The next time you grab a live animal trap, think of local business and Keller-Brown client ETube and Wire. No, they won't come and help you trap that pesky vermin, but they do make wire components that are incorporated into Havahart animal traps. And that's not all they make: Their fan guards are bought by Evapco and used to cover large industrial HVAC chilling units. They also bend tubular hood supports that get infused into fiberglass structures for McClarin Plastics, and make components for JLG man lifts. That's quite a diverse production!
The next time you grab a live animal trap, think of local business and Keller-Brown client So what exactly does a wire and metal fabrication (among a lot of other services!) company do? Agency Principal, Sarah Brown, sat down with one of the owners, Glenn Eyster, to learn more about how ETube and Wire started and what they enjoy most about the York community. 
Sarah Brown: Tell us a little about your business. What do you do and how did you get started?
Glenn Eyster: My father started the business in 1978 as a machine shop. In the early '90s, we moved into wire fabrication, wire forms, wire weldments (which include welded assemblies, fan guards, wire baskets, and grates. Think of grill grates, but for larger industrial applications).
Then in the early 2000s, we added sheet metal fabrication. It's similar to wire fabrication but we bend tubes per customer specification. Some examples of this include hood support for JLG, cart handles for automotive equipment in automotive shops, and hydraulic tubes for hydraulic power packs on trains, which control the train's air ride suspension.
Looking back, we've grown the business through the years into different facets of fabrication to accommodate customers' needs. We've also brought more in-house to control lead time.
Sarah: What types of wiring do you make?
Glenn: Not electrical wiring! A lot of people assume electrical wiring or wiring harnesses, but we work with ½" or smaller steel rods. We make baskets for cleaning machines, fry baskets for restaurants, and fan guards for rooftop chilling units.
Sarah: What is your favorite customer story about a time they used your product?
Glenn: Maybe the most surprising for readers is that we contribute materials to a supplier for Johnson Controls, which ultimately ends up going to the United States Navy. Because of our impact on the supply chain, we were deemed essential during the pandemic shutdown.
And if you want to know how far-reaching Amazon's operations are, they are in Shrewsbury, too. A friend of mine is the CEO of a safety company that supplies special guardrails to Amazon fulfillment centers. Amazon had poor loss experience with steel barriers, and this firm designed a better way to build guard rails. ETube and Wire retrofits portions of these guard rails that are keeping people safer.
Sarah: What do you enjoy most about the York County community?
Glenn: A cool thing about being in manufacturing in York County is the number of vendors you can rely on for running your operations — we can lean on a lot of people. We have convenient access for powder coating needs and sheet metal products. Our area is very conducive to running a manufacturing business because of all the service centers near York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. This centrality allows many options to be flexible when running a business. It gives us the ability to service customers we might not be able to if we were located elsewhere.
When the interchange construction is complete at the I-83 Shrewsbury exit, I'm looking forward to contributing to a plaque and flagpole for the area.
Sarah: I think we're all looking forward to that work being complete! What are some of your other favorite local businesses and why?
Glenn: I am an avid shooter, so I like combining work and fun at Freedom Armory, where I have made parts for their shooting range.
Nearby, there are some other really cool businesses that compliment ours. Precision Engraving Co has powerful capabilities in powder coating. Tooling Technologies does some really technical, complicated machine work. They're great at tooling and are really smart, creative people. Both businesses do excellent work and speak to the diverse supply chain of our area.
Another benefit of being a manufacturer in York County is the great vendors and steel suppliers, such as Pennsylvania Steel Company.
My banker at M&T has also been tremendously helpful, from refinancing to guiding us through the PPP process. The banking relationship has proven to be a trusted partner in business operations.
Sarah: Why do you enjoy being a Keller-Brown customer?
Glenn: In addition to my banker, another trusted relationship is Keller-Brown. It's important for me to support local businesses, plus, I know Keller-Brown is incredibly knowledgeable in their craft as well. Being local is just another bonus! My employees especially like that their agents can swing by and answer questions about their retirement plans.
You guys do a great job of listening to my needs and looking out for the best interest of the business. Insurance can be complicated, but your team breaks it down in a way that's easy for a business owner to understand how claims and coverage impact operations. That, in turn, helps me make educated decisions.
ETube and Wire products are there when you need them — whether it's to safely trap a pesky squirrel stuck in your attic or to support the line chef in your restaurant with the wiring for fry baskets. Glenn's team is also there for the community; they embody what it means to be a local business and it's our honor to support them and their insurance needs.
Website: http://www.etubeandwire.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/etubeandwire
Phone number: (717) 227-8400
Address: 50 W. Clearview Drive, Shrewsbury, PA 17361