From Protocol Magazine, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) trade publication, Issue 70, Winter 2025, page 70
In the world of manufacturing, there are moments when craftsmanship intersects with history. For Joe Calzone, President and CEO of Calzone & Anvil Case Company, one such moment arrived during the height of the pandemic when an unexpected call came from Clear Ballot, a leading election technology company. What followed would test his company's decades of expertise and place them at the heart of protecting American democracy.
"We were approached by their VP of manufacturing, Michael Papa, during the height of the pandemic," Calzone recalls, his voice carrying the weight of the responsibility that would follow. "They were at the beginning stages of developing a road-worthy system, and the prospect of working with the world leader in product protection was very intriguing to them."
The stakes couldn't have been higher. Clear Ballot's mission to ensure election integrity through accurate ballot scanning systems required more than just technological excellence—it demanded absolute security in transportation and storage. For Calzone, whose company had built its reputation protecting everything from Fender Custom Shop guitars to NASA satellite components, this presented both an extraordinary opportunity and a sobering challenge.
The journey from rock 'n' roll to democracy's guardian began in the music industry's golden age. In the 1970s, Calzone Cases earned its reputation protecting the equipment of legendary acts like Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith and U2. But Joe Calzone saw beyond the stage lights. "The principles of protecting a $50,000 guitar aren't so different from protecting a million-dollar satellite component," he reflects. This insight led to strategic expansions into aerospace, military and medical equipment protection.
The company's expertise in protecting electrostatic-sensitive equipment for NASA and NOAA laboratories proved particularly valuable when designing cases for Clear Ballot's sensitive scanning systems. The same attention to detail that keeps hurricane-hunting aircraft components secure during turbulent flights now protects the machinery of democracy.
The military and aerospace contracts brought new levels of precision to Calzone's manufacturing processes. Working with defense contractors demanded unprecedented attention to security features and quality control. These experiences laid the groundwork for creating cases that would later safeguard voting equipment. "Every industry we've served has taught us something valuable," Calzone notes. "The entertainment industry taught us about durability under constant movement, aerospace about precision, and military applications about security. All of that knowledge came together in the Clear Ballot project."
"We created a product development group to work with Clear Ballot during the R&D phase of design," Calzone explains. "We listened to their concerns, the scope of the project, their specifications and most importantly, the ease of use and safety required for their customers—those who work the voting stations."
The evolution from traditional road cases to election equipment protection required completely rethinking the fundamentals of case design. "One of our biggest challenges was creating a case that could withstand the rigors of frequent transport while being accessible to poll workers of varying physical capabilities," Calzone explains. The team developed an innovative wheel system with enhanced braking mechanisms and reinforced bearings, allowing cases to be easily maneuvered up ramps and over doorway thresholds at polling locations like school gymnasiums and community centers.
The precision required for ballot scanner mounting presented another unique challenge. Unlike musical equipment that can tolerate some movement within cases, the scanning systems demanded exact positioning to maintain calibration. The engineering team developed a custom shock-mounting system that keeps the equipment perfectly level regardless of transport conditions, ensuring accurate ballot processing from the moment the case is opened.
The challenges were numerous and complex. The cases needed to prevent tampering while allowing authorized access to ballots after scanning. The height from floor to scanner deck had to be precise. But perhaps most challenging was designing for the diverse group of poll workers who would handle the equipment. "Due to the range of poll workers in age, many retired, and ability, we knew we couldn't offer our traditional 'rock & roll' road case without compromising our reputation for strength and durability," Calzone notes. The solution required rethinking every aspect of their manufacturing process. The attention to detail was extraordinary. Every edge was filed smooth, every corner rounded, every fastener secured without protruding elements. The interior was meticulously finished to prevent any material from loosening and potentially damaging the scanner. It was craftsmanship elevated to an art form, with democracy itself as the client.
Vin Calzone (left) & Joe Calzone (right) of the Calzone Case Company.
But beneath the technical challenges lurked deeper concerns. The political climate surrounding elections had become increasingly charged and taking on this project carried significant risks. Would the Calzone name and company reputation be at stake if controversies arose? Could their involvement be misconstrued as partisan?
For Calzone, the answer was right there all along in their fundamental mission: protecting valuable equipment that serves a crucial purpose. "With the many thousands of Clear Ballot systems throughout the country performing as required, we are proud to be associated with a company whose integrity and unwavering goal is to provide voter integrity during our most precious right as a citizen of the United States," he says.
The results speak for themselves. In Cleveland alone, more than 3,000 Clear Ballot voting systems are now protected by Calzone cases. The cases have proven their worth through countless elections, maintaining their integrity despite rigorous handling and transportation.
The project has had an unexpected benefit: it raised the bar for all of Calzone's manufacturing processes. "Challenges such as those required by Clear Ballot motivate us to employ similar practices and SOPs for all our products," Calzone reflects. "No matter the customer and industry, each Calzone Case receives the high level of quality control as our largest clients." Today, as Clear Ballot continues to expand its presence across 14 states serving more than 46 million registered voters, Calzone & Anvil's cases travel with them, silent guardians of democracy. The cases are engineered to resist vibration, shock, impact, climate fluctuations and unauthorized access—the same high standards used for protecting NASA/NOAA lab equipment and military defense systems.
"We look forward to developing new designs and concepts with Clear Ballot for the protection of their current systems and future designs," Calzone says, his enthusiasm evident. It's a partnership that exemplifies how American manufacturing excellence can serve the highest ideals of democratic governance. In an era where election integrity faces unprecedented scrutiny, this collaboration between Clear Ballot and Calzone & Anvil Case Company demonstrates how innovation and craftsmanship can strengthen public confidence in our democratic system. It's a reminder that democracy's infrastructure requires not just technological advancement, but also the dedication of companies willing to think outside the box—or in this case, perfect what goes inside it.
From the warehouses in Bridgeport, Connecticut; Carrollton, Texas; and Covina, California, Calzone's cases continue to ship out, each one carrying not just voting equipment, but the weight of democratic responsibility. It's a testament to how American manufacturing can rise to meet the moment when democracy calls, one precision-crafted case at a time.
