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!
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.
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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
Jeff Traver
Global Director of Operations
574-233-9490
MariClare Osborn
Vice President, 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 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 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.
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
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.; 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 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
From left to right: Dietmar Spindler and Dan Kuruzar speak to customers about magnetic pulse welding at MTI.
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
MTI purchased the rights to the New Britain line of friction welding equipment.
1990s
MTI Merges with AEI
Pictured here: Jenny (Adams) Borsodi, Bob Adams, and Dan Adams accepting the Small Business of the Year award.
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
- 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 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.
2014: Most advanced Rotary Friction Welder produced for the MTC.
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
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.
- In 2025, MTI and STIRTEC GmbH formalized a strategic partnership to expand Friction Stir Welding (FSW) solutions to the global market.
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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