Ace Wire Spring & Form Celebrates 85 Years in Business

Celebrating 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.