This story is part of a series, Manufacturing Matters, that focuses on products that are made in Richland County.
MANSFIELD — Size doesn’t always determine importance, and this is especially true for products made at TE Connectivity (TE) in Mansfield.
The contactors and relays manufactured at its 175 N Diamond St. location switch the power on airplanes before they take off. Yet these powerful products are shipped in small boxes through a garage door that’s only half the size of a typical one.
“If you’ve flown on an airplane, it probably has our parts on it,” said Douglas Shirey, senior manager of operations at TE Connectivity. “When the plane switches from ground power to aircraft power, there’s a flicker. I don’t know if you notice it, but that’s our contactor.”
Founded in 1902 by lawyer, Rudolph Hartman and inventor, Frank Hartman, TE Connectivity’s Mansfield site was first known as Hartman Electrical Manufacturing Company (“Hartman”). Now the oldest company in Richland County, it found its niche manufacturing dimmer controls and switches for silent movie theaters.
Later, that niche became mechanical breakers for street cars. Then, the company turned to table and console radio models and electric fence chargers.
Now, the Mansfield-based location focuses on contactors for aerospace, defense and marine-related vehicles. At one point, business grew so rapidly that Hartman expanded into additional manufacturing space at 200 N Diamond St., where a post office is now located.
“We supply parts in almost everything that flies, military and commercial, space systems and things like that, and we have a few ground vehicles and a few specialty projects,” said David Falquette, program manager.
In 1943, the United States Air Force was losing B-17 and B-24 planes because aircraft generators were overcharging the batteries. Amid World War II, the military looked to Hartman.
The company received a contract over competitors when inventor Frank Hartman created a protective device in less than six months he called a “Reverse Current Cutout.” A similar product is still made and used in aircraft today.
Fate, however, tried to interfere.
“(The Hartman building) burned to the ground almost right after we got this contract. So, it was very tenuous,” said Falquette. “They picked the materials out of the ashes because they were in such short supply.”
Production began elsewhere while a new building was constructed on Diamond Street.
Hartman Electrical Manufacturing Company was acquired by Figgie International in 1966. It changed hands again in 1996, becoming CII Technologies and in 2002 becoming Tyco Electronics. But most recently, TE Connectivity acquired the company in 2007.
About 115 years after it began, this company has products all over the world and even on the moon.
“Yes, we actually have parts on the moon right now,” Shirey said.
Mansfield-made relays were used in the Lunar Excursion Module, also known as the Apollo Lunar Module.
“(Parts) are custom designed for each individual application,” Shirey said. “There are some parts that we make that were designed 50 years ago, and then there are some that are new.”
A team of engineers is always creating and redesigning products to better fit customers’ needs.
Products take about eight to 10 hours of work in some cases. They are put together at different stations throughout the manufacturing facility, usually in small quantities.
“The people out there are very skilled,” Shirey said. “(Contactors and relays) are like little machines that we are putting together.”
TE Connectivity employs 180 people and is looking to hire more. Positions are posted at www.te.com.
TE Connectivity’s Note: Hartman, CII, TE and TE Connectivity are trademarks of the TE Connectivity family of companies. Other product or company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
