East Penn

In 1946, the playbook for a young Air Force veteran was anything but clear. For DeLight Breidegam, Jr., however, the path forward involved partnering with his father, DeLight, Sr. . The duo started East Penn Manufacturing in a small, one-room creamery in Bowers, Pennsylvania. . Their initial business wasn't making new car batteries—wartime scarcity made materials scarce—but rebuilding old ones for GIs returning home and needing to get their vehicles running again. . This focus on recycling and meeting a specific market need laid the foundation for what was to come. The company grew steadily from these humble beginnings. A key moment arrived in 1947 when Karl Gasche, an engineer, joined the Breidegams. . This partnership led to the creation of the Deka brand, a name formed by combining "DeLight" and "Karl". . Throughout the decades, East Penn expanded its product lines beyond automotive batteries into industrial and specialty applications, all while reinvesting in its facilities. . Unlike many large enterprises, East Penn never went through an IPO or a major acquisition; it remains a private, family-owned company. . This has allowed it to maintain a consistent culture focused on its employees and community, a core principle from its founding. . Today, East Penn operates the largest single-site lead-acid battery manufacturing facility in the world, a quiet giant in the energy storage industry still guided by the values of its founders. .