About three years ago, Modern Drop Forge (MDF) announced plans to leave its Blue Island facility in Illinois, where it had operated for nearly a century, in favor of a new plant in Merrillville, Ind. MDF CEO Greg Heim cited a better business climate in Indiana as the main reason for the move. The Merrillville operation, which represents an investment of more than $35 million, recently commenced operations. The new plant houses much of the equipment from the Blue Island facility and includes eight presses, business and engineering offices, and a die shop. MDF serves the aerospace, oil & gas, automotive, off-road and mining equipment, defense and other markets. A heat-treating operation is expected to open in this facility in early 2015.