Our History
1916-1940s
Ottenweller Company Begins
Founding: The Ottenweller Company was founded in 1916 by Ed Ottenweller as a blacksmith and iron repair shop in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana.
World War II Era: Production was focused on truck parts for International Harvester and components for General Electric to support America’s war effort.
Post-War: Leadership passed to Ed’s son, Nelson. Production focus shifted toward supplying components for the construction industry.
1950s-1980s
3rd Generation Ownership
1950s RV Boom: Ottenweller produced and installed countless trailer hitches on cars and trucks for local travelers.
1984: The company built and moved into a new 15,000 sq ft facility on Congressional Road in Fort Wayne to accomodate its 75 employees.
1985: Leadership transitioned to the third generation when Michael Ottenweller became president. His sister, Nancy, took on leadership of finance and human resources, while his brother, Gary, led the sales department.
Late 1980s: The third generation began investing heavily in new technology, positioning the company to partner with original equipment manufacturers across the Midwest.
1990s-2000s
Growth to Fortune 500 Companies
1990s: As the company grew, the third generation secured OCI’s first Fortune 500 contracts with John Deere and Caterpillar, allowing the company to invest even more in new technology, advanced equipment, and automation.
2003: Building 2 was constructed on the Fort Wayne campus to house new employees and operations.
2005
Mount Airy Facility Opened
2005: Ottenweller added a second location in Mount Airy, North Carolina to better serve the Southeastern US markets. With the addition of this new location, OCI had 200+ employees on staft.
2005-2020
4th Generation Enters Business
2005: David Ottenweller (Michael’s son) and Kevin Dwire (Nancy’s son) started training in various disciplines within the business before moving into executive management roles in the 2010s.
2016: The Otenweller Company celebrated its 100th anniversary and was celebrated by the governor of Indiana for their commitment and job creation in the state.
2019: David and Kevin finalized a transfer of majority ownership from the third to fourth generations and remained focused on investing in technology and automation.
2020-Present
Investing in the Future
The Ottenweller Company remains committed to staying at the forefront of modern technology throughout both of its plants. From machining centers, laser cutters, and our state-of-the art paint line to one of the largest welding robots in Indiana, Ottenweller strives to be a leader in manutacturing large, complex metal fabrications. Two locations. One standard.
