In the last two decades, Caterpillar has produced over 1,000 797 Large Mining Trucks — and the majority are still on the job. The first 797 has logged more than 130,000 hours and is still hard at work in the Canadian Oil Sands. And there are countless others well on their way to achieving even higher hours.

It’s no wonder that today’s Cat® 797F model is one of the most popular 363-tonne (400-ton) trucks in the market. And it’s no surprise that its popularity has earned it a unique honor: It was recently named the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.

Following eight weeks of rigorous competition, the 797 was declared the winner of the inaugural “Makers Madness” contest, which featured a field of more than 260 individual products initially nominated from across the state, with nearly 300,000 votes cast.  

“The Caterpillar 797F Mining Truck is a great example of manufacturing, innovation and ingenuity and is well-deserving of the title of Coolest Thing Made in Illinois,” said Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, sponsor of the bracket-style tournament.

The competition was created to showcase the many amazing products made by companies across the state, along with the range of career opportunities available in manufacturing.

Made in Decatur, Illinois, USA, the 797F is the world’s largest mechanical-drive truck. It weighs 1,375,000 pounds (623 690 kilograms) and standing over 23 feet (7-meters) tall on six 13-foot (4-meter) tires. The 797F is the industry benchmark for delivering the lowest cost per ton in its size class.

“It is an honor having the 797F chosen as the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois,” said Tina Czerwinski, manager of the Caterpillar Decatur facility. “This acknowledgment is a direct reflection of the men and women who show up every day to make the best products in the world for the customers we serve. I am very proud of our team.”  

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the winner of the competition via video at www.makersmadnessil.com. “As a businessman, I know how important our manufacturing sector is to Illinois’ economy. We produce over $300 billion of goods a year — right here in Illinois. You are the makers and the doers that drive our state forward,” he said. “I want to congratulate the entire team at Caterpillar on their win and for building the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.”