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Ace Wire Spring & Form Celebrates 85 Years in Business

February 20, 2024
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ace-wire-spring-and-form-froehlich-familyCelebrating 85 yr. in the custom spring-manufacturing industry, Ace Wire Spring & Form Co., Inc. has maintained its legacy as a family-owned and operated business. Founded by Joseph Vodvarka in 1939, the company has remained closely tied to its roots in the community of McKees Rocks, just outside Pittsburgh, PA.

Originally aspiring to be a professional tenor, Joseph Vodvarka pivoted to become a machinist in 1939, foreseeing the potential risks associated with relying solely on a singing career. Starting with a small coiling machine, he initiated Ace Wire Spring & Form by crafting garter springs by hand in a converted upstairs room of his house, which doubled as his office. Vodvarka's garage served as his workshop, allowing him not only to sustain his family but also impart valuable knowledge about the spring-manufacturing industry to his loved ones.

As the business expanded, a new facility was built in 1955 to accommodate the company's growth. Vodvarka, alongside his children Joey and Linda, continued to play pivotal roles in the family business, increasing its clientele and staff.

In 1976, Vodvarka retired, prompting the sale of the company. Linda Vodvarka and her husband Richard D. Froehlich acquired Ace Wire Spring & Form, preserving its status as a family-owned and operated business.   The Froehlichs, staunch advocates of family values, embedded this ethos into the Ace culture, ensuring personalized customer service, engineering support, and high-quality products tailored to customer needs.

The commitment to family values led to another expansion in 1986, with the construction of a new 55,000-sq.-ft. facility in the local community. This dedication to the community fostered long-term employee retention, with many staff members dedicating more than two decades to the company. The pride and passion invested by the employees are evident in the custom spring and wire form products they produce.

Linda Froehlich emphasizes the importance of customer communication: "Design engineers are available to help any customer with a problem, usually talking with them to find out what the exact need is."

Rich Froehlich, echoing his father-in-law's teachings, instills the three Ps of business—Passion, Perseverance and Persistence. This guiding philosophy has propelled Ace over the past 85 yr., and now is carried forward by its president, Ritchy Froehlich, and his son RJ, who joined the family business in 2023.

Linda Froehlich adds, "We have a first-class team of onsite engineers to assist customers with developing solutions for a variety of applications, along with an onsite quality control staff."  Ace employees are trained in the latest mechanical and CNC wire forming machines and techniques, amassing more than 100 yr. of collective experience in the industry.

Expressing gratitude, the Froehlichs conclude: "Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. would like to thank all of its customers and vendors for making it possible for us to celebrate being in business for 85 yr. We look forward to the next 85, where it’s always ‘SPRINGtime.’"

In Memoriam - Richard D. Froehlich (1946-2022)

Industry-Related Terms: CNC, Form, Forming
View Glossary of Metalforming Terms

Technologies: Management, Other Processes

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