by SubRosa Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:24 pm
My children.
Comment by pool boy Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:32 pm
ethylene oxide.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:36 pm
The Puck. cool device that can control all types of electronics.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:48 pm
Maze Nails - produced in Peru, IL since 1886.
Comment by JT11505 Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 1:49 pm
Knaak steel security boxes in Crystal Lake https://www.knaack.com/
Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:01 pm
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/GovernorsMansion/exhibition/art-of-illinois/decorative-arts/western-stoneware-company/Western-Stoneware-Plates
Comment by Decorative Arts Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:04 pm
The original Steak N Shake. Additional franchises have opened elsewhere around the world, but store #1 opened in Normal, Illinois.
Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Heath candy bars, made in Robinson for over 100 years.
Comment by BCOSEC Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:11 pm
Not sure if it is still made here but barbed wire would be on my list
Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:13 pm
Going local, but Trains. Specifically, locomotives. EMDs are iconic.
Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:17 pm
Pickard China - White House, Camp David, Governors Mansion - all made in Antioch Il
Comment by Alan Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:25 pm
Not sure if it has been said, but Weber grills has to be on the list.
Comment by SpfdNewb Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 2:57 pm
WeatherTech
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 3:26 pm
HAL computers?
Comment by Bemac Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 4:04 pm
Tootsie Rolls
Comment by Chippy Dave Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 4:14 pm
Dinger baseball bats
Comment by dr. reason a. goodwin Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 4:39 pm
second the Centralia is also home to Country Bobs Sauces, and if you not had it you need to try them
Comment by 13th Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 6:14 pm
GUNS https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldArmoryUSA/
Comment by Darian Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 8:41 pm
Lem’s
Comment by Rich Hill Tuesday, Feb 4, 20 @ 8:53 pm
Maize Nails. No house in Illinois would be able to stand without Maize Nails.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Feb 6, 20 @ 8:41 am