ADF Engineering Secures Strategic Partnership to Fuel Tech-Driven Growth

MIAMISBURG, OH – May 20, 2026 – ADF Engineering, a Miamisburg-based multidisciplinary engineering firm, today announced a significant strategic partnership with Heartland Growth Partners, a Columbus private investment firm. The deal is poised to inject new capital and advanced technological capabilities into ADF, enabling the firm to expand its services for industrial and manufacturing clients across North America.

ADF Engineering will continue to operate under its current brand and leadership, with President Alex Fishman and Vice President of Operations Rakesh Patel remaining at the helm. The partnership aims to build on ADF's two-decade legacy of providing critical engineering solutions while positioning it for a new era of growth.

A Partnership Built on Growth and Expertise

Founded in 2003, ADF Engineering has carved out a niche as a trusted partner for complex industrial projects, serving Fortune 100 manufacturers in sectors like food, feed, and consumer products. The firm's multidisciplinary model, which integrates everything from process and structural engineering to automation and construction management, has made it a go-to for clients who require technical precision and operational know-how.

According to company leadership, the partnership directly addresses client requests for increased capacity and broader support. "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," said Alex Fishman, President of ADF. "This partnership reflects what our clients have been asking for: greater capacity, broader support, and a firm positioned to grow alongside their operations."

Heartland Growth Partners brings more than just capital to the table. The firm, which emerged from the $100 million venture capital firm Heartland Ventures, employs a unique model backed by a network of industrial owner-operators. This approach provides portfolio companies with practical operating guidance and strategic insights, focusing on long-term growth rather than short-term cost-cutting.

"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," said Max Brickman, Founding Partner of Heartland. "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."

This sentiment was echoed by ADF's operations leadership, who see the investment as a critical enabler for enhancing service delivery. "Clients turn to ADF when the work is complex, time-sensitive, and critical to keeping their operations moving," said Rakesh Patel, Vice President of Operations. "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."

Integrating Technology into Industrial Foundations

A central pillar of the partnership is the plan to accelerate the integration of advanced technology into ADF’s service offerings. Heartland intends to leverage its deep experience with automation, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial software, and data-enabled tools to enhance ADF's project delivery and improve operating performance for its clients.

This move aligns with the sweeping digital transformation known as Industry 4.0, which is reshaping the manufacturing landscape. In modern industrial engineering, AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a practical tool used to optimize complex processes, predict design flaws, and automate repetitive tasks, leading to significant gains in efficiency and reductions in downtime. Technologies like digital twins—virtual replicas of physical facilities—allow engineers to simulate and test changes before implementation, de-risking major capital projects and optimizing performance.

Heartland's background gives it a distinct advantage in this domain. Its venture capital arm, Heartland Ventures, has a portfolio rich with startups developing technology for logistics, manufacturing, and construction. This provides a direct line of sight into cutting-edge solutions and a proven methodology for deploying them in legacy industrial environments. The goal is to equip ADF's seasoned engineers with next-generation tools, enabling them to design smarter, more efficient, and more resilient facilities for clients grappling with challenges like supply chain volatility and the need for flexible automation.

A Midwest Powerhouse with a National Vision

The partnership is also a story of regional strength, with both ADF Engineering and Heartland Growth Partners rooted in Ohio's industrial heartland. This shared geographic and cultural foundation provides a unique synergy, combining ADF's on-the-ground engineering expertise with Heartland's strategic investment focus, which is deeply connected to the Midwest's network of business owners and operators.

This collaboration reflects a broader trend of economic revitalization in the region, which is increasingly being recognized as a central hub for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and technology innovation. By connecting global technology trends with the practical needs of Midwestern industrial companies, Heartland has cultivated an ecosystem that fosters growth and modernization. The partnership with ADF is a prime example of this model in action, creating a powerful entity poised to serve a national client base from its Ohio headquarters.

For ADF's clients, many of whom are major players in the push for reshoring and building more resilient domestic supply chains, this partnership signals a commitment to long-term stability and innovation. The ability to scale operations and adopt new technologies quickly will be crucial as manufacturers continue to invest in upgrading and expanding their North American facilities.

The Evolving Role of Private Equity in Industrial Services

This deal also highlights a significant trend in the investment world: the growing interest of private equity in the industrial services sector. The U.S. industrial services market has seen explosive growth, driven by post-pandemic rebounds, federal infrastructure spending, and the ongoing need for specialized expertise in maintaining and upgrading critical facilities.

The sector's fragmented nature and recurring revenue streams make it an attractive target for firms like Heartland Growth Partners. However, Heartland's approach differs from the traditional private equity playbook. Instead of focusing primarily on financial engineering and cost reduction, its "operator-led" model emphasizes strategic growth by leveraging deep industry knowledge and fostering technological adoption. This collaborative method is often better suited for knowledge-based businesses like ADF, where culture and technical expertise are the primary assets.

The demand for skilled industrial engineers is projected to grow significantly faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade. This talent-driven market requires a forward-thinking approach to investment—one that values and invests in people, systems, and culture. By backing ADF's existing leadership and providing the resources for expansion, Heartland is betting on a model of empowerment and enhancement, positioning ADF to not only meet but anticipate the evolving needs of the modern industrial world. The fusion of ADF's proven engineering excellence with Heartland's strategic resources and technological foresight creates a formidable competitor in the specialized engineering landscape.