---
title: ASK Products Blog | ASK Power
---
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## ASK Power
### Recent Posts
## [Acquisition of the KORTICK manufacturing company](https://www.ask-power.com/news/acquisition-of-the-kortick-manufacturing-company)
Posted by [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/author/ask-power)
July 02 2020
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In line with our expansion and international growth strategies and expanding our presence in the United States of America, The SICAME Group announces the acquisition of The Kortick Manufacturing Company located in Pittsburg, California effective June 1, 2020.
Founded in 1898 and previously owned by the Frase Family, Kortick produces and supplies electrical products and equipment for use in overhead and underground electrical networks, supplying contractors, distributors, and electric utilities on the west coast including, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and the Sacramento Utility District.
Among Kortick’s many product lines is the eco-friendly AmorGalv®, Thermal Diffusion Galvanization (TDG) process, which has helped position the company as a major supplier of hardware in support of the hardening of the electrical infrastructure in California and other states. Kortick employs 75 people at its Pittsburg facility.
With the acquisition of Kortick, SICAME expands its footprint in the United States and continues its international development and diversification plan, supported by a strong innovative company recognized as a major supplier to the electrical markets on the west coast.
By joining a world leader in the field of electrical transmission and distribution networks, Kortick will continue to grow, innovate, and expand its markets.
ABOUT KORTICK
Founded in 1898, Kortick Manufacturing Company is a manufacturer and distributor of overhead line and underground equipment with a history and heritage serving the largest customers in the United States.
With over 100 years of experience in galvanized hardware, Kortick has extensive expertise in working with hundreds of customers worldwide and providing high quality products.
Topics: [Sicame Group](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/sicame-group)
## [ASK Power hosts Senator Durbin for Plant Tour](https://www.ask-power.com/news/ask-power-hosts-senator-durbin-for-plant-tour)
Posted by [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/author/ask-power)
May 18 2016
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(Aurora, IL)- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin last week toured the manufacturing plant of ASK Power and met with key staff.
ASK Power is an Aurora-based manufacturer of electrical connectors for the truck, automotive, telecom, utility, and military marketplaces and has been in business for almost 30 years.
****
**U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, second from left, tours ASK Power in Aurora.****
***Courtesy of Scott McPherson*
**As printed in the [Daily Herald on May 13, 2016](http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160513/submitted/160519322/). Written by Scott McPherson**
ASK Power, a longtime member of the Technology & Manufacturing Association, is a subsidiary of Sicame Group, a global manufacturer of electrical components for the utility and industrial marketplace. "It was great to visit a local, homegrown business that really is making an impact in national and international markets," stated Sen. Durbin. "I was honored to meet several of their key employees, many of whom are first- and second-generation Americans."
ASK Power was founded by Steve Kase and currently employs about 60 people. In 2012, Kase was chairman of the board of the TMA, Illinois' largest full service manufacturing association. He currently serves on the Steering Committee of World Business Chicago's 1000 Jobs Initiative for Chicagoland Manufacturing. "It was a great pleasure to have Senator Durbin stop by our shop last week," Kase related. "I applaud his commitment to manufacturing as well as his leadership on the key issues we face as a society as we work to grow jobs and strengthen the economy."
About TMA: 8 small manufacturing companies who thought they could better themselves by associating with one another founded TMA in 1925. Through the years, members established programs and services to help their businesses grow and prosper, train their employees, and provide medical and retirement benefits. TMA has grown into an almost 1,000 member nonprofit organization representing more than 30,000 employees of precision manufacturing and supplier companies throughout Illinois.
Topics: [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/ask-power), [Sicame Group](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/sicame-group), [Chicagoland Manufacturing](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/chicagoland-manufacturing), [Steve Kase](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/steve-kase), [Technology & Manufacturing Association](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/technology-manufacturing-association), [World Business Chicago's 1000 Jobs Initiative](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/world-business-chicagos-1000-jobs-initiative), [Senator Durbin](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/senator-durbin)
## [Steve Kase Honored as World Business Chicago's Manufacturer of the Year](https://www.ask-power.com/news/alliance-for-industry-and-manufacturing-awards-dinner)
Posted by [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/author/ask-power)
October 14 2015
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At the Alliance for Industry and Manufacturing’s (AIM) annual Making Manufacturing Matter Awards dinner Steve Kase was recognized for his contributions to the World Business Chicago’s 1,000 Jobs Initiative and to many other organizations represented that evening including the TMA (Technology and Manufacturing Assoc.) and IMA (Illinois Manufacturers Assoc.).
The 2015 manufacturing honorees were selected from the Chicago Cook and collar counties. The winners were selected based on their reputation for manufacturing leadership, innovation, employment and training, and industry and community involvement.
“These are people and companies with demonstrated commitments to ‘pay it forward’,” said Ms. McDonough, President of AIM and the evening’s event chairman.
According to World Business Chicago, Steve is an essential connector at all levels of the industry, with current leadership roles with the Alliance for Industry and Manufacturing, the Technology and Manufacturing Association, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, and World Business Chicago. Acting as the nexus among these organizations, Steve consistently drives common understanding and collaboation to achieve industry growth objectives.
Governer Rauner kicked off the evening with a strong message that he is working to making it easier to be a manufacturer in Illinois. He later tweeted that it is “[critical to bring manufacturing jobs back to Illinois](https://twitter.com/GovRauner/status/651933067498639360)”.
[](https://vimeo.com/139489105)
[Manufacturing Matters: ASK Power](https://vimeo.com/139489105) from [Skill Scout](https://vimeo.com/skillscout) on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com).
Speaking through short videos, each recipient presented their feelings about their award. Mr. Kase said he would like to thank WBC and AIM and to celebrate their collaboration. He has been actively involved in a number of industrial associations and although there is a perception that they compete each organization has their individual unique talents and their collaboration has brought much more power to bear on problems like the skills gap, innovation, training, connecting employee and employer and ability to get a lot more accomplished than in the past.
AIM has created a regional manufacturing "movement" tapping into the national designation as the Chicago Metro Metals Consortium; Chicago's selection as the site for the national Digital Manufacturing Design and Innovation Institute; the regional economic development initiatives lead by Cook County Toni Preckwinkle, the County Board Chairs and the economic development organizations for Cook and Collar Counties; Metro Chicago Exports, the Alliance's regional workforce developments and World Business Chicago's 1,000 Jobs Initiative. This dinner offered the vehicle to collectively recognize those efforts and honor key manufacturers in a Regional celebration.
[](http://www.illinoismanufacturing.org/)
Topics: [ASK Products](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/ask-products), [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/ask-power), [AIM](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/aim)
## [ASK Power awarded Kane County Sparkler Award for Business Leadership](https://www.ask-power.com/news/ask-power-awarded-kane-county-sparkler-award-honorable-mention-for-business-leadership)
Posted by [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/author/ask-power)
May 12 2015
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Steve Kase, CEO and Owner of ASK Power received Kane County Sparkler Award for Business at the Kane County Leadership Summit on May 8 for support in workforce development and export.
The Kane County Sparkler Awards recognizes the contributions and leadership made by companies in Business, Partnership, and Innovation.
The award was present by Chris Lauzen the Kane County Board Chairman and former Illinois State Senator
[ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com) is an Aurora, IL based manufacturer of electrical connectors for the Truck, Automotive, Telecom, Utility, and Military marketplaces and has been in Kane County for almost 30 years. In 2012, Kase was Chairman of the Board of the [TMA, Illinois’ Largest Full Service Manufacturing Association](http://www.tmaillinois.org/tma-member-and-congressman-bill-foster-discuss-exports-at-white-house-roundtable/) and currently serves on the Steering Committee of [World Business Chicago's 1,000 Jobs Initiative for Chicagland Manufacturing](http://www.worldbusinesschicago.com/1000jobs/)
The Kane County Sparkler Awards recognize outstanding and sometimes-unheralded achievement in three categories: business, partnership and innovation. The awards will showcase the work of each of the nominees, and an award winner will be named in each category. The 2015 nominees are as follows:
Business Category
- Joe and Luke Slawek, FONA, International
- Jerry and Keith Rich, Rich Harvest Farms
- Steven Kase, ASK Power
Partnership Category
- CASA Kane County
- Workforce Investment Board – Serving Kane, Kendall and DeKalb Counties
- Longmeadow Parkway Corridor
- Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
Innovation Category
- Kane County Community Health Assessment – Participating Partners
- Elgin Land Use/Transportation Task Force
- Kane County Planning Cooperative
Topics: [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/ask-power)
## [DIGITAL MANUFACTURING & DESIGN INNOVATION INSTITUTE Grand Opening](https://www.ask-power.com/news/newsletter/digital-manufacturing-design-innovation-institute-grand-opening)
Posted by [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/author/ask-power)
May 12 2015
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The Grand Opening of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) on Chicago’s Goose Island was on May 11, 2015. It was a big day, after 2+ years of anticipation! A very exciting grand opening with all of the notables present! It was nice to be invited as recognition for the work we have been doing in representing small to medium manufacturers.
The[ DMDII](http://dmdii.uilabs.org/) led by [UI Labs](http://www.uilabs.org/#about) is a consortium of 73 companies, nonprofits, research labs and universities partnering with the federal government to create a novel partnership between world-leading manufacturing experts and cutting-edge software companies to enable interoperability across the supply chain, develop enhanced digital capabilities to design and test new products, and reduce costs in manufacturing processes across multiple industries. The digital hub is backed by $70 million Department of Defense grant and another $250 million in private sector, academic and and other local governmental funding.
The vision of the DMDII is to be “a unique public-private partnership acting as a world-class, first-of-its-kind manufacturing hub. The Institute has the capabilities, innovative spirit, and collaborative expertise to transform American manufacturing.” The institute will be a research and development center for digital manufacturing and design plus workforce development and education specific to digital manufacturing.
Links to other articles and press releases regarding DMDII:
**Chicago Tribune** - ***UI Labs set to open doors of new digital manufacturing Institute***
[http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-ui-labs-to-open-doors-bsi-story.html](http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-ui-labs-to-open-doors-bsi-story.html)
**World Business Chicago**
[http://www.worldbusinesschicago.com/dmdii/](http://www.worldbusinesschicago.com/dmdii/)
**NBC Chicago - *Emanuel: "Olympic Gold-Winning" Bid Helped Land Digital Manufacturing ***[http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/obama-midwest-manufacturing-247086581.html](http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/obama-midwest-manufacturing-247086581.html)
**Chicago Magazine - *The Immense Ambition of Chicago’s Digital Manufacturing Hub***
[http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/March-2014/The-Immense-Ambition-of-Chicagos-Digital-Manufacturing-Hub/](http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/March-2014/The-Immense-Ambition-of-Chicagos-Digital-Manufacturing-Hub/)
**Press Release *- President Obama Announces Two New Public-Private Manufacturing Innovation Institutes and Launches the First of Four New Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competitions***
[https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/25/president-obama-announces-two-new-public-private-manufacturing-innovatio](https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/25/president-obama-announces-two-new-public-private-manufacturing-innovatio)
Industry Week – Advancing the Business of Manufacturing
[http://www.industryweek.com/innovation/chicago-new-home-digital-manufacturing-and-design-innovation-institute](http://www.industryweek.com/innovation/chicago-new-home-digital-manufacturing-and-design-innovation-institute)
[](http://dmdii.uilabs.org/)
Topics: [Manufacturing News](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/manufacturing-news)
## [ASK Power President, Steve Kase, invited to White House roundtable on exports](https://www.ask-power.com/news/blog/ask-power-president-steve-kase-invited-to-white-house-roundtable-on-exports)
Posted by [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/author/ask-power)
October 04 2014
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Steve Kase, President of ASK Power was invited by [Congressman Bill Foster](http://foster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/foster-aurora-manufacturer-discuss-exports-at-white-house-roundtable) to participate in a roundtable discussion on exports at the White House. The roundtable, in the Roosevelt Room of the West Wing, was hosted by United States Trade Representative Mike Froman and Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council Jeff Zients. The event focused on exports for small businesses.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, so I am pleased that the White House is working to support small and medium business exports,” said Foster. “Small and medium businesses have great potential to play a bigger role in exports, but we need to do more to support them and navigate an extremely complex process. Additionally, we need to provide stability by passing a long-term extension of the Export-Import Bank, an essential service for export businesses of all sizes.”
“Job creation disproportionately comes from small to medium manufacturing entities; but, they are disproportionally under-represented in export activities,” said Kase. “I was particularly encouraged by the Trade and Economic wings of our executive branch's intention to coordinate best practices across exporting states. Their leadership and employer organization’s cooperation can support SME’s efforts to navigate the complexity and risk of export toward more profitable sales and job creation.”
At the meeting the group discussed efforts to get more small and medium businesses involved in exports. In 2013, Illinois exported $66.1 billion in merchandise, supporting 339,421 Illinois jobs.
[ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com) is an Aurora, IL based manufacturer of electrical connectors for the Truck, Automotive, Telecom, Utility, and Military marketplaces. In 2012, Kase was Chairman of the Board of the [TMA, Illinois’ Largest Full Service Manufacturing Association.](http://www.tmaillinois.org/tma-member-and-congressman-bill-foster-discuss-exports-at-white-house-roundtable/)
Foster is a scientist and businessman who worked at Fermi National Laboratory for over 20 years. Foster’s business career began at age 19 when he and his brother co-founded Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc., a company that now manufactures over half of the theater lighting equipment in the United States.
This meeting is part of the continuing effort by President Obama's [National Export Initiative](http://trade.gov/nei/) that was announced in the January, 2010 to increase US exports.
Topics: [ASK Power](https://www.ask-power.com/news/topic/ask-power)
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