The National Road: Indiana's First Competitive Advantage

When Congress authorized the National Road in 1806, it became the first federally funded highway in American history.

By the time it reached Indiana in the 1830s, communities along the route experienced rapid commercial growth as goods, raw materials, and settlers moved west.

Before the railroad era, the National Road connected Indiana manufacturers to eastern markets while giving businesses access to the expanding American frontier. Many of Indiana's earliest industrial centers developed along this transportation corridor, establishing the state as a gateway between the East and the growing Midwest.

Where America Got Its Steel

Northwest Indiana became one of the country's most important steel-producing regions after U.S. Steel opened Gary Works in 1908.

More than a century later, Gary Works remains the largest integrated steel mill in North America.

Along with neighboring mills in East Chicago and Burns Harbor, Northwest Indiana produces roughly one out of every six tons of steel made in the United States.

Steel from the region has been used in automobiles, appliances, commercial buildings, pipelines, bridges, rail infrastructure, and countless manufacturing facilities across the country.

Indiana didn't simply manufacture steel—it became one of the places America depended on to build itself.

The Studebaker Legacy of Hoosier Innovation

Founded in South Bend in 1852, Studebaker evolved from building horse-drawn wagons into one of America's earliest automobile manufacturers.

In 1902, it introduced an electric vehicle—decades before electric cars entered the mainstream conversation.

During both World Wars, Studebaker shifted production to manufacture military trucks, engines, and other critical equipment, showcasing the flexibility and capability that would become synonymous with Indiana manufacturing.

Indiana and the Arsenal of Democracy

During World War II, Indiana manufacturers shifted rapidly from civilian production to military manufacturing.

Studebaker built military trucks and engines, Allison Engine Company in Indianapolis produced thousands of aircraft engines for Allied fighters, and factories across the state manufactured ammunition, steel, and precision components that supported the war effort.

The Allison V-1710 was the only American-designed liquid-cooled aircraft engine produced in large quantities during World War II. More than 70,000 were built, powering the majority of U.S. Army fighter aircraft throughout the war.

Indiana's ability to rapidly convert its industrial capacity made it an important contributor to what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the "Arsenal of Democracy."

The Crossroads of America

Indiana's nickname, The Crossroads of America, is more than a slogan—it's a reflection of the state's role in the nation's supply chain.

Interstates 64, 65, 69, 70, 74, 80, and 90 intersect the state, connecting manufacturers to markets in every direction.

Combined with one of the nation's largest freight rail systems, ports on both Lake Michigan and the Ohio River, and multiple air cargo facilities, Indiana has developed one of the country's most efficient multimodal transportation networks.

This connectivity allows manufacturers to move raw materials in, ship finished products out, and reach much of the U.S. market within a day's drive—one of the reasons Indiana continues to attract manufacturers, distributors, and logistics providers.

America's Manufacturing Leader

Manufacturing isn't simply part of Indiana's economy—it's the foundation of it.

According to the Indiana Business Research Center, manufacturing accounted for approximately 27% of Indiana's Gross State Product in 2025, the highest share of any U.S. state. That same year, Indiana exported a record $68.8 billion in goods, supporting an estimated 187,000 export-related jobs.

Today, Indiana manufacturers produce everything from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to automotive components, aerospace systems, food products, heavy equipment, steel, and industrial safety solutions. That diversity has allowed the state to remain resilient while supplying products used across the United States and around the world.

Built Here. Used Everywhere.

Indiana is home to manufacturers whose products are used every day around the world.

Companies including Cummins, Eli Lilly, Zimmer Biomet, Cook Medical, Steel Dynamics, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, and Rolls-Royce produce everything from diesel engines and pharmaceuticals to orthopedic implants, aircraft engines, automobiles, and specialty steel.

Kattsafe is proud to continue that tradition. From our headquarters in Whitestown, we design and manufacture American-made height access and fall protection systems that help protect workers on commercial and industrial facilities throughout North America.

Continuing Indiana's Legacy

Headquartered in Whitestown, IN, Kattsafe is proud to be part of Indiana's manufacturing legacy.

We design and manufacture American-made height access and fall protection systems that help protect workers maintaining the factories, warehouses, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities that keep America's economy moving.

Just as generations of Indiana manufacturers helped build the nation's infrastructure, we're committed to building products that protect the people who maintain it.

As Indiana continues shaping the future of American manufacturing, we're honored to play a small part in writing its next chapter.