Rada Manufacturing
{{Short description|Cutlery company in Iowa}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Rada Manufacturing Co.
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_caption =
| image = Rada Manufacturing Building.jpg
| image_caption = Rada Manufacturing building
| location = Waverly, Iowa
| products = Knives & kitchen utensils
| services = Fundraising, Independent Sales, Personal Sales
| owner = Family owned
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Phil Jones, President|Gary Nelson, CEO}}
| num_employees_year = 2019
| homepage = {{URL|RadaCutlery.com}}
}}
File:Rada Cutlery Tomato Slicer.jpg
Rada Manufacturing is a manufacturer located in Waverly, Iowa. It is the maker of Rada Cutlery. The company has been manufacturing American-made cutlery since being founded in 1948 and manufactures their products 100% in the USA. They are known for the solid aluminum handles on their cutlery, their lifetime guarantee, and for their aid to fundraisers for over 70 years.
{{As of|2020}}, Gary Nelson is chairman and CEO, and Phil Jones is president.{{Cite web |last=DIMITROVA |first=ANELIA K. |date=2020-06-24 |title=Jones takes over as Rada’s president |url=https://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/waverly_newspapers/jones-takes-over-as-rada-s-president/article_e7d720c0-4ef9-5cb6-b4e3-be8b223ffb18.html |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Community Newspaper Group |language=en}}
History
Rada Cutlery was first produced in 1948,{{Cite web |title=About Rada Cutlery {{!}} Knife Manufacturer {{!}} Rada Cutlery |url=https://www.radacutlery.com/about/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |language=en-US}} using surplus military knife blades then available at a fraction of their value. Early on, Rada utilized various buildings to meet their needs. One was a fortified military radar base used to monitor air space during the Cold War.{{cite web |url=https://wcfcourier.com/news/regional/abandoned-waverly-air-base-caught-in-federal-red-tape/article_d7f07c7d-aa70-5a05-8efc-a76a71bb0a1b.html |title=Abandoned Waverly Air Base caught in federal red tape |publisher=WCF Courier |access-date=4 January 2025}} In 1969, manufacturing operations moved to the current facility in Waverly, Iowa which has since been expanded.{{Cite web |last=Milone |first=Andy |date=2023-09-01 |title=Waverly's Rada Cutlery marks 75 years of growth in the kitchen knife business |url=https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/business/rada-cutlery-marks-75-years-kitchen-knives/article_f6b38d82-24ea-11ee-982a-9b93b7f08395.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Courier |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/5072717Z:US|title=Rada Manufacturing Co - Company Profile and News|website=Bloomberg}}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/waverly_newspapers/lt-gov-gregg-impressed-with-rada-operation/article_1c1324ed-a0c8-5d2c-9334-d6d58068b631.html|title=Lt. Gov. Gregg impressed with Rada operation|first=Eric|last=Vansickle|website=Waverly Newspapers|date=November 13, 2019|url-access=subscription|quote=The cutlery maker has a steady workforce of nearly 100 employees from about a 25-mile radius to the east, west and north of Waverly who have been with the company for decades. ... The success of Rada attracted attention of Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, who visited the plant in the northwest quadrant of the Bremer County seat on Tuesday afternoon. ... The lieutenant governor said among the number of things that impressed him throughout the tour, where he saw how Rada's knives and other utensils are made, is the people who are part of the workforce. "Employing about 100 people, that means opportunity for the folks here in this area," Gregg said. "I was impressed by the quality that was done through a lot of, frankly, work that was done by hand, and some of it goes beyond just workmanship, but it's artistic."}}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-charisma-connection-29650555/episode/rada-manufacturing-helps-church-fundraisers-with-29687976/|title=Rada Manufacturing Helps Church Fundraisers with Cutlery Gifts|website=iHeartRadio|date=February 28, 2018}}
{{Cite web|url=https://wcfcourier.com/business/local/phil-jones-takes-over-as-president-at-waverlys-rada-mfg/article_2e69baa9-723b-5a0b-b865-daeb4991c6be.html|title=Phil Jones takes over as president at Waverly's Rada Mfg.|website=The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier|date=June 20, 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622084743/https://wcfcourier.com/business/local/phil-jones-takes-over-as-president-at-waverlys-rada-mfg/article_2e69baa9-723b-5a0b-b865-daeb4991c6be.html|archive-date=June 22, 2020}}
}}