East Penn Manufacturing

Can you describe East Penn’s history in PA?

East Penn’s story begins in 1946 when two Berks County natives, DeLight Breidegam Jr. and his father, DeLight Sr., started their battery business in a one-room creamery in the tiny village of Bowers. They didn’t have a lot of money to start, but they had something more valuable: an entrepreneurial spirit, ingenuity, and a strong work ethic. Over almost 80 years, our company has grown to become a global leader in energy storage while always expanding our capabilities in Berks County – with about 7,900 employees, we’re the largest employer in the county.

Here in Pennsylvania, we’ve grown into the world’s largest single-site lead battery manufacturer – which demonstrates the Commonwealth’s unmatched role in fostering business success and global competitiveness. Our founders certainly had opportunities to move their business headquarters elsewhere, but they chose not to. That would have meant losing the company’s treasured resource: the people in this community. From day one, we’ve drawn from the region’s strong base of manufacturing, technical trades and schools, diverse communities, and unique talents. Even as the company has expanded across the globe, most of our employees are still based in Berks County.

We see Pennsylvania as an outstanding place to do business. We employ thousands of Pennsylvanians who drive our innovation and success. The state’s strong technical schools and training programs provide a steady stream of skilled workers. This has also given East Penn the opportunity to partner with local institutions to form scholarship programs allowing students to earn a degree in a highly skilled trade while working for the company. Pennsylvania’s central location and extensive transportation network give us efficient access to major markets, which strengthens the private fleet we own and operate. With competitive costs, robust workforce partnerships, and unmatched distribution reach, Pennsylvania provides the people, resources, and infrastructure manufacturers like us need to thrive in today’s fast-moving economy.

Pennsylvania offers an exceptional balance of opportunity and quality-of-life. Put simply, it’s a place where people can thrive, and that’s a big reason our employees choose to build their lives here. We even have multiple generations of the same families working together, which really shows how much people value the community they have found here. It’s also why we are dedicated to investing in our communities by supporting local schools, workforce programs, and initiatives that help make Pennsylvania an even better place to live and work.

The state provides rewarding career paths, outstanding educational institutions, and nationally recognized healthcare. It is also rich in culture and history, with world-class museums, theaters, and music venues, as well as vibrant city life in places like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Many of our employees are outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy year-round recreation across the state’s parks, trails, mountains, and lakes.