In a decisive move to enhance manufacturing prowess, northern Indiana’s American Elkhart announces our acquisition of Harman Tool & Die.

This purchase extends beyond a mere merger of facilities — it’s the fusing of rich histories, deep industry knowledge and a shared vision for growth and innovation in the extrusion sector.

“After years of working together and realizing the great work Harman Tool & Die does, I decided to acquire the company and blend the two,” American Elkhart owner Brad Everett said.

“This helps to support our future growth and streamline operations to the point of playing with the big boys.”

The Legacy of Harman Tool & Die

Operating with a toolmaker’s precision and an entrepreneur’s drive, Jim Harman founded Harman Tool & Die (formerly known as Harman Machine & Engineering) in 2001. With a background in extrusion tooling, Harmon’s company was born out of a need to stand out in a crowded field of regional machine shops by specializing in distinct offerings, from special machines to stamping dies.

Over the past two decades, Harman Tool & Die has carved out a niche in building extrusion tooling for an extensive range of plastics and other materials such as inline saws, plastic cut-offs and proprietary open-water tanks for flexible PVCs, TPEs and more.

A Union Born from a Long-Term Partnership

The relationship between American Elkhart and Harman Tool & Die was cultivated on mutual respect and collaboration, as American Elkhart was a long-term customer of the machine shop.

“I thought they were a good, strong company that had a lot of growth potential,” Harman said. “American Elkhart was a customer that we got along great with; it made it a good fit.”

This bond laid the groundwork for a seamless transition when Harman decided to sell the company to Everett in December 2021.

Synergistic Capabilities

Harman Tool & Die’s arsenal of machinery, including three Agie Charmilles wire EDMs, multiple machining centers, CNC lathes and grinders, empowers American Elkhart with nearly unlimited extrusion capabilities.

The merger means Harman Tool & Die can now pre-tune tooling specifically for American Elkhart's customers. This synergy encompasses the broad knowledge gained from Harman’s years on the extrusion side of the business, allowing for innovative adaptation to meet complex customer needs.

Impact on American Elkhart’s Customers

For American Elkhart, this acquisition signifies a large leap forward. With Harman Tool & Die’s capabilities integrated into its operations, American Elkhart can now offer end-to-end solutions to our customers. The ability to pre-tune tooling in-house means a dramatic reduction in lead times, a higher degree of customization and a controlled, quality-assured process that aligns with our clients’ needs.

This new chapter for American Elkhart and Harman Tool & Die is one of a shared vision and collective expertise, promising a future of innovative solution and continued growth for American Elkhart customers.

Have a question about your project? Connect with us today to learn more about our extrusion solutions!