For nearly 70 years, Carpenter Manufacturing has built a reputation in the wire processing industry for rugged American-made equipment, practical engineering, and a level of customer service that has become increasingly rare in modern manufacturing. At the recent Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo in Milwaukee, the company was also quietly introducing a new chapter in its history under President David Palmowski.
Following the passing of longtime owner Thomas Carpenter in late 2024, leadership of Carpenter Manufacturing transitioned to Palmowski, a longtime industry veteran whose relationship with the company stretches back more than four decades. While ownership may have changed, David made it clear during a conversation at the show that the company’s identity, culture, and customer-first philosophy remain firmly intact. “I still consider this a family business,” David said. “It’s like I was adopted into the Carpenter family 42 years ago.”
That connection began in 1984 when David first became involved with Carpenter through another company that handled electronics work for the manufacturer’s early programmable equipment. Although he would go on to spend more than four decades working closely alongside Carpenter Manufacturing, his involvement was always through his own business, Orbital Technologies, Inc. (formerly Electronic Assembly Services), operating as an independent subcontractor and engineering partner to Carpenter.
At the time, Carpenter was beginning to expand beyond purely mechanical wire processing equipment and move into electronically controlled systems. David worked on what was then one of Carpenter’s first microprocessor-controlled machines, and from that point forward became deeply involved in the evolution of the product line. “I’ve been involved with the design of all of the Carpenter machines ever since then,” he explained. “Anything that has electronics, I did all the designs for.” Over time, his role expanded well beyond electronics into mechanical design collaboration, software, controls, and overall product development.
Founded in 1955 by Louis Carpenter and his son Hubert Carpenter, the company established itself early with innovative wire stripping equipment. Louis Carpenter developed the company’s original “Twin-Cone” wire stripping machine for enamel-coated magnet wire, followed later by patented single-blade and twin-blade rotary stripping designs that became well known throughout the industry. In the early 1980s, Thomas Carpenter, representing the third generation of family leadership, began modernizing the company’s offerings with electronically controlled semi-automatic and automatic equipment.
The Carpenter family’s involvement extended well beyond Tom himself. His sister, Susan Carpenter Sorensen, served for decades as the company’s Controller and Vice President, while her husband, Alan Sorensen, served for many years as Carpenter’s Sales Director and today continues representing Carpenter products through White Mountain Representatives in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Tom’s brother Kenneth was also involved with the business for a period of time. David became a major part of that transition and ultimately helped shape every electronically controlled machine Carpenter developed over the following decades. “Because of my intimate knowledge of the electronic controls, I naturally was involved with many mechanical design elements,” David mentioned. “Basically, I am a part of the Carpenter legacy, so maintaining that legacy moving forward is second nature for me.”
That continuity proved especially important during the company’s ownership transition. David explained that over the years, he and Thomas Carpenter developed not only a close working relationship, but also a strong personal friendship built on decades of collaboration and shared industry knowledge. “He would bounce ideas off of me,” David recalled. “I kind of became like an adviser to him.” When Thomas Carpenter approached him about taking over the business, David said the decision ultimately came down to preserving the company, supporting the employees, and maintaining continuity for Carpenter’s customers. “I knew that the welfare of the company really depended on me,” he said.
Today, Carpenter Manufacturing continues to produce a broad range of wire processing equipment including magnet wire strippers, manual rotary wire strippers, pneumatic stripping systems for large cable, and programmable measure, cut, and strip equipment. While the technology behind the products has evolved considerably over the years, David believes the company’s longevity comes down to a combination of reliability, simplicity, and responsiveness. “In my opinion, the key to Carpenter’s success and longevity is, first and foremost, its dedication to providing unexcelled customer service before, during and after-the-sale,” he said.
That emphasis on customer support surfaced repeatedly throughout the conversation in Milwaukee. David spoke candidly about the importance of accessibility in an industry where customers often struggle to get timely responses from suppliers. “If we don’t answer an email the same day, usually within hours, it’ll be the next day for sure,” he said. “People really appreciate that.” He also pointed to ease of use as one of the defining characteristics of Carpenter equipment. “One thing you’ll notice about the electronic interface to the equipment is that everything is very easy to use,” David explained. “That’s one of the real important criteria. The ease of use of the operator interface is just very important.”
Despite the company’s long history, David does not view Carpenter as a business focused solely on preserving the past. He sees substantial growth opportunities ahead as industries including electric vehicles, AI infrastructure, defense systems, advanced computing, and space technologies continue driving demand for increasingly sophisticated wire and cable solutions. At the same time, he believes the company’s future growth must remain grounded in the same values that built Carpenter Manufacturing in the first place.
“We build a real quality product,” David said. “The equipment is rugged. It’s not necessarily real flashy. It has what you need.”
The family-business atmosphere also remains central to the company’s future. David’s youngest son, Jason, who had already been working at Carpenter Manufacturing for several years prior to the ownership transition, now serves as Vice President. His daughter Erica is also involved on the manufacturing side of the business, continuing the multigenerational feel that has long defined the company.
Looking ahead, David says his vision for Carpenter Manufacturing is straightforward: continue evolving, continue listening to customers, and continue building dependable equipment while maintaining the company’s longstanding reputation for service and quality. “Regardless of the new products, technology or innovations that Carpenter may develop over the next 5 to 10 years and beyond,” he wrote, “there is one thing that I wish to always see remain. That is Carpenter’s dedication to exemplary customer service and quality.”
Readers interested in learning more about Carpenter Manufacturing or contacting David Palmowski directly may reach him at [email protected].