MAKERS MADNESS WINNER

4/15/24

The fifth annual Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s “Makers Madness” contest started with more than 200 hundred different products entered to win the title of “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” from Mullen’s French dressing to drones that can refuel combat planes mid-flight.

After eight weeks of competition and 315,000 votes cast, the field narrowed down to one item, the Komatsu mining truck.

The roughly 26-foot-tall truck with tires weighing more than 1,000 pounds is made in Peoria and used for mining and construction.

The bracket-style contest allows people to vote for what they believe is the coolest thing made in the state.

The runners-up in this year’s competition include Mullen’s Imitation French Dressing, the MQ-25 Stingray Drone Refueler, and Mod Box by Enviro Buildings.

Last year’s winner was the Rosenberg Moon Habitat, a structure designed to help people live on the moon.