Above: Inside the Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant, the second-largest manufacturer in the state of Illinois. (Image courtesy of: Ford Media Center)
Illinois is a major manufacturing hub, home to 13,975 manufacturing companies, making it a top state to keep on your radar.
MNI, compiler and publisher of the industrial data that powers IndustrySelect, has been in touch with Illinois manufacturers since 1912, since its flagship Illinois Manufacturers Directory, first published in 1912. Over the years, MNI has published vast amounts of data on the state’s industrial sector. In fact, the Chicago Tribune has called our Illinois Manufacturers Directory the "annual report card on the state of manufacturing."
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.
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 13,975 manufacturers employing 722,894 workers, making it among the largest industrial states in the U.S. According to IndustrySelect database of 400,000 U.S. manufacturing companies, there are 46,787 executive contacts among Illinois’ manufacturing companies, including 7,792 presidents, 3,559 owners and partners; 4,840 vice-presidents and 4,894 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
According to MNI, Chicago remains the state’s top industrial city by number of manufacturing jobs, accounting for 91,109 jobs.
Rockford accounts for the second most jobs in the state, home to 16,646 workers, while third-ranked Elk Grove Village account for 15,365. Fourth-ranked Elgin accounts for 11,024 jobs and Wheeling is home to 10,114.
Related: Discover Why Elk Grove Village is Your Ideal Business Partner
Next, we’ll take a look at the state’s top companies.
Company | Employees | City | State |
---|---|---|---|
Rivian Automotive, LLC | 6,000 | Normal | IL |
Ford Motor Co., Chicago Assembly Plt. | 5,810 | Chicago | IL |
Medline Industries, Inc. | 5,000 | Northfield | IL |
Lactalis American Group | 3,700 | Chicago | IL |
AbbVie, Inc. | 3,400 | North Chicago | IL |
Continental Tire The Americas | 3,400 | Mount Vernon | IL |
Hearthside Food Solutions, LLC | 3,000 | Geneva | IL |
Northrop Grumman Corp., Land & Self Protection Systems Div. | 2,800 | Rolling Meadows | IL |
Navistar, Inc. | 2,500 | Lisle | IL |
Tyson Foods, Inc. | 2,400 | Hillsdale | IL |
Access detailed profiles of 23,000+ Illinois manufacturers and their 57,000+ executives (including direct email!) with the Illinois Manufacturing Industry Database, only from MNI.
1. Rivian (Normal, IL)
Established in 2016, this innovative company produces electric vehicles, such as the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV, at its 3.3 million square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Normal. Employing 6,000 workers, Rivian ranks as the largest manufacturer in Illinois.
2. Ford Motor Co., Chicago Assembly Plt. (Chicago, IL)
Ford’s assembly plant on Chicago’s South side is also a major employer in the state, home to 5,810 employees. Opened in 1924, the storied 2.8 million square-foot plant occupies 113 acres and currently produces the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and the Police Interceptor Utility.
3. Medline Industries, Inc. (Northfield, IL)
Medline Industries is a major medical equipment manufacturer, located in the Chicago north suburb of Northfield. The company is both a manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, as well as clinical programs. Employing 5,000, the company produces a wide range of supplies including surgical appliances, uniforms, rubber gloves, nursing supplies, wound care supplies, and has been a major producer of PPE equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak.
4. Lactalis American Group (Chicago, IL)
Lactalis American Group: This is the U.S. subsidiary of Lactalis Group, the world’s largest dairy corporation. Lactalis American Group offers a wide assortment of cheeses, butters, and UHT milks under well-known brands such as Président, Galbani, and Parmalat. The company has an office in Chicago, IL, and several plants across the nation.
5. AbbVie, Inc. (North Chicago, IL)
AbbVie, Inc., previously known as Abbot Labs is a major pharmaceutical manufacturer and research hub for pharmaceuticals. Located in suburb of North Chicago, the facility houses 3,400 at a massive campus for drug research and production of major pharmaceuticals such as HUMIRA, Lupron, Synagis, and Kaletra.
6. Continental Tire The Americas (Mount Vernon, IL)
At the Continental Tire facility in Mount Vernon, IL, 3,400 employees produce radial passenger and truck tires at a 3-million square foot facility.
7. Hearthside Food Solutions, LLC (Geneva, IL)
Hearthside is a leading contract manufacturer of bars, cookies, crackers, enrobed foods, fresh foods, and frozen foods for some of the world’s most iconic brands. Hearthside operates a 40,000 square-foot facility in Geneva, IL, as part of its 23-facility network in the U.S. and Europe.
8. Northrop Grumman (Rolling Meadows, IL)
Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and solutions for national security. The company’s Rolling Meadows facility develops navigation, targeting, and self-protection technologies for aircraft and other platforms. The company also supports STEM education and community initiatives in the region.
9. Navistar, Inc. (Lisle, IL)
Established in 1902, Navistar produces commercial trucks, school buses and diesel engines at a 3.1 million square foot facility, bringing in $985 million in sales.
The plant employs 2,500 employees, making it the 8th largest industrial company in the state.
10. Tyson Foods, Inc. (Hillsdale, IL)
At this massive meatpacking plant in Hillsdale, IL., 2,400 employees operate in a 500,000 square-foot facility. Tyson is a food industry giant, boasting one of the largest protein portfolios in the food industry. Some of its most notable brands include Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park and Aidelles.
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 500,000 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' 16,000 industrial companies and 50,000 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 has been updated to reflect new statistics collected in 2024.