Ahaus and the Richmond, Indiana Community

For over 75 years, Ahaus Tool and Engineering has been providing customers around the world with machining, workholding, and engineering crafted with the commitment, quality, and integrity that could only come from Richmond, Indiana. The success of Ahaus is only possible with a strong and engaged community – a community into which we are proud to pour ourselves, both as individuals and as a business. When we say, “built for good,” no devotion to that sentiment is more important than with the Richmond community we call home.

Our commitment to Richmond starts inside the walls of our 74,000 sq ft headquarters. Our people are our most valuable resource, and we are proud of our reputation for developing our team members, from apprentices to managers. We empower our employees at all levels to further their education and encourage taking advantage of opportunities for growth. Ahaus’s nationally recognized apprenticeship program is the gold standard for employee development inside and outside our industry. Our apprentices receive on-the-job training as well as formal education through our partnership with Purdue University College of Technology and Ivy Tech Community College. Getting your start in our apprenticeship program is a great first step in a lasting career at Ahaus, a career that can positively impact Richmond families for a lifetime. Inside Ahaus today you will find team members with experience that ranges from high school co-op students to over 40 years in the manufacturing industry, spanning three generations.

We don’t just want to be a great place to work for our employees. We want our employees’ families to feel like a part of Ahaus, too. We love to involve our extended Ahaus family in events and activities throughout the year and work hard to have a positive impact on their lives. We are known for our employee breakfasts and barbeques, pitch-ins, summer games, company outings, and shared hobbies that range from car building to winemaking to furniture restoration to cycling. Our families also experience the benefit of a supportive, family-first work environment that includes full benefits, flexible start times, first shift hours, generous paid time off, and paid holidays. Ahaus routinely facilitates opportunities for all employees to get involved in volunteering and community outreach, expanding our impact even further. It’s no surprise why our people may stay here for more than 40 years.

It would be easy for some businesses to stop there, but not for Ahaus. We have always felt a strong connection to our local community, going all the way back to our humble garage beginnings. Giving back to Richmond is not just an annual to-do item to check off.

Education is one of our core values that extends beyond our employee training. Over the years, Ahaus has had a significant impact on the community through meaningful contributions both financially and through the time and talents of our people. Past President and current Chairman of the Board Rick Ahaus continues his work in education through Every Child Can Read, the Third Grade Reading Academy, and K-Ready literacy programs. Current President Kevin Ahaus has devoted countless hours to manufacturing education and higher education through Ivy Tech Community College, where the machine tool lab bears our name and where Kevin currently serves on the statewide Foundation Board and is a past Chair. Vice President Jeff Sheridan is the current chair of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County. Ahaus sponsors youth robotics with Girls Inc. as an effort to encourage teamwork, creative problem solving, and STEM skills for young women in our region. Other team members are board members and volunteers in local schools and various other not-for-profit organizations, including the United Way, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and Richmond Civic Theatre.

“Our purpose of ‘helping people achieve new and better possibilities’ has given Ahaus clearer focus on those things that help our customers and team members, as well as our community. From a community standpoint, Ahaus leaders have had a long history of being involved in local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Ivy Tech Community College, Boys and Girls Clubs, Richmond Civic Theatre, Every Child Can Read, and many more. We have realized that many other Ahaus team members are involved in dozens of local activities and organizations and we continue to encouraged them to be involved. Ahaus has also made significant financial contributions to many of these organizations to help move their causes forward. The involvement and financial support help this whole community to reach new and better possibilities which is so important to improve the place where we all live, but also to make sure the community can develop and attract great Ahaus team members for generations to come,” says Sheridan.

One of our most important contributions is through our annual donation to the Indiana University Cancer Research Center in honor of all of our clients, families, and friends who have battled cancer or have watched as a loved one battled the disease. The center’s mission is to advance the understanding, prevention, and treatment of cancer throughout Indiana and the world with patient-centered care, acceleration of promising science, and collaborative educational programs.

“I am very proud of our sponsorships whether it is a youth sports team, local event/concert or play.  Many of our team members and family members participate in local events and enjoy the different activities around our community.  The more we support our community, the more it will support us and be a great place to live,” says Kevin Ahaus.

From president to apprentice, giving back to the community is part of who we are. We hope our efforts have a direct and lasting effect on our community and that our example inspires others to get involved. We believe in the greater Richmond area. We believe it is our responsibility to be engaged in the places where our team members live. And we believe in upholding our commitment through actions that promote education, teamwork, creativity, and innovation.

Ahaus. Built for our people. Built for our community. Built for good.