Ask any of the employees at ReNEW's Pennsylvania facility what they do for a living, and you'll likely hear pride in their voice. Maybe it's because they can point to a crane building a bridge downtown and say "I made parts for that." Or because they've watched their small garage operation evolve into a Pennsylvania manufacturing powerhouse over 40+ years.
In a recent conversation, General Manager Kristine Langer shared why that pride runs so deep:
"Our team genuinely loves what they do.”
In the 1970s, that small garage outside State College, PA made molds for tube TVs. Today, the same location produces custom metal parts that hold up bridges, power locomotives, and lift construction crews 30 stories high. How do you get from making TV parts to building America's infrastructure? It’s simple: you learn to let go of what's not working and lean into what is.
The company that would become Interfuse Manufacturing started as a tool and die shop, riding the wave of American television production. But when TV manufacturing moved overseas in the 1980s, the business faced a choice: close up shop or find a new path. They chose welding and fabrication services, shifting from precision molds to heavy industrial components.
That pivot opened doors to partnerships that would define the company's future. Manitowoc came calling over 20 years ago, needing a supplier who could handle complex welding and deliver consistent quality. The brickyard companies they'd worked with since the TV days stayed on too, a relationship now spanning over 40 years. JLG Industries and Wabtec followed, trusting this small Pennsylvania shop with custom metal parts for their lifts and locomotives.
By the time Interfuse Manufacturing joined ReNEW Manufacturing Solutions, they'd built something rare in Pennsylvania manufacturing: a facility that could cut, weld, and machine all under one roof, with customers who wouldn't let them go even if they tried.
When Kristine Langer became General Manager of what's now ReNEW's Pennsylvania facility, she was coming home to the business her parents built. After growing up in the family company, she'd left for stints at Toyota Manufacturing and CNH, gaining experience in how large-scale operations run. She returned about 17 years ago, served as President for five years, then transitioned to General Manager when ReNEW acquired Interfuse.
Her time away taught her something crucial about managing both people and customers. "You don't apply the same technique to all employees or all customers,” she said. “You have to look at those customers and employees as individuals and figure out what makes them tick."
That individualized approach shapes the entire culture. Her brother works there. Her husband works there too. The company maintains flexibility that allows employees to adjust schedules for family needs, which is much different from the rigid management of decades past. The focus stays on meeting customer demands and maintaining quality, not enforcing arbitrary rules.
The results speak for themselves: employees who genuinely love their jobs, minimal turnover among skilled workers, and customers who've stuck around for decades.
Most fabrication shops specialize in one thing. They'll cut your custom metal parts but send them elsewhere for welding. Or they'll weld beautifully but need to outsource the machining. Our Pennsylvania manufacturing facility does all three, and that makes all the difference.
"A lot of fab shops don't have a laser or a plasma to cut their parts," Langer explains. "We can do projects from start to finish within our capabilities.” So while competitors juggle subcontractors and add weeks to lead times, this facility takes projects from raw material to finished components without the parts ever leaving the building.
The recent installation of a state-of-the-art XL fiber laser strengthens this advantage even more. Its large table size and advanced nesting software mean the team can pivot from high-volume production to emergency repairs in hours, not days. When a customer calls about an issue with a critical part, they'll literally stop mid-production, cut the replacement, and get it shipped.
This flexibility, combined with a workforce that maintains a 95% pass rate on specialized weld tests for crane products, has created deep expertise in specific markets. Though capable of supporting many industries, Langer emphasizes that the facility’s expertise in custom parts manufacturing for heavy equipment, especially cranes and locomotives, is where they stand out.
This combination of capabilities and expertise has created what Langer calls a "good problem." Existing customers immediately claim any new capacity the moment it appears.
"Every time we get a new piece of equipment, they fill it immediately," she explains. Long-standing partners want them to keep growing alongside their needs. Even new shifts or equipment upgrades are spoken for before they're operational.
It's the kind of challenge most Pennsylvania manufacturing facilities would love to have, but it limited the company's ability to diversify or take on new industries. That's partly why joining ReNEW Manufacturing Solutions made so much sense, as it provided access to additional capacity through sister facilities without abandoning the customers who helped build the business.
Having other ReNEW locations with large bending equipment, large boring mills and other machining and fabrication services means they can now complete projects that were previously out of reach. Their loyal customers can get even more of what they need, while the facility gains breathing room to explore new opportunities.
With the support of the ReNEW Manufacturing Solutions network, the Pennsylvania team is no longer constrained by capacity alone. A recent reconfiguration freed up the welding building for larger projects, creating space to grow. Kitting work, which includes cutting, bending, machining, and assembling complete packages, is already on the rise, and new technologies like robotic and laser welding could bring even more opportunities in the years ahead.
Through it all, the fundamentals won’t change. Langer emphasizes that customers can count on consistent quality, reliable partnerships, timely delivery, and a skilled workforce equipped with the latest technology. Throughout its growth from a family garage to a trusted industrial partner, the facility has stayed true to what matters most: quality, relationships, and a workforce proud of the parts they build.
Take a closer look at our Pennsylvania manufacturing facility or request a quote today to see how we can support your next project.