When Applied Innovation opened its newest location in Fishers, Indiana, earlier this year, it wasn’t just about expanding a business — it was about deepening a legacy. Founded in 1987, the company began as a facsimile dealer and has since evolved into a comprehensive provider of technology solutions. Now led by second-generation President Casey Lowery, Applied Innovation continues to reinvent itself to remain relevant in a rapidly changing business landscape.
“We started as a fax machine company,” Lowery said. “But over time, we moved into imaging, then automation, and eventually technology services. That adaptability has kept us going for 38 years.”
Applied’s business now rests on three core pillars: imaging, automation and technology. The imaging division encompasses a range of services, including digital printing and managed print services, as well as specialized capabilities such as wide-format and flatbed printing. Its automation services help clients streamline operations by digitizing paper-based workflows. And in the ever-expanding technology space, the company offers managed IT services “from the server room to the cell phone,” as Lowery said.
In recent years, Applied Innovation has expanded into adjacent service areas, including document shredding and medical waste disposal. This strategic diversification ensures the company remains a one-stop solution for the modern office environment.
The Fishers location at 10080 E. 121st St., Suite 133, represents a significant step into the Indianapolis metropolitan market. With other branches in Michigan, Ohio and Florida, Fishers was a natural fit. “We’ve known Fishers was a growing, vibrant market,” Lowery said. “It’s also centrally located, which makes logistics and distribution easier between our other facilities.”
Currently staffed by 8 to 10 team members, the Fishers office is already becoming deeply embedded in the local community — something Applied Innovation not only prioritizes but cherishes as an integral part of its operations.
That commitment to community is part of what Lowery refers to as the company’s “Applied Chemistry.” Born out of a companywide effort to define its culture, Applied Chemistry encompasses 12 Elements of Success, such as creativity, service, family, fun and humility. These values aren’t just internal jargon. They’re lived every day across its 575 employees.
“Our culture started organically, but we’ve been intentional about it,” Lowery said. “We even built our own version of the periodic table based on employee feedback. Someone jokingly called it ‘Applied Chemistry’ — and it stuck.”
The company doesn’t just talk about culture; it backs it up with action. For the company’s 25th anniversary, it launched a volunteer initiative that challenges every employee to contribute 19 hours of community service annually on company time. That tradition has evolved into quarterly challenges that encourage teams across departments and regions to collaborate on volunteer efforts, fostering both internal unity and external impact. The winning team selects a charity to receive a corporate donation.
Despite its growth and innovation, maintaining a family-owned and independent status remains a key priority. “We feel a strong sense of responsibility to the families who helped build this business,” Lowery said. “Remaining independent is how we protect that legacy.”
Lowery officially took over as president in October 2023, but his involvement dates back to 2006. His father, the company’s founder, remains actively involved, especially in the technology and automation divisions. That continuity between generations reflects a broader ethos at Applied: honoring the past, innovating for the future and always serving with purpose.
