About MTI

Our Story

How we went from tool and die maker to world-leading friction welding solutions provider

In 1926 our founder, Conrad Adams, may not have been able to visualize all the great things ahead for his family’s small tool and die company. However, he could see a bright future solving problems for his customers. Through hard work and a steadfast dedication to solving their most challenging manufacturing problems, the little company from South Bend, Indiana became the world-leader in friction welding technologies, providing engineered solutions from golf putters to jet engines. Today – nine decades and four generations later – MTI’s commitment continues with a solid succession plan and a vision for greatness in place for the next generation. See our full timeline below for an inside look at MTI over the past nine decades!

About MTI
Machines Designed and Built
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Countries Served
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MTI locations on a global map for desktop.
MTI locations on a global map for mobile.

Quality Certifications

Meeting and exceeding expectations

Manufacturing Technology, Inc. will meet or exceed your expectations through the superior design, manufacture, and installation of our products and services. We shall strive for continuous improvement in meeting our customers, suppliers, and employees needs in a manner which provides for quality products, services, and on-schedule delivery.

Download our certificates below:

Our Executive Team

Dan Adams

President & CEO – Product Manager

574-233-9490

Richard Jones

VP of Sales & Marketing, Project Engineering and European Sales Manager

Bob Mazzacavallo

Chief Financial Officer

574-233-9490

MariClare Osborn

Vice President of Human Resources

574-233-9490

History & Timeline

1920

Conrad Adams founded a tool and die company in South Bend

MTI employees celebrating the first 15 years.

MTI employees celebrating the first 15 years.

MTI was originally named Adams Engineering Die & Tool, Inc. It provided engineering and tooling for automotive, farm implement, aircraft engine, and appliance manufacturers. One of MTI’s earliest customers was Studebaker Automotive.

1920

Conrad Adams founded a tool and die company in South Bend

MTI employees celebrating the first 15 years.

MTI employees celebrating the first 15 years.

MTI was originally named Adams Engineering Die & Tool, Inc. It provided engineering and tooling for automotive, farm implement, aircraft engine, and appliance manufacturers. One of MTI’s earliest customers was Studebaker Automotive.

1930s

AEI Becomes a Family Affair

Die makers at Adams Engineering machining center.

Die makers at Adams Engineering machining center.

Already showing an aptitude for the family business, Robert C. Adams, Conrad’s son, left Purdue University to start serving an apprenticeship at Bendix Brake and Steering in South Bend.

Four years later, Robert joined Adams Engineering as a journeyman, beginning what would become a 31-year career.

1940s

Robert C. Adams Becomes President of AEI

Robert C. Adams and his father, Conrad.

After rising steadily through the ranks, Robert C. Adams succeeded his father, Conrad, as president of the company, now called Adams Engineering, Inc. or AEI.

1950s

AEI Gains New Customers and a National Reputation

Featured in photo from left to right: Fred Lamb, Chief Engineer, Adams Design, Inc.; Robert C. Adams, President, Adams Engineering, Inc..

Featured in photo from left to right: Fred Lamb, Chief Engineer, Adams Design, Inc.; Robert C. Adams, President, Adams Engineering, Inc.; Unknown; Raymon Ziegert, Sales Manager, Adams Engineering, Inc.

Under Robert’s guidance, AEI acquired customers such as General Electric Aviation and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. In doing so, we earned a national reputation for the engineering of heated form die parts made from titanium for jet engines. AEI also began forming partnerships with suppliers to better meet customer needs and solidify our standing in the aerospace industry.

1960s

AEI Forges New, Strategic Partnerships

AEI workers at their drafting tables.
Robert’s son, Conrad Adams II.

AEI began working with the Can Division of the Reynolds Metals Company, building different machines used for making aluminum cans. The relationship would continue for over 27 years. Conrad Adams II, Robert’s son and our founder’s grandson, joined AEI.

AEI became a supplier to the Inertia Welding department, a newly formed group at Caterpillar Tractor Company. We applied our expertise in automation, hydraulics, pneumatics, and electronics in building specialized welding machines for Inertia Welding. This particular relationship would have a dramatic – and profitable – impact on the company nine years later.

1970s

AEI Purchases Friction Welding Patents & Forms MTI

Dietmar Spindler and Dan Kuruzar speak to customers about magnetic pulse welding at MTI.

From left to right: Dietmar Spindler and Dan Kuruzar speak to customers about magnetic pulse welding at MTI.

An Inertia Friction Welder from the 1970s.

AEI purchased the patents, rights, and manufacturing knowledge from Caterpillar and AMF for the flywheel-based inertia friction welding process. AEI then formed Manufacturing Technology, Inc., better known as MTI, as a separate company to reflect this major change in our direction and focus.

MTI also hired Dietmar Spindler as General Manager. Dietmar came from Caterpillar’s Inertia Welding group. Under his direction MTI grew to eventually become even more profitable than AEI.

1980s

MTI Expands Capabilities

A simple friction welding blueprint from the 1980s.

MTI purchased the rights to the New Britain line of friction welding equipment.

1990s

MTI Merges with AEI

Jenny (Adams) Borsodi, Bob Adams, and Dan Adams accepting the Small Business of the Year award.

Pictured here: Jenny (Adams) Borsodi, Bob Adams, and Dan Adams accepting the Small Business of the Year award.

The exterior of the MTI manufacturing building.

Acknowledging the economic realities of where the company’s future growth would come from, AEI sold its tool and die operations and merged all partnerships under the MTI name.

MTI engineered and manufactured the world’s largest inertia welder, which stored a maximum of 14 million lbs-ft of energy and generated a maximum welding force of 4.5 million pounds.

Jenny (Adams) Borsodi joined MTI in 1992, while brothers Bob Adams and Dan Adams joined MTI in 1998.

2000s

Expanding Overseas

AMT Shanghai Technology and Service Center facility, Shanghai, China

AMT Shanghai Technology and Service Center facility, Shanghai, China

Inside MTI's newest location in Dudley, West Midlands, England.

In 2005, MTI opened a location in Dudley, West Midlands, England. The Dudley location helped serve the automotive and construction industries with machines up to 300 tons of forge force capacity. In addition, MTI also expanded into Asia by opening an office in the AMT Shanghai Technology Service Center in Shanghai, China.

In 2006, MTI expanded into Linear Friction Welding to accommodate a growing Aerospace industry.

Then, in 2008, MTI acquired the Friction Stir Welding product line.

2010s

Expanding Our Roots

Doyle Blooding and Jeremy Smithes standing near a Friction Stir Welder.

Doyle Blooding and Jeremy Smithes at Friction Stir Welder, MTI Sheridan St. location, South Bend, Indiana

MTI opened a second location in South Bend, which houses the company’s Manufacturing Services operation. This 117,770-square foot facility is dedicated to these processes: Inertia Friction Welding, Direct Drive Friction Welding, Linear Friction Welding, and Friction Stir Welding.

The most advanced Rotary Friction Welder produced for the MTC.

2014: Most advanced Rotary Friction Welder produced for the MTC.

The largest Inertia Friction Welder next to MTI employees.

2016: Currently the largest Inertia Friction Welder shown here with MTI employees.

In 2014, MTI built the world’s most advanced Rotary Friction Welder for the Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) in Coventry, England. MTI also built the largest Inertia Friction Welder which shipped at the end of 2016.

In 2016, MTI purchased UK-based ProSpot in order to expand its resistance welding services.

2020s

Becoming a Global Brand

Yatin Tambe, his wife Devyani Tambe, and MTI President & CEO, Dan Adams together at a ceremony.

2022: Pictured here are Yatin Tambe, Founder and Director of FWT, and his wife Devyani Tambe, alongside MTI President & CEO, Dan Adams.

In 2022, MTI acquires a majority share of Friction Welding Technologies Pvt., Ltd. (FWT) after a successful multi-year partnership formalized in 2017.

A Legacy of Leadership

Conrad R. Adams

President

1926 – 1948

Robert C. Adams

President

1951 – 1967

Conrad R. Adams II

President

1967 – 2002

Robert C. Adams II

President

2002 – 2015

Dan Adams

President & CEO

2015 – Present

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