FORT WAYNE — Riverside Mfg., LLC planned to celebrate the opening of its new Fort Wayne facility July 8 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring company leaders, including CEO Fred Merritt, President Kent Rice and SVP of Sales and Marketing David Rednour, alongside U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman and Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker.
In an effort to support increased demand for both existing and new products, Riverside will invest more than $10 million as the company continues its growth trajectory focused on advanced manufacturing. Additionally, since the recent expansion project began in 2025, Riverside has added 30 employees in Indiana, and the company expects to add another 50 in the coming year.
The new facility, located at 7310 Innovation Blvd., brings Riverside’s operations together under one roof after previously operating from four separate locations. Formerly located in multiple buildings in Huntertown, the new centralized headquarters is designed to enhance collaboration across teams, improve operational efficiencies and support the company’s continued growth while strengthening its culture and ability to serve customers, according to a company announcement.
Founded in Michigan in 1947, Riverside has grown into a nationally recognized engineering and manufacturing company specializing in custom products for harsh environments, including printed circuit board assembly, electronics assembly, plastic injection molding, metal fabrication and instrumentation. After relocating to Indiana, the company established its Huntertown headquarters in 2003, growing from a single building into a multi-building campus.
After nearly 80 years in business, the move to Innovation Boulevard marks Riverside’s next chapter as it continues investing in advanced manufacturing, engineering capabilities and long-term growth in Northeast Indiana.
“Today’s ribbon cutting represents an exciting new chapter for Riverside,” said Fred Merritt, CEO of Riverside Mfg., LLC, in the announcement. “Bringing our operations together creates new opportunities for collaboration, strengthens the way we serve our customers, and provides the space we need to continue growing. This facility reflects our commitment to investing in our employees, advancing our manufacturing capabilities and building on nearly 80 years of engineering and manufacturing excellence.”
The new headquarters supports Riverside’s continued growth across a diverse range of industries, including defense, aerospace, industrial automation, medical equipment, marine, telematics and data centers. By housing engineering, manufacturing and customer support teams in one location, the company is better positioned to foster innovation, streamline operations and meet customers’ evolving needs.
Riverside used a $200,000 Manufacturing Readiness Grant awarded in 2022 to support a $5.2 million investment in next-gen technology and automation, according to Conexus Indiana. At the time, Riverside had 300 employees, 200 of those in Fort Wayne.
“The opening of this facility reflects how far Riverside has come and where we’re headed,” Kent Rice, president of Riverside Mfg., LLC, said in the announcement. “From our beginnings in 1947 to our growth here in Northeast Indiana, we’ve continued to evolve to meet our customers’ needs. This new facility positions us to work more efficiently, strengthen collaboration across our teams and support the next phase of Riverside’s growth.”