Manufacturing Day: Top 5 Products Made in Wabash County, Indiana

Careers in the manufacturing industry are often associated with humdrum routine work in potentially hazardous environments, but today, it’s more commonly understood that manufacturing involves a lot more than that. Manufacturers use their problem-solving skills and creativity and utilize the latest ideas and technologies to invent new and improved products.

Wabash County is home to manufacturing companies that use advanced technologies and raw materials to produce unique and widely used goods. Kicking off on Manufacturing Day — Friday, October 6 —  and continuing throughout the month, we at Grow Wabash County celebrate these companies’ employment opportunities and innovations that grow our economy.

Modern Manufacturing

Manufacturing Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions nationwide to open their doors to students, parents, teachers, and community leaders. Manufacturing careers are full of opportunities for exciting endeavors, personal advancement and stability.

“There’s no such thing as a low-skilled job in manufacturing anymore,” NAM Chief Economist Chad Moutray said in a 2023 Industry Outlook article for Manufacturing Dive.

Today’s typical manufacturing roles incorporate the latest technology like artificial intelligence, cloud computing and robotics into existing processes, quality control and problem-solving techniques. Additionally, sustainability is quickly becoming a focused aspect of manufacturing as companies seek to find ways to produce customary items in manners that coexist positively with their natural environment. 

Wabash County has Numerous Benefits for Manufacturing Companies.

Wabash County offers several advantages to national and global manufacturing companies. Among them are infrastructure assets such as its central location. Robust transportation access in Wabash County allows businesses to receive raw materials and ship finished products quickly and efficiently to and from major markets throughout the country. This includes convenient access to US Highway 24 and three airports: The Wabash Municipal Airport, The Grissom Aeroplex, and The Fort Wayne International Airport. Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan connects Wabash County to the St. Lawrence Seaway, and Ohio River ports at Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville connect our area to the U.S. Inland Waterway System. Wabash County manufacturers also have the option to ship via Norfolk Southern Rail.

Sites and buildings are available for manufacturing companies looking to expand. Here, businesses have the room they need to grow, and local economic developers are available to make it easy to find the perfect location. In some instances, financial incentives make the move an even better investment. 
Wabash County’s workforce is plentiful, drawing on a large labor force. Additionally, workers possess skills applicable to the manufacturing industry, while employers can benefit from various regional workforce training programs.

Leaders in Wabash County, Indiana

Many manufacturers have realized success due to the favorable economic environment in Wabash County. These manufacturers are leaders in combining the latest technology and good workplace practices to produce high-quality products and consistently innovate to progress their industries. Grow Wabash County is proud that these companies have made their home here. Check out these 5 popular products manufactured in Wabash County!

1. Every bottle of 5-Hour Energy™ is manufactured by Living Essentials in Wabash County. The company is one of the largest employers in the area.
2. The MPS Egg Farms company produces eggs at their North Manchester location and delivers them to food distributors, grocers, and food service businesses nationwide.
3. You’ve probably seen water meter boxes on sidewalks across the U.S. with the Ford Meter Box logo. The Ford Meter Box Company has produced these familiar waterworks products in the City of Wabash for over 100 years.
4. Precision Medical Technologies is a leading manufacturer of orthopedic implants and surgical instruments with three Indiana locations including one in North Manchester, making Wabash County and Northeast Indiana the Orthopedic Capital of the World.
5. Bulldog industrial batteries in electric forklifts, pallet jacks, and other industrial equipment are manufactured in Wabash and recognized across the world. The Bulldog Battery Corporation has been producing these batteries since 1977.

Indiana is a State for Manufacturing Growth 

Manufacturing’s importance in Wabash County and throughout Indiana comes from its stability and growth, ultimately creating jobs and economic opportunities for local communities. Manufacturing contributes over $104.73 billion to the Gross State Product annually, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Other significant 2022 data includes:

• $40.34 billion in exported manufacturing goods
• 17.51 percent of the Indiana workforce employed in the Indiana manufacturing industry
• Average annual compensation of $86,052.88.

Showcase your Manufacturing Operation in Wabash County

Manufacturing Day offers a time for manufacturers to help community members learn more about the inner workings of your company. Local businesses can use the Manufacturing Institute’s toolkit to assist in the development and implementation of a Manufacturing Day event for Wabash County’s future workforce. Give us a call at (260) 563-5258 or email us at info@growwabashcounty.com for more details about manufacturing careers and programs in Wabash County.