From the beginning, Yaskawa distributor Volland Electric built its success on a foundation of trust, fostering family-like relationships with both employees and customers.
And 80 years later, that approach is more important than ever.
“It means everything to me and my family. It is the whole reason for our long-standing success,” said CEO Chris Graham. “We are a family business, and I believe our employees thrive if they are treated with respect, like family. They know we care for them and their families."
"In turn, they treat our customers like we treat them. Some of our customers also feel like they are a part of the Volland family, and quite frankly, they are. That started in 1943 and hasn’t changed.”
Volland Electric, headquartered in Buffalo, NY, was established by Chris’ grandfather, Alexander Volland, as a motor repair shop in 1943. It is now diversified into industrial control panels, cranes and hoists, and power transmission products. The company is also a Master Distribution Center for many lines related to their motor repair focus, going strong with roughly 75 employees.
“Being able to service our customers the way we do, with purpose and commitment, is just so important to great relationships,” CEO Chris Graham said. “That’s why we try to hire the best and the brightest. Our customers look to us to give them the products, services, and attention they need to stay up and running.”
“We truly care about our customers. Everyone focuses on the customer. We get plants up as fast as possible if they’re down. That’s part of what makes us different. We try to solve whatever problems our customers have. Anybody can sell a drive, but can they solve a problem?”
He explained that after his grandfather started the business, his uncle joined the company, followed by Chris’ parents, tying themselves into the business in 1975. He came on board in 1993, and his brother Kirk, President of Volland, started in 2000.
Chris, a third-generation employee, has continued the family legacy by bringing his son Mason onto the team as a sales representative a few years ago.
The family tradition of doing whatever it takes to care for customers is not lost on Mason.
“I’ve grown up hearing about Volland; driving down the road and seeing who we help. Starting full-time helped me realize what a difference we make in the community, from schools to hospitals.” Mason said.
“When something unexpected happens in the middle of the night, we are the first ones people call in the most critical moments. There’s a level of trust customers have in us to come through.”
Mason said that trust is enhanced because of the company’s relationship with Yaskawa.
“A lot of the trust customers have in us is reinforced by the trust they have in the Yaskawa products we sell them,” Mason said. “Sometimes that makes us the only guys the customer considers.”
His dad backed that up. “Yaskawa is one of our longest tenured suppliers. Part of the reason we are who we are is we align with the highest quality manufacturers. Yaskawa is certainly up there, especially regarding their quality and service,” Chris said.
Inside Sales Manager Tina Hetzendorfer said Yaskawa customer support is a significant advantage. “Deals often come down to the ease of doing business with somebody,” she said. “We enjoy working with the inside sales support team at Yaskawa. We know we are going to get a quick response in an emergency.”
After 80 years, Volland Electric’s family-first approach still drives its success. By treating employees, customers, and partners with care and respect, they’ve built lasting trust—proving that strong relationships and dependable service make all the difference.
USA
Contact
Sales
Support
Send Request
