The 2026 “Makers Madness” contest, hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and presented by Comcast Business, has entered its final round with only four products remaining in the race to be named “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.” This annual bracket-style competition highlights the ingenuity and impact of Illinois manufacturers, a sector that contributes over $580 billion to the state’s economy and supports nearly a third of all jobs statewide.
Nearly 34,000 votes were cast in the previous round, narrowing the field from more than 100 nominees to the Top 4 finalists:
NASA Standard Initiator manufactured by Chemring Energetic Devices in Downers Grove
John Deere Combine manufactured by John Deere in East Moline
Duck Skimmer made by Elastec in Carmi
Aerapy PPR HVAC UV System manufactured by Aerapy in St. Charles
“These final contenders showcase the diversity and creativity of Illinois’ manufacturing industry, which makes the world a better place to live every single day,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “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.”
Product Highlights:
NASA Standard Initiator: With roots going back to the Apollo era, this electrically activated pyrotechnic device is critical for space missions, enabling vehicle staging, satellite separation, and spacecraft maneuvering. Used in every Mars rover mission and the current Artemis II/Orion mission, Chemring Energetic Devices is the sole NASA-qualified manufacturer of the NSI worldwide.
John Deere Combine: A symbol of agricultural innovation, John Deere’s combines offer up to 45% more harvesting capacity and 20% greater fuel efficiency. The top-of-the-line X9 Series can harvest up to 30 acres of wheat per hour and process 7,200 bushels of corn per hour.
Duck Skimmer: The Elastec Duck Weir Skimmer is a self-adjusting, floating weir device designed to remove the surface layer from water, ideal for cleaning duckweed, water meal, and assisting in oil spill cleanup in ponds and inland waterways.
Aerapy PPR HVAC UV System: This patented system uses UV-C light to disinfect air within HVAC systems, achieving up to 99.97% reduction in airborne pathogens in a single pass and improving HVAC efficiency by up to 20% in some settings.
Voting is now open at www.makersmadnessil.com through 11:59 p.m. on April 12th. Residents may cast one vote per day for any of the four finalists. The winner will be announced during an awards ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion on April 15th.