WPI News Releases
June 12, 2001
WPI INTERCONNECT PRODUCTS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS IN ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING
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WPI News Releases |
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June 12, 2001 |
WPI INTERCONNECT PRODUCTS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS IN ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING |
WPI Interconnect Products celebrates 30 years in the electronic component manufacturing business this month. The company, which does business as Wire Pro, Inc., was started in 1971 and has grown to become a leader in the interconnect industry.
"We're proud of our accomplishments and our ability to grow by adding new businesses and services to our extensive product lines," said Henry Barbera, CEO and son of Wire Pro founder Bob Barbera, Sr. "My father began this business with his partner and WPI President, Jerry Eddis, as a small military subcontractor based in Chester, PA.
"In 1979, we moved the headquarters office and one manufacturing facility to historic Salem, NJ. We have since opened other facilities throughout the United States, Mexico and the Far East."
A privately owned connector, cable assembly and wire harness manufacturer, WPI began a series of strategic product and company acquisitions in the mid-1980s that have provided steady growth. "While we are still Wire Pro, we have been marketing ourselves under the WPI Interconnect Products name for the past several years to better reflect the diverse products and services we offer as a supplier and OEM contractor to the commercial, industrial and military markets," explained Barbera.
Through these acquisitions, WPI expanded its capabilities to offer fully integrated services to its customers, such as engineering and design expertise, molding and tooling, testing, production and assembly work.
"Vertical integration has been key to our growth," explained Barbera. "It's a value-added service to our customers that helps them ensure quality design and production, while maintaining costs."
In the early 1980s, WPI acquired older military lines from Piasecki Corp. and Amphenol/Bunker Ramo. In two acquisitions in the mid-1980s, it purchased 24 connector and tool lines for commercial applications from Amphenol.
In 1991, WPI acquired Garry Electronics from LPL/Amphenol, increasing WPI's strength in on-board connector products like sockets, PLCs, PGAs, SIMMs and pin header assemblies. WPI also acquired General Connector in 1991, becoming the industry leader in tactical communications and audio and filter audio connectors.
WPI purchased Viking Electronics, Inc., Chatsworth, CA, in 1994, expanding WPI's markets in card edge connectors, as well as miniature circular connectors, relay sockets and lighting connectors used in commercial aviation, and increasing WPI's plating and stamping capabilities. In January 1999, WPI/Viking moved its administrative, sales, engineering and manufacturing operations from two separate plants in Chatsworth and Van Nuys, CA, to a new, 43,000-sq.-ft. facility in Moorpark, CA.
WPI acquired CableSystems/Mutron, Everett, MA, in 1995, expanding the cable group and the mechanical assembly operations. This facility is currently moving operations to Chelsea, MA.
WPI Sarasota, a fixture in the Florida community since 1986, recently refurbished a 63,000-square-foot building to expand its cable assembly operations, including standard and custom fiber optic assemblies.
WPI acquired Burton Electrical Engineering Company, El Sugundo, CA, from Wyle Laboratories, Inc. in 1996, and relocated Burton's headquarters and manufacturing facility to a modern 21,000-sq.-ft. building in Gardena, CA, in 1997. Burton's specialized technical expertise in undersea, oil well and aircraft cable assemblies provides additional depth to WPI product lines in these areas.
WPI also has facilities in Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., and Nogales, Mexico.
"WPI will continue to look for new opportunities and markets where we can excel by offering quality products and services at competitive prices," Barbera said.