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Above: A look inside Rivian Automotive's Normal, Illinois facility. Rivian ranks as Illinois' largest manufacturing company based on the size of its workforce. (Image source: Rivian newsroom)
Illinois remains one of the most important manufacturing states in the U.S., anchoring everything from automotive and food production to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and advanced industrial equipment. With more than 13,000 manufacturing companies operating statewide, Illinois continues to attract manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and industrial service providers looking for scale, talent, and logistical reach.
Today, we’re going to delve into the most recent trends on Illinois’ rich and varied manufacturing sector and explore some of the state’s top companies.
Illinois is currently home to 13,270 manufacturers employing 718,458 workers, making it among the largest industrial states in the U.S.
According to MNI, Chicago remains the state’s top industrial city by number of manufacturing jobs, accounting for 94,574 jobs.
Rockford accounts for the second most jobs in the state, home to 16,380 workers, while third-ranked Elk Grove Village account for 15,772. Fourth-ranked Elgin accounts for 11,131 jobs and Aurora is home to 9,866.
Looking to do business with Illinois industrial companies? Tap into MNI's live database of 23,000+ Illinois industrial businesses and 55,000+ executives with the Illinois Manufacturing Industry Database.
Related: Discover Why Elk Grove Village is Your Ideal Business Partner
According to IndustrySelect's database of 360,000+ U.S. manufacturing companies, there are 35,495 executive contacts among Illinois’ manufacturing companies, including 7,117 presidents, 3,469 owners and partners; 4,514 vice-presidents and 4,541 sales, marketing and purchasing executives.
Other facts to know about Illinois manufacturers, based on IndustrySelect’s advanced criteria available to subscribers:
• 8% are publicly owned companies
• 12% import raw materials
• 26% distribute their products internationally
• 2% are women-owned
• 1% are minority-owned
Next, we’ll take a look at the state’s top companies.
| Company | Employees | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian Automotive, LLC | 7,700 | Normal | IL |
| Ford Motor Co., Chicago Assembly Plt. | 5,810 | Chicago | IL |
| Lactalis American Group | 3,700 | Chicago | IL |
| AbbVie, Inc. | 3,400 | North Chicago | IL |
| Continental Tire The Americas | 3,400 | Mount Vernon | IL |
| Maker's Pride | 3,000 | Geneva | IL |
| Northrop Grumman Corp., Land & Self Protection Systems Div. | 2,800 | Rolling Meadows | IL |
| Tyson Foods, Inc. | 2,400 | Hillsdale | IL |
| S&C Electric Co. | 2,389 | Chicago | IL |
| Caterpillar Inc., Track-Type Tractors Div. | 2,200 | East Peoria | IL |
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Based in Normal, Illinois, Rivian Automotive is a fast-growing electric vehicle manufacturer focused on electric pickup trucks, delivery vehicles, and sport utility vehicles. Founded in 2016, the company employs approximately 7,700 people and operates a 3.3-million-square-foot manufacturing facility. Rivian has become a key player in the U.S. electric vehicle market, supporting both consumer and commercial electrification efforts.
The Chicago Assembly Plant has been a cornerstone of Ford Motor Company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint since 1924. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the facility employs roughly 5,810 workers and spans more than 2.8 million square feet. The plant produces popular vehicles including the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, serving national distribution markets.
Headquartered in Chicago, Lactalis American Group is a major player in the U.S. dairy industry and part of the global Lactalis network. Established in 1981, the company employs approximately 3,700 people and distributes its products internationally. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Kraft Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel, Breakstone’s, Galbani, Président, siggi’s, and Stonyfield Organic.
AbbVie operates a significant pharmaceutical manufacturing presence in North Chicago, Illinois, where it employs about 3,400 people. Founded in 1888, the facility supports international distribution and specializes in contract pharmaceutical manufacturing. AbbVie is a key contributor to Illinois’ life sciences and biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
Continental Tire The Americas maintains a large manufacturing operation in Mount Vernon, Illinois, producing radial passenger and truck tires under the Continental brand. Established in 1974, the facility employs approximately 3,400 workers and encompasses 3 million square feet. The plant supports national distribution and plays a major role in the U.S. tire manufacturing industry.
Maker’s Pride, based in Geneva, Illinois, is a leading producer of frozen, refrigerated, and shelf-stable foods for retail, foodservice, convenience, and produce markets. Founded in 1942, the company employs around 3,000 people and distributes its products internationally. The operation spans more than 2.1 million square feet and serves a broad range of food industry customers.
Located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Northrop Grumman’s Land and Self Protection Systems Division serves as a divisional headquarters and advanced defense electronics operation. Established in 1939, the facility employs approximately 2,800 people and supports international markets. The AS9100-certified division develops electronic countermeasures, radar and infrared jamming systems, targeting systems, and automatic test equipment used in military applications.
Tyson Foods operates a major meat packing and processing facility in Hillsdale, Illinois. Founded in 1984, the plant employs roughly 2,400 workers and supports national distribution. The facility plays an important role in Tyson’s U.S. protein production network and the broader food manufacturing economy in Illinois.
Headquartered in Chicago, S&C Electric Company is a global manufacturer of medium- and high-voltage electrical products used in grid modernization. Founded in 1911, the company employs approximately 2,389 people and serves international markets. Its product lines include switchgear, reclosers, power fuses, and automated switching equipment under brands such as TripSaver II, IntelliRupter, and Vista.
Caterpillar’s Track-Type Tractors Division in East Peoria, Illinois, is one of the company’s largest manufacturing operations. Established in 1925, the facility employs about 2,200 workers and spans an estimated 35 million square feet. The ISO 9001-certified division manufactures heavy earth-moving equipment sold globally under the CAT brand.
MNI has been in direct contact with Illinois manufacturers for more than a century. For those looking to do business with manufacturers in Illinois and beyond, IndustrySelect's database of 360,000+ U.S. industrial companies and one million executives is a top resource for lead generation in the manufacturing sector.
An IndustrySelect subscription can put you on a first-name basis with Illinois' 23,000+ industrial companies and 55,000+ executives.
Subscribers can select up to 30 data points on any manufacturing company in the U.S. to help identify or pre-qualify leads.
Company profiles also include the contact information for hard-to-find executive decision-makers. Try a free demo today!
Looking for industrial suppliers in Illinois? Search, source & quote U.S. suppliers for free on IndustryNet.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in June of 2020. It is updated annually to reflect new statistics.