Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA)

The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is the premier and respected voice of manufacturers and industry in Illinois.

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

@IMECillinois Congratulations to the Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame Class of 2026 - honorees from every corner of Illinois and representing different industries that have all had a huge impact on our world!

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

That’s a wrap on Day 2 of #MakersOnTheMove! We closed out another great day celebrating Illinois manufacturing with a private boat tour and happy hour at Freedom Boat Club of Chicago. Thanks to everyone who joined us and all of our hosts! Two days down, see you tomorrow for Day 3!

#MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois @IMECillinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Stop #4 of Day 2 brought #MakersOnTheMove to WeatherTech in Bolingbrook! We toured the facility and got an inside look at the technology, processes and skilled workforce behind products made right here in Illinois. Thanks to the @WeatherTech team for hosting us!

Off to happy hour!

#MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois @IMECillinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Stop #3 of Day 2 brought #MakersOnTheMove to American Buildings Company in El Paso! We toured the facility and got an inside look at the people, technology and skilled work behind custom-engineered metal building systems made right here in Illinois. Thanks to our hosts and everyone who joined us!

#MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois @IMECillinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Stop #2 of Day 2 brought #MakersOnTheMove to the University of Illinois Springfield! We heard from UIS Chancellor Janet Gooch and joined a fireside chat with Mark Denzler & IMEC on the evolving needs of Illinois manufacturers and preparing the next generation of talent.

#MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Day 2 of #MakersOnTheMove is underway! We kicked things off at BUNN-O-Matic in Springfield, celebrating its longtime role in Illinois manufacturing and its continued commitment to innovation. Thanks to the BUNN team and everyone who joined us this morning!

#MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Follow the tour: https://t.co/hN5j0ry1Ro

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

What better way to start the week than with another full day on the Makers on the Move bus tour? We'll start our day at Bunn-O-Matic and then head to the University of Illinois Springfield. Then we will make our way north with stops at American Buildings Co. in El Paso and WeatherTech in Bolingbrook before ending our evening at Freedom Boat Club by Brunswick in Chicago.

#ILMfg #MakersOnTheMove
@UISedu @IMECillinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Learn more at https://t.co/hN5j0ry1Ro

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

With 580,000 open jobs in the manufacturing industry, including tens of thousands of available jobs in Illinois, the Makers on the Move bus tour is a way to spotlight amazing career opportunities. IMA and IMEC are dedicated to working with employers, educators, and lawmakers to enact policies that help attract and retain a skilled workforce. That includes securing a new law to increase student access to career and technical education, as well as pushing for funding to expand manufacturing training academies at community colleges across Illinois. These efforts are vital to ensuring Illinois can continue to experience strong economic growth in the coming decade, as more baby boomers are expected to exit the job market and companies seek to fill the resulting experience gaps.

#ILMfg #MakersOnTheMove
@IMECillinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Follow the tour: https://t.co/hN5j0rxu1Q

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

If you see our Makers on the Move bus on the road, make sure to snap a pic and tag us! High school students from across Illinois submitted designs for this year's 56-foot tour bus wrap, which was installed by Ace Sign Co. in Springfield. Congratulations to Uthman Habib and Trevor Frey, graduates of Lake Park West High School in Roselle, who inspired the design that's now on the road with us! These real-world opportunities help connect students with the opportunities available in manufacturing.

#ILMfg #MakersOnTheMove
@IMECillinois @AceSignCompany @LPLancers

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

That’s a wrap on Day 1 of the 2026 #MakersOnTheMove tour!

From TCCI Manufacturing and Mason Manufacturing in Decatur to Plastipak Packaging and Inprentus Inc. in Champaign, it was a full day celebrating the people, innovation and ideas driving Illinois manufacturing forward.

We closed out the day with a happy hour at Triptych Brewing in Savoy. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Triptych for hosting!

See you Monday for Day 2!

#MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Our 4th stop of Day 1 brought #MakersOnTheMove to Inprentus Inc. in Champaign! We got an inside look at their precision manufacturing of advanced diffraction gratings and optics used in cutting-edge scientific research and technology.
Now to happy hour! #MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Stop 3 of Day 1 brought #MakersOnTheMove to Plastipak Packaging in Champaign! We got an inside look at their innovative, sustainable packaging operations and the people behind them. Thanks to our hosts and everyone who joined us! Onto Stop #4! #MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Stop 2 of Day 1 brought #MakersOnTheMove to Mason Manufacturing in Decatur! We got an inside look at the people, expertise and craftsmanship driving manufacturing right here in Illinois. Thanks to the Mason Manufacturing team for welcoming us! #MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

Happy Manufacturing Day! We’re kicking off the 2026 #MakersOnTheMove statewide bus tour at @TCCI_Mfg new Climatic Center for Innovation & Research and taking the bus through their climatic wind tunnel! A fitting start to a tour celebrating Illinois manufacturing, innovation and the people moving our industry forward.

#MFGDay26 #MadeInIllinois #MakersOnTheMove

[Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) @IMA_Today]

TGIF and our 5TH ANNUAL MAKERS ON THE MOVE BUS TOUR!

Make sure to follow along with our President & CEO, Mark Denzler, and the rest of the team at IMA as we tour the state of Illinois and meet with the incredible manufacturers that make our state move forward.

Read more about the tour at https://t.co/ZSN6MLmIFV

@IllinoisMfgAssc @IMECillinois

[Mark Denzler @IllinoisMfgAssc]

Happy Manufacturing Day! Started the morning at the annual WSOY community food drive in Decatur that is the largest single day drive in the U.S. The @IMA_Today proudly donated Made in Illinois products from @BEERNUTS, @Ferrero_NA and @FerraraUSA for the volunteers! Addressing hunger is important especially with high prices for gas and food.