ADF Engineering announced a strategic growth partnership with Heartland Growth Partners, a private investment firm backed by owner-operators of industrial companies. The partnership is designed to expand ADF’s ability to support clients with increasingly complex facility and process needs across North America.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Miamisburg, ADF Engineering has built a reputation for supporting industrial and manufacturing facilities where technical precision, operational speed, safety, and practical expertise are essential. The company provides multidisciplinary engineering and consulting services across process, structural, automation, electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, safety, construction management, and related disciplines.
ADF will continue operating under its existing brand and leadership structure. Alex Fishman will remain President, while Rakesh Patel will continue serving as Vice President of Operations.
The partnership gives ADF access to strategic capital and Heartland’s network of industrial operators, which the companies say will help drive growth opportunities, operational improvements, and expanded technical capabilities. ADF also plans to leverage Heartland’s expertise in automation, artificial intelligence, industrial software, and data-enabled tools to improve project delivery and operational performance for clients.
Heartland Growth Partners, based in Columbus, was formed out of Heartland Ventures, a $100 million venture capital firm centered around a Midwest-based network of business owners and operators. The firm focuses on majority investments in industrial businesses across industrial services, manufacturing, and related sectors.
Support: Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP and Plante & Moran advised Heartland on the transaction, while Baird’s Business Owner Solutions team advised ADF.
KEY QUOTES:
“ADF is exactly the type of business Heartland Growth Partners was built to partner with: a technically strong team solving complex, practical problems for industrial customers. We believe Heartland’s network of operators, technology insights, and growth resources can help the ADF team expand capabilities while preserving the client-first culture that has made the business successful.”
Max Brickman, Founding Partner, Heartland Growth Partners
“ADF has always grown by listening closely to our clients and building the technical capabilities required to solve their most important facility and process challenges. This partnership reflects what our clients have been asking for: greater capacity, broader support, and a firm positioned to grow alongside their operations. With Heartland, we have a partner that understands industrial businesses, values our team and culture, and can help us pursue new growth opportunities and continue building ADF for the long term.”
Alex Fishman, President, ADF Engineering
“Clients turn to ADF when the work is complex, time-sensitive, and critical to keeping their operations moving. Heartland’s support gives us the ability to better invest in the people, systems, and execution capabilities that help us deliver with speed, precision, and confidence as we grow.”
Rakesh Patel, Vice President of Operations, ADF Engineering
