Welcoming Nancy Umbenhauer – Customer Solutions Manager

Join Us in Welcoming Nancy Umbenhauer – Customer Solutions Manager

We’re excited to welcome Nancy Umbenhauer to the Kalas Manufacturing team as our new Customer Solutions Manager! With more than 30 years of experience in logistics, operations, and customer service, Nancy brings a proven track record of delivering results, building strong customer relationships, and leading high-performing teams.

Most recently, Nancy served as Dispatch Manager at Lester R. Summers Inc., where she oversaw complex transportation logistics. She worked closely with customers, drivers, private escorts, and government agencies to ensure every delivery was secure, compliant, and on time. Her hands-on leadership helped streamline operations and solve real-time challenges with efficiency and professionalism.

Earlier in her career, Nancy served as International Coordinator at Graco Children’s Products, managing cross-border shipping operations. There, she collaborated with overseas manufacturers, customs officials, and U.S. production teams—gaining global experience that enhances her ability to support customers with diverse and dynamic needs.

Nancy’s customer-first mindset, sharp problem-solving skills, and leadership in fast-paced environments make her an incredible asset to the Kalas team. As she steps into this key role, she will lead our Account Management team to continue delivering the reliable, responsive service our customers have come to expect.

At Kalas, we believe that strong relationships are just as important as strong products. Our copper wire and cable solutions are trusted by customers world wide—not only for their performance, but for the support behind them.

If you’re looking for a wire & cable supplier who prioritizes your success, now is the perfect time to reach out. With leaders like Nancy driving customer experience, we’re ready to help your business thrive.

Please join us in giving Nancy a warm welcome!

Welcome Eric Laubach Director of Strategic Accounts

We are excited to announce the addition of Eric Laubach as Director of Strategic Accounts. In this important role, Eric will lead efforts to strengthen partnerships with our key customers—delivering personalized solutions and long-term value.

Eric brings more than 30 years of experience in industrial sales and leadership, with a strong track record of building lasting customer relationships, improving performance, and identifying growth opportunities. He has held several executive roles in the wire and cable industry, where he consistently drove results and earned the trust of clients through his hands-on, strategic approach.

“We’re thrilled to have Eric on board,” said Bob Baginski, COO at Kalas Manufacturing. “His deep understanding of customer needs, combined with his strategic mindset and proven leadership, will be instrumental in supporting our long-term growth and continuing to provide exceptional service to our strategic partners.”

As Director of Strategic Accounts, Eric will focus on nurturing key client relationships, expanding contract opportunities, and aligning customer success with Kalas’ broader business goals.

With Eric’s leadership, customers can expect even greater focus on proactive communication, tailored solutions, and collaboration that aligns closely with their evolving needs. His appointment reflects our commitment to deepening relationships and ensuring that every Kalas partnership is positioned for long-term success.

Kalas Exhibits at FABTECH 2021 in Chicago

This week Kalas exhibits at the FABTECH Expo at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

After one year hiatus due to Covid-19, it’s s great opportunity to meet our Kalas team, see the quality of our products in person and browse the wide range of first-class suppliers in the metal forming, fabricating, and welding industry.

Stop by to see the Kalas team in booth B33034. The show runs today, September 13, through Thursday, September 16. You can view events and speakers live at fabtechexpo.com as well as find details about the show.

We are excited for the chance to bring our products and our exceptional customer service to Chicago this week to reach more of our Kalas partners and meet attendees looking for quality welding cable with reliable programs that suit their needs. Can’t wait to see attendees there! 

 

2020 Kalas Christmas Card Designs

This year we once again went to our associates to design our 2020 Kalas Christmas card designs. We opened the contest to all associates with dependent children to create and send in drawings to be selected. The entries were all adorable and we are grateful for each child who created a design as well as for the associates who participated. It was a treat to see them come in!

This year we selected 2 card designs and made equal quantities of each to send to our associates, customers & community to say Happy Holidays and how thankful we are for each of them.

Congratulations to the winners –

  • Easton Hall, age 5, son of Dan Hall, Kalas plant 2 Supervisor who drew the snowman
  • Alexis Bair, age 8, daughter of Jamie Bair, Kalas Lancaster Supervisor who drew the reindeer

We hope each and every recipient of our holiday cards this year and every person reading this blog post has a safe, joyful, and healthy holiday. Here’s to making the most of the season in this unique year and toasting to a great start to 2021!

2020 Kalas Christmas Card Designs

Kalas Wire & Cable Remains Open For Business

Updated as of 8:30pm 3-19-2020

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued an edict that all non-life sustaining businesses close their physical operations effective 8:00 PM Thursday, March 19, 2020 to slow the contraction of the coronavirus. Please note, Kalas Wire & Cable remains open for business with full operations in all locations.

We are able to continue our operations as a key supplier and manufacturer of products which serve as a lifeline to powering critical machinery in the following approved industry’s noted below:

  • Machine Manufacturing
  • Merchant / Durable Goods
  • Agriculture Equipment Manufacturers
  • Refrigeration and AC
  • Electrical Component Manufacturers
  • Plumbing Wholesalers
  • Transportation & Warehousing
  • Utilities
  • And Others

All associates at all facilities should continue to report to work as scheduled. We appreciate the ability to serve our network of strategic partners during this critical time. For a detailed list of Life-Sustaining Businesses as defined by the Pennsylvania Government, please see the link below.

That said, we are looking to ensure full compliance of the recommended practices detailed by the CDC to optimize safe working conditions at all of our facilities, to reduce headcount within our workspaces where possible and limit personal interactions with the expectation there is no change to our customer support or timely delivery of products to our customers.

Our Leadership Team is actively guiding our efforts as we navigate the path forward to ensure our market responsiveness while mitigating risk to our valued associates and their families.

View Governor’s Life-Sustaining Businesses Document

We appreciate your partnership in good times and certainly as we experience challenges. We are here to help! Please reach out with any questions you have & stay healthy!

Have questions? Contact us at connect@kalaswire.com

 

Kalas Awarded Blue Bird Outstanding Supplier in Electrical

For years, Blue Bird has been a valued customer of Kalas Manufacturing. The Blue Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer of school busses. Their corporation has an intentional focus to manufacture buses that are wanted and valued once purchased. To ensure they uphold that focus, they have four driving priorities as stated on their website “safety, quality, durability, and serviceability”. That means every part that goes into their busses must provide those priorities and add to the value and desirability of owning a Blue Bird bus.

Considering the level of quality and care Blue Bird puts into their products, it’s no small honor to be recognized as one of their suppliers let alone receive an award from them. In December, Kalas was awarded Blue Bird’s Outstanding Supplier in Electrical for 2019 being recognized for the excellence in delivery, quality and technical support Kalas provided throughout 2019. This was no small feat. It was a group effort from Kalas engineering, account management, process, planning, production and shipping to support Blue Bird in the exceptional ways we have. Therefore, it is with great celebration we receive this award which identifying Kalas as a valued supplier to Blue Bird who went above and beyond to meet their needs.

We want to thank each & every associate who supported our partnership with Blue Bird in 2019 and every year prior. It was due to your meticulous creation of each cable, your energy to work together, be proactive, build quality products that ensure safety and get each order shipped on time that we were recognized. It makes us proud to know we have a Kalas family who delivers excellence… that is something to celebrate! 

We are grateful to Blue Bird for honoring us with this award and we are excited to continue delivering exceptional products and customer service for years to come.