WireCrafters appoints Richard Horn as new president

Wire mesh partition, machine guarding, and storage locker manufacturer WireCrafters LLC recently appointed Richard Horn as president.

Horn succeeds outgoing president Milt Tandy and brings more than 17 years of leadership experience at WireCrafters, most recently serving as executive vice president.

Wirecrafters recently exhibited its products at MODEX 2026. The trade show was hosted by MHI April 13-16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Focus on growth and people development

In his new position, Horn is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the organization, with a focus on operational excellence, people development, and sustainable growth.

WireCrafters said it will continue its long-standing commitment to dependable performance, responsiveness, and strong partnerships with customers and suppliers across North America, addressing problems with creative, custom manufacturing.

“I am excited to have Rich Horn taking over as President at WireCrafters,” said Milt Tandy, WireCrafters outgoing president. “Rich has been with WireCrafters over 17 years and has taken our manufacturing facility to a new level. He brings a fresh perspective to WireCrafters from the operations view. I know we are in good hands with Rich running the ship.”

Leadership emphasizes regular team engagement

Horn joined WireCrafters in 2008 as plant manager and has held progressively senior leadership roles, including vice president of operations and executive vice president.

During that time, he led the company through significant growth in production capacity and shipping volume, oversaw capital investments and automation initiatives, and helped build a disciplined culture of continuous improvement.

“My focus is simple,” Horn said . “We will achieve results together, continue to develop our people, and take pride in the meaningful work we do. Manufacturing matters, and when teams are aligned around safety, quality, delivery, and shared ownership, great things happen.”

WireCrafters said Horn’s leadership approach emphasizes developing people at every level and building systems that support both strong culture and strong performance. He prioritizes time on the manufacturing floor and regular engagement with the teams closest to the work.

Prior to joining WireCrafters, Horn held manufacturing leadership roles at John Deere and Akebono Brake Corporation. He also served seven years as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer (lieutenant) in the U.S. Navy - experiences that shaped his belief in disciplined execution, accountability, and teamwork.

Horn brings experience, values, and steady leadership

In addition to his role at WireCrafters, Horn is active in industry leadership, serving as president and board member of the Wire Fabricators Association and as a board member of the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership (KY MEP).

Horn holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Military Institute and an M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

“Replacing a material handling legend like Milt Tandy is no small task,” said Steve Diebold, WireCrafters owner & board chairman. “Take it from me, Milt leaves some big shoes to fill, both literally and figuratively. But I am quite confident that we have the right guy to step in and lead WireCrafters into the future. Richard Horn, our executive vice president is now president of WireCrafters. With 17 years of service and a proven record as a leader and innovator, Rich brings the experience, values, and steady leadership needed to guide us forward. I am confident the company couldn’t be in better hands.”

As president, Horn’s priorities include strengthening execution through clear goals and accountability, investing in people and systems, and ensuring WireCrafters continues to earn the trust of its customers, suppliers, and employees.