Ace Wire Spring and Form

Last updated
Ace Wire Spring & Form Co., Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1939
FounderRichard Froehlich
Headquarters McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, United States
ProductsCompression springs, extension springs, torsion springs, custom wire forms
ServicesCustom spring and wire form manufacturing
Website www.acewirespring.com

Ace Wire Spring & Form Co., Inc. is an American manufacturer of springs and wire forms headquartered in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. Established in 1939, the company provides components for industries such as power generation, medical equipment, trailers, conveyor systems, and material handling. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. was founded in 1939 by Richard D. Froehlich, initially serving local businesses in Pittsburgh's industrial sector. [3] The company expanded through the mid-20th century alongside growth in the steel and manufacturing industries in western Pennsylvania.

In 1996, U.S. Senator Bob Dole visited the facility during his presidential campaign, highlighting Ace as an example of American manufacturing. [4] [5] [6]

The company was recognized by the *Pittsburgh Business Times* as a Family Business Award winner in 2015. [7]

Ace marked its 80th anniversary in 2019 [8] and its 85th in 2024. [9] [10]

In the 1990s, Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. was cited as a case study in engineering and entrepreneurship literature for its development of the "SuperClip", a patented oversized paperclip design. The company’s design and manufacturing approach is discussed in Henry Petroski’s *Invention by Design: How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing* (Harvard University Press, 1996), in Howard H. Stevenson and David E. Gumpert’s *Entrepreneurship in Action* (McGraw-Hill, 2003), and was profiled in E. O. Welles’ article “Clipped” in *Inc.* magazine (December 1997). [11] [12] [13]

Operations

Ace Wire Spring & Form manufactures compression, extension, and torsion springs (see Spring (device)) and custom wire forms for industrial and commercial applications. Its products are used across sectors including power generation, aerospace, medical equipment, conveyor systems, and transportation industries.

Its products are used across sectors including power generation, aerospace, medical equipment, conveyor and material handling, and transportation industries. [14]

Recognition

In 2015 and 2017, Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. received Family Business Awards from the Pittsburgh Business Times. [15] [16]

In 2019, engineering assistant Julie Bruno was included in MetalForming Magazine’s Women of Excellence in Metal Forming & Fabricating awards. [17]

Company leadership had previously appeared in earlier editions of the same industry recognition program. [18]

Community and industry engagement

Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. participates in professional and trade organizations including the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI), the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM), and the Pittsburgh Technology Council. [19] [20] [21]

The company also takes part in annual outreach initiatives such as Manufacturing Day, hosting facility tours for students and community members to promote manufacturing careers. [22] [23]

In partnership with Catalyst Connection, a nonprofit supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers in Western Pennsylvania, Ace has participated in regional programs related to clean energy and workforce development. [24]

References

  1. "Ace Wire Spring & Form Company, Inc". Spring Manufacturers Institute. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  2. "Ace Wire Spring & Form Co Inc". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  3. "Richard D. Froehlich Obituary". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. "Dole Visit McKees Rock". The American Presidency Project. 1996-02-09.
  5. "POLITICS: THE REPUBLICAN;Dole Appeals for Businesswomen's Support (Published 1996)". 1996-07-25. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  6. "DOLE ADDRESSES GOP CONCERNS: WOMEN VOTERS, ECONOMIC AGENDA". Chicago Tribune. 1996-07-25. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  7. "Premo J. Pappafava Family Business Award Winner: Ace Wire Spring & Form Inc". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  8. "All in the Family: Ace Wire Spring and Form Celebrates 80 Years of Manufacturing Excellence". Pittsburgh Technology Council. 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  9. magazine@pma.org, MetalForming Magazine. "Ace Wire Spring & Form Celebrates 85 Years in Business". MetalForming Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  10. Staff, Magazine (2024-02-14). "Ace Wire Spring & Form Co., Inc. Celebrates 85 Years of Business Success". MBA Business Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  11. Petroski, Henry (1996). Invention by Design: How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing. Harvard University Press. ISBN   9780674463670.{{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  12. Stevenson, Howard H.; Gumpert, David E. (2003). Entrepreneurship in Action. McGraw-Hill. ISBN   9780070618138.
  13. Welles, E. O. (December 1997). "Clipped". Inc. Mansueto Ventures. pp. 96–109. ISSN   0162-8968.
  14. "Ace Wire Spring & Form Company, Inc". Spring Manufacturers Institute. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  15. "Premo J. Pappafava Family Business Award winner: Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. Inc". Pittsburgh Business Times. 2015-12-04.
  16. "Family Business Award winner: Ace Wire Spring & Form". Pittsburgh Business Times. 2017-05-04.
  17. "9th Annual Women of Excellence in Metal Forming & Fabricating". MetalForming Magazine. 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  18. "MetalForming Magazine – Women of Excellence Archive". MetalForming Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  19. "Ace Wire Spring & Form Company, Inc". Spring Manufacturers Institute. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  20. "Supplier Directory: Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. Inc". NATM. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  21. "Pittsburgh Technology Council – Ace Spring". Pittsburgh Technology Council. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  22. "Manufacturing Day 2025 – Ace Wire Spring & Form Co. Inc". Manufacturing Day. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  23. "Manufacturing Day – Pittsburgh Technology Council". Pittsburgh Technology Council. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  24. "Catalyst Connection to Give $10 Million to Small Manufacturers for Clean Energy Initiatives". NEXTpittsburgh. 2025-02-10. Retrieved 18 August 2025.