<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                  --------------------------------------------
 
                                   FORM 10-K
/X/  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934
     FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, OR
 
/ /  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _________ TO _________
 
                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-7695
                  --------------------------------------------
 
                              KUHLMAN CORPORATION
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
             DELAWARE                            58-2058047
  (State or Other Jurisdiction of     (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  Incorporation or Organization)
 
               3 SKIDAWAY VILLAGE SQUARE, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31411
          (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)          (ZIP CODE)
 
       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (912) 598-7809
          Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
                                            NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE
        TITLE OF EACH CLASS                  ON WHICH REGISTERED
-----------------------------------  -----------------------------------
   Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value           New York Stock Exchange
  Preferred Stock Purchase Rights          New York Stock Exchange
 
          Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                                      None
 
    Indicate  by check  mark whether  the Registrant  (1) has  filed all reports
required to be filed by  Section 13 or 15(d) of  the Securities Exchange Act  of
1934  during  the preceding  12  months (or  for  such shorter  period  that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to  such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES /X/    NO / /
 
    Indicate  by check mark if disclosure  of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's  knowledge, in definitive  proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.  / /
 
    As  of March 1,  1996, 13,194,151 shares  of Common Stock  of the Registrant
were outstanding, and the aggregate market  value of the shares of Common  Stock
as  of such date (based on the closing  price on the New York Stock Exchange) of
the Registrant held by non-affiliates  (including three executive officers)  was
approximately $194,000,000.
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
    Portions of the following documents are incorporated by reference into this
Form 10-K:
 
Part II:    Items  5-8 - Annual Report to Shareholders of the Registrant for the
            year ended December 31, 1995.
 
Part III:   Items 10-12  -  Definitive  Proxy Statement  of  the  Registrant  in
            connection with the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART 1.
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
    Kuhlman  Corporation (the "Registrant" or "Company"), a Delaware corporation
whose predecessor company was  founded in 1894, is  a holding company that  owns
and manages a group of operating companies. These companies are Kuhlman Electric
Corporation  ("Kuhlman  Electric"),  Coleman  Cable  Systems,  Inc. ("Coleman"),
Schwitzer, Inc.  ("Schwitzer"), and  Emtec Products  Corporation ("Emtec"),  and
they   are  organized  into  two  business  segments,  Electrical  Products  and
Industrial Products. In  the Electrical Products  Segment, the Company  designs,
manufactures and markets electrical utility and industrial type transformers for
various  markets and industries involved in electrical distribution systems; and
manufactures and markets electronic and  electrical wire and cable products  for
numerous  commercial, industrial and  consumer uses. In  the Industrial Products
Segment, the  Company designs,  manufactures and  markets turbochargers,  engine
cooling  fans, fan  drives and crankshaft  vibration dampers used  in diesel and
gasoline engines  for truck,  agricultural,  construction and  other  industrial
applications;   and  spring   products  and   metal  stampings   used  by  other
manufacturers in their products or  production process. The executive office  of
the  Company is located  at 3 Skidaway Village  Square, Savannah, Georgia 31411.
The telephone number is (912) 598-7809.
 
MERGER
 
    On May 31, 1995,  a wholly-owned subsidiary of  the Company merged with  and
into  Schwitzer.  In  the transaction,  shares  of Schwitzer  common  stock were
converted into shares of the Company's  common stock using an exchange ratio  of
0.9615  share of the Company's common stock for each share of Schwitzer's common
stock. The merger  was accounted for  under the pooling  of interests method  of
accounting.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENT
 
    On  February  16,  1996,  the Company,  through  a  wholly-owned subsidiary,
completed a tender offer for the outstanding shares of Communication Cable, Inc.
("CCI"), a  North  Carolina  corporation  traded  on  NASDAQ.  Pursuant  to  the
Company's  offer to purchase shares of CCI for $14.00 per share, shareholders of
CCI tendered  2,291,800  shares  through that  date.  Kuhlman  previously  owned
315,703  shares of CCI. As of February  21, 1996, Kuhlman owned 2,607,503 shares
or 82.2%  of  all  CCI  shares  outstanding  for  an  aggregate  total  cost  of
approximately  $35,873,000. Kuhlman expects to purchase the remaining CCI shares
outstanding as soon  as practicable. The  acquisition of CCI  shares was  funded
primarily through an increase in the Company's bank credit facility.
 
    CCI  engineers,  designs  and manufactures  a  wide variety  of  low voltage
electronic wire  and cable  products which  are marketed  to original  equipment
manufacturers  ("OEMs") and,  through distributors, to  a variety  of end users,
principally in  the  United  States.  CCI's  products  include  coaxial,  multi-
conductor  and  "category"  cables which  are  used  for data,  voice  and video
communications by  the  computer and  data  processing industries,  medical  and
industrial  electronics users, the U.S.  Government and associated agencies, and
for satellite and other telecommunication applications. Sales and net income for
its fiscal  year  ended  October  31,  1995  were  $56,256,000  and  $2,118,000,
respectively.
 
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
 
    The Company is organized into two business segments: Electrical Products and
Industrial  Products. The  following discussion addresses  the products, markets
and  organization  of  the  Company's  two  business  segments.  For   financial
information  relating  to  the  Company's  business  segments  and  domestic and
international operations, see Management's Discussion and Analysis of  Financial
Condition  and Results of Operations on pages 19 through 23 and Note 14 of Notes
to Consolidated  Financial Statements  on  page 38  of the  Registrant's  Annual
Report   to  Shareholders  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1995  which  is
incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS SEGMENT
 
    The Electrical  Products  Segment  is  comprised  of  Kuhlman  Electric  and
Coleman.  Demand and profitability for the segment are generally affected by the
level of domestic economic activity  in the consumer, commercial and  industrial
markets   served.  Housing  starts,   commercial  and  industrial  construction,
maintenance and  upgrading of  established  electrical systems,  and  electrical
usage  are  key  indicators  of  demand  for  the  segment's  various electrical
products.
 
KUHLMAN ELECTRIC
 
    Kuhlman Electric  and its  wholly-owned subsidiary,  Associated  Engineering
Company,   manufacture  and   market  electrical   utility  and  industrial-type
transformers used  in electrical  distribution  systems serving  residences  and
commercial  and  industrial  buildings.  These  transformers  range  from  small
instrument transformers used in  the metering and  switching of electricity  and
pole-mounted,  surface-mounted, or underground transformers  serving from one to
eight residences, up to medium-size power transformers which are used in utility
substations  or  commercial-type  electrical  power  centers  serving   shopping
centers,  apartment  complexes, factories  and  other users  of  electric power.
Generally,  Kuhlman  Electric's   products  are  designed   and  built  to   the
requirements  specified by the customer  and agreed to at  the time the order is
placed.  Executive  and  administrative  functions  for  Kuhlman  Electric   are
performed at its facility in Versailles, Kentucky.
 
    The principal market for Kuhlman Electric's transformer products is electric
utility  companies throughout  the United States.  A significant  portion of the
distribution,  power,  and  instrument  transformers  manufactured  by   Kuhlman
Electric in 1995 were marketed directly through thirteen sales professionals and
sales  engineers. The balance was sold through nineteen independent commissioned
sales organizations, which employ approximately 60 salesmen and sales engineers.
 
COLEMAN
 
    Coleman  was  acquired  by  the  Company  on  December  15,  1993.   Coleman
manufactures and distributes a wide range of products, including portable wiring
systems  for the construction industry and  OEM applications; wire for security,
heating,  ventilating  and  air  conditioning  ("HVAC"),  irrigation  and  sound
systems;  and extension cords, trouble lights, booster cables and other products
for consumer, commercial  and industrial  markets. Coleman's  products are  sold
directly  through twelve  employee salespersons  and a  number of manufacturers'
representatives  employing  over  700  salespersons  to  electrical,  commercial
contractor   and  security   distributors,  mass   merchandisers  and  specialty
retailers, and various industrial and OEM users on a nationwide basis. Executive
and administrative functions for Coleman  are conducted at its principal  office
located in North Chicago, Illinois.
 
    Coleman is organized into the following three business units which have been
set up primarily along basic product or distribution lines:
 
    COLEMAN  CABLE AND WIRE COMPANY.  Coleman  Cable and Wire Company provides a
line of flexible cords,  power cables, control  cables, robotics cables,  diesel
locomotive  cables and  specialty cables  used in  the distribution  of portable
power for construction,  industrial and  OEM applications.  Coleman's cable  and
wire  products are sold to electrical distributors, wire and cable distributors,
OEMs and government agencies  through its employee  sales force and  independent
representatives.
 
    CORD  PRODUCTS DIVISION.  Coleman's  Cord Products Division manufactures and
distributes a line  of cord  sets, trouble  lights, cube  taps, battery  booster
cables,  power  supply  cords,  temporary  outdoor  lighting  and  ground  fault
interrupters for consumer,  contractor and  OEM applications.  Its products  are
used  for both home  and commercial electrical  needs and are  sold through mass
merchandisers, hardware wholesalers, automotive retailers, warehouse clubs, home
centers, hardware  chains, contractor/industrial  supply houses  and  electrical
distributors.  Also, Coleman believes that its  Cord Products Division is one of
the leading  providers of  extension cords  and battery  booster cables  to  the
contractor supply market and nationally recognized retailers, respectively.
 
    ELECTRONIC  WIRE AND  CABLE DIVISION.   Coleman's Electronic  Wire and Cable
Division manufactures electronic  wire and  cable, shielded  and unshielded  low
voltage control cables, fire alarm cables,
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
plenum  cables, closed circuit television wire and cables, and speaker cable for
a multitude of applications used by  burglar alarm, fire alarm and sound  system
installers,  electrical contractors, energy management specialists and OEMs. The
primary market for "Signal" trade name  products is the security industry  where
the  Company believes that it is one  of the largest manufacturers and suppliers
of security cables in  the United States. Signal  products are sold to  security
and  equipment  distributors, sound  contractors,  wire and  cable distributors,
electronic parts  distributors, electrical  distributors  and OEMs  through  its
employee sales force and to a lesser extent independent sales representatives.
 
    In  addition, the Electronic Wire and Cable Division manufactures cables for
energy management, irrigation and sprinkler systems which are marketed under its
"Baron" trade name. Baron products include thermostat cables, irrigation control
cables, underground  feeder  cables, submersible  pump  cables,  instrumentation
cables  and  machine  tool  wire.  These  products  are  used  in  a  variety of
applications by  HVAC  installers,  energy management  installers,  golf  course
sprinkler   installers,  irrigation   system  installers,   OEMs,  machine  tool
manufacturers and electrical contractors.
 
INDUSTRIAL SEGMENT
 
    The Industrial Products Segment is comprised of Schwitzer and Emtec.  Demand
and  profitability  in  this  segment are  affected  by  economic  conditions in
industrialized and developing  regions of  the world.  Capital expenditures  for
medium- and heavy-duty trucks, construction and agricultural equipment and other
industrial  transportation equipment are  indirect indicators of  demand for the
segment's products.
 
SCHWITZER
 
    Schwitzer designs,  manufactures  and markets  technically  advanced  engine
components,  including turbochargers,  fan drives,  cooling fans  and crankshaft
vibration dampers, for enhancing the efficiency of non-passenger car diesel  and
gasoline  engines.  These  components  improve engine  performance  in  terms of
horsepower output,  fuel efficiency,  emissions and  durability and  are  custom
designed  to meet  the specific  engine applications  of each  customer. Engines
incorporating the Company's products are used in light-, medium- and  heavy-duty
trucks,  and  in agricultural  and construction  equipment and  other industrial
applications. Sales of turbochargers accounted  for 26 percent, 25 percent,  and
34  percent of the consolidated net sales of Kuhlman during 1995, 1994 and 1993,
respectively.  Schwitzer  believes  that  it  is  one  of  the  world's  leading
independent suppliers of turbochargers to the non-passenger car market.
 
    Schwitzer's  primary  customers  are the  world's  leading  engine builders,
located primarily in  North America,  Western Europe, South  America and  Japan.
Schwitzer  sells  its products  to OEMs  and  aftermarket customers  through its
internal sales force and through  approximately 200 independent distributors  to
customers  in more than 60 countries throughout the world. Schwitzer's executive
office is  located  in Indianapolis,  Indiana  and its  manufacturing  locations
include operations in the United States, England and Brazil.
 
EMTEC
 
    Emtec  manufactures and markets a variety of coiled and flat springs, spring
assemblies and stampings used in automobiles, business machines and  appliances,
spring  sub-assemblies used in automobile transmissions  and brake systems and a
spring sub-assembly  used  in  cellular  phones.  Emtec  also  manufactures  and
distributes  marine  hardware. Most  of  these products  are  custom-designed to
customer's requirements.  The  principal  market  for  Emtec's  springs,  spring
assembly  products and stampings is the  automotive industry. These products are
sold through two  employee salesmen  and eleven  independent commissioned  sales
organizations.  The  market area  is  predominately the  midwest  United States,
although many of these products are  utilized nationally and in Canada.  Emtec's
principal office is located in Coldwater, Michigan.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
COMPETITION
 
    The  Company  experiences substantial  competition in  each of  its business
segments. The Company has numerous competitors, some of which have substantially
greater financial and technical resources than  the Company and include some  of
the  world's largest business enterprises. The Company believes that it competes
primarily on  the basis  of  product quality,  product innovation,  service  and
price.
 
CUSTOMERS; SEASONALITY
 
    During  1995, 1994 and  1993, various purchasing  units of Caterpillar, Inc.
accounted for 10%, 11% and 15%,  respectively, of the consolidated net sales  of
Kuhlman.  The Company's  net sales are  not seasonal to  any significant extent;
however, net sales are generally related to economic activity.
 
RAW MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
 
    The principal raw materials required by the Electrical Products Segment  are
steel,  copper,  aluminum, various  insulating  materials and  polymers. Copper,
which is  the Electrical  Products  Segment's single  largest raw  material,  is
generally  purchased  in either  extruded or  rod  form from  a number  of major
domestic producers. Pricing is typically based upon announced prices of the  New
York Commodity Exchange, Inc. ("COMEX") for high grade copper, plus a negotiated
premium. The principal raw materials used in the Industrial Products Segment are
nickel, aluminum, cast iron and steel. Although castings used in the manufacture
of  specialized  turbines  for  turbochargers  are  available  from  only  a few
suppliers worldwide, the  Company has experienced  no difficulties in  obtaining
adequate supplies to meet its manufacturing needs.
 
    Raw materials purchased by the Company are generally available from numerous
independent  sources at  competitive prices,  and are  obtained principally from
domestic suppliers. Management anticipates no significant difficulty in  filling
its  raw  material requirements.  However, it  is possible  that because  of the
Company's increasing focus  on "lean manufacturing",  which incorporates  "just-
in-time"  supplier-customer delivery methods  with fewer suppliers,  the risk of
difficulties in obtaining raw materials may increase from time to time.
 
PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND LICENSES
 
    The  Company  owns  and/or   licenses  a  number   of  patents  and   patent
applications,  and registered and unregistered  trademarks which are valuable to
its business. Such patents, licenses and trademarks are not considered  material
to the business of the Company as a whole.
 
BACKLOG
 
    An  order is included as part of  the Company's backlog once a firm delivery
date has been received from  the customer. The Company  does not include in  its
backlog orders which do not have a firm delivery date.
 
    The  following table sets forth backlog orders which the Company believes to
be firm as of the dates indicated although orders generally may be cancelled  by
customers without penalty:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     AT DECEMBER 31
                                                                                 ----------------------
                                                                                    1995        1994
                                                                                 -----------  ---------
                                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                              <C>          <C>
Electrical Products Segment....................................................  $    40,891  $  27,151
Industrial Products Segment....................................................       60,409     60,300
                                                                                 -----------  ---------
                                                                                 $   101,300  $  87,451
                                                                                 -----------  ---------
                                                                                 -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    At December 31, 1995, substantially all of the Company's backlog orders were
expected to be completed by December 31, 1996.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
 
    Kuhlman  Corporation is continually seeking to improve existing products and
apply and enhance  technologies for new  products. Engineering expenses  include
activities  associated with product development,  the application of products to
specific customer  needs, and  ongoing efforts  to refine  and enhance  existing
products.  These  costs  are  expensed  as  incurred  and  totaled approximately
$6,745,000, $7,574,000 and $6,632,000 in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL
 
    In  1994,  the  Company  recorded  a  charge  of  $1,400,000  for  voluntary
environmental  remediation  activities at  Schwitzer's Rolla,  Missouri facility
which was closed in 1992. During  1995, the Company completed the  environmental
remediation program and sold the Rolla, Missouri facility in the second quarter.
 
    To the best of the Company's knowledge, it is in substantial compliance with
all  federal, state and local  environmental protection provisions, and believes
these provisions should not materially affect capital expenditures, earnings  or
the  Company's competitive position. However,  legal and regulatory requirements
in those  areas  have  been increasing,  and  there  can be  no  assurance  that
significant  costs and liabilities will not be incurred for currently unknown or
future exposures or new regulatory developments.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of  December 31,  1995 and  1994, the  Company employed  2,284 and  2,375
persons,  respectively,  approximately  969  of whom  are  currently  subject to
collective bargaining  agreements.  The  Company considers  relations  with  its
employees to be satisfactory.
 
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES
 
    As of December 31, 1995, the Company operated thirteen manufacturing plants,
including  two foreign  plants. The  eleven domestic  plants are  located in the
states of California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi,  North
Carolina  and Ohio. Of  these manufacturing plants,  five are owned  and six are
leased.  The  Company's  Industrial   Products  Segment  operates  two   foreign
manufacturing  plants, both of which are owned, located in England and Brazil. A
subsidiary in  the Industrial  Products  Segment also  operates a  research  and
development  facility  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana. The  plant  and  equipment of
certain  subsidiaries  are  encumbered  by  the  security  interest  granted  in
connection   with   the  issuance   of   certain  long-term   debt  obligations.
Substantially all of  the remaining  plant and  equipment is  encumbered by  the
interest  granted to participating  commercial banks under  the Company's Credit
Agreement, dated December 15, 1993, as  subsequently amended. In the opinion  of
the  Company,  its  properties  have  been well  maintained  and  are  in proper
condition necessary to operate  at present levels. A  summary of floor space  of
the principal facilities by business segment at December 31, 1995 is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         MANUFACTURING              OFFICE
                             (1)(2)                  (1)                WAREHOUSING
                      --------------------   --------------------   --------------------
                       OWNED      LEASED      OWNED      LEASED      OWNED      LEASED      TOTAL
                      --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
                                              (IN THOUSANDS OF SQUARE FEET)
<S>                   <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Electrical..........     399         423         --          56         15         220      1,113
Industrial..........     405         135         85          17          5           6        653
Corporate...........      --          --         16          --         --          --         16
                                                             --
                         ---         ---        ---                    ---         ---     --------
                         804         558        101          73         20         226      1,782
                                                             --
                                                             --
                         ---         ---        ---                    ---         ---     --------
                         ---         ---        ---                    ---         ---     --------
</TABLE>
 
------------------------
 
(1)  Includes  64,000  and 63,000  square  foot  plants in  England  and Brazil,
    respectively.
 
(2) Excludes a 110,000 square foot plant  in North Carolina and a 25,000  square
    foot plant in Michigan which are not currently being utilized.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Company, from time to time, is subject to legal claims and other matters
relating  to the  conduct of  its business.  In the  opinion of  management, the
ultimate disposition  of such  matters  presently outstanding  will not  have  a
materially  adverse effect upon the Company's consolidated financial position or
results of operations.
 
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
    Not applicable.
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
    The following table sets forth information concerning the executive officers
of the Registrant:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           OFFICER OF
                                            KUHLMAN
NAME                                 AGE     SINCE                           POSITION
-----------------------------------  ---   ----------   --------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>   <C>          <C>
Robert S. Jepson, Jr...............  53       1993      Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and
                                                         Director
Curtis G. Anderson.................  54       1994      President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Gary G. Dillon.....................  61       1995      Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
                                                         Schwitzer, Inc. and Director
Vernon J. Nagel....................  38       1993      Executive Vice President of Finance, Chief
                                                         Financial Officer and Treasurer
Richard A. Walker..................  44       1984      Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative
                                                         Officer, General Counsel and Secretary
John Zvolensky, Jr.................  54       1995      President and Chief Executive Officer of Kuhlman
                                                         Electric Corporation
</TABLE>
 
    Officers of the Registrant  are elected each year  at the Annual Meeting  of
the  Board of Directors to serve for  the ensuing year or until their successors
are elected and qualified.
 
    Mr. Jepson, who  was elected President  and Chief Executive  Officer of  the
Registrant  on February  10, 1993, and  Chairman of  the Board on  June 9, 1993,
founded and was Chairman and Chief  Executive Officer of The Jepson  Corporation
from  1983 until  its sale  in 1989.  The Jepson  Corporation was  a diversified
manufacturing company  listed  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange.  Immediately
preceding  his  election  as  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the
Registrant, Mr.  Jepson was,  and  is currently,  Chairman and  Chief  Executive
Officer of Jepson Associates, Inc., a private investment company.
 
    Mr.  Anderson, who was elected President  and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company on April 26, 1994, and a director on September 8, 1993, founded and  has
been, since 1986, Chairman of Anderson Capital Corporation, a private investment
company.  Prior thereto, he spent 19  years in corporate and investment banking,
including 14 years with Citibank and five years with The First National Bank  of
Chicago  where he served as Executive Vice President, Head of Financial Products
Department.
 
    Mr. Dillon has served as Director since June 1, 1995. Mr. Dillon has  served
as  Chairman, President  and Chief  Executive Officer  of Schwitzer,  Inc. since
June, 1991, and  served as  President and  Chief Executive  Officer since  April
1989.  Prior  thereto, he  served as  President and  Chief Executive  Officer of
Household Manufacturing, Inc.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
    Mr. Nagel joined the Company on April 5, 1993 and was elected Vice President
of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company on June 9, 1993
and Executive Vice President of  Finance on February 22,  1994. He was the  Vice
President  of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Stericycle, Inc.
(medical waste management) from 1990 until 1993. Prior thereto, Mr. Nagel served
as a Vice President  of The Jepson Corporation  from 1985 until 1990,  including
Chief  Financial Officer  from 1989  until 1990  and Controller  from 1986 until
1989.
 
    Mr. Walker has  served as an  Executive Vice President  or similar  position
with  the Company since  1991. From 1984  until 1991, Mr.  Walker served as Vice
President, General  Counsel and  Secretary of  the Company.  Prior thereto,  Mr.
Walker was a partner in the law firm of Harness, Dickey & Pierce.
 
    Mr. Zvolensky has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Kuhlman
Electric  since July 31, 1995. From July  1994 until joining Kuhlman Electric he
was General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Cleveland  Growth
Association.  From January 1992 to September 1993  he served as President of WCI
Cabinet Group (a manufacturer of kitchen and bath cabinets), a division of White
Consolidated Industries. From 1987 to 1991, he was President and Chief Executive
Officer of Emerson Quiet Kool, a manufacturer of room air conditioners.
 
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
 
    Information with respect to the principal market for the Registrant's common
stock, the high and  low sales prices  of such common  stock and dividends  paid
with  respect thereto, and the  approximate number of holders  of record of such
common stock is incorporated  herein by reference  to the information  contained
under  the caption "Common  Stock Price Ranges"  on page 42  of the Registrant's
Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    Information with respect to  selected financial data  for the Registrant  is
incorporated  herein by  reference to  information set  forth under  the caption
"Five-Year Selected Financial Data" on page 18 of the Registrant's Annual Report
to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS
 
    The information  contained under  the caption  "Management's Discussion  and
Analysis  of Financial Condition and Results  of Operations" on pages 19 through
23 of the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December
31, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
    The information  contained under  the captions  "Consolidated Statements  of
Income," "Consolidated Balance Sheets," "Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows,"
"Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity," "Report of Independent Public
Accountants"  and  "Notes  to  Consolidated Financial  Statements"  on  pages 24
through 40 of the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year  ended
December 31, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
    None.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
                                    PART III
 
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
    Information  with respect to the directors of the Registrant is incorporated
herein by reference to the information contained under the captions "Election of
Kuhlman Directors" and  "Information Regarding Kuhlman  Directors, Nominees  for
Directors  of  Kuhlman and  Executive Officers"  of the  Registrant's definitive
Proxy Statement for the 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
 
    Information with respect to executive officers of the Registrant is included
in Item  1,  Part  I  hereof  under  the  caption  "Executive  Officers  of  the
Registrant."
 
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    Information with respect to Executive Compensation is incorporated herein by
reference   to   the  information   contained   under  the   caption  "Executive
Compensation" of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the 1996 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders.
 
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
    Information with respect to Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial  Owners
and  Management is incorporated herein by reference to the information contained
under the caption "Principal Stockholders and Beneficial Ownership of Management
of Kuhlman" of the Registrant's definitive  Proxy Statement for the 1996  Annual
Meeting of Shareholders.
 
ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
    Information  with respect to Certain  Relationships and Related Transactions
is incorporated  herein by  reference  to the  information contained  under  the
caption  "Related Transactions"  of the Registrant's  definitive Proxy Statement
for the 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
 
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
    (a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
 
         1. Financial Statements
 
        The following consolidated financial  statements of Kuhlman  Corporation
    and  subsidiaries included in the Kuhlman  Corporation 1995 Annual Report to
    its shareholders  for the  year ended  December 31,  1995, are  incorporated
    herein by reference:
 
             Consolidated  Statements of Income  for each of  the three years in
             the period ended December 31, 1995.
 
             Consolidated Balance Sheets -- December 31, 1995 and 1994.
 
             Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows  for each of the three  years
             in the period ended December 31, 1995.
 
             Consolidated  Statements of  Shareholders' Equity  for each  of the
             three years in the period ended December 31, 1995.
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
    The financial statement schedule listed below for each of the three years in
the period  ended December  31, 1995  is submitted  herewith together  with  the
report and consent of independent public accountants.
 
         2. Supplemental Schedule to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
    The  information required to be submitted in  Schedule II is included in the
consolidated financial statements and notes and supplemental schedules  thereto.
Schedules other than that referred to above are omitted as not applicable or not
required,  or the required  information is shown in  the financial statements or
notes thereto.
 
     3. Exhibits
 
<TABLE>
<C>    <S>
  2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Kuhlman
        Corporation, Spinner Acquisition Corp. and Schwitzer, Inc.
        (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Registration
        Statement No. 33-58133).
  2.2  Tender Offer Statement by the Registrant to Communication
        Cable, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Schedule 14D-1
        filed by the Registrant on November 29, 1995).
  2.3  Stock Option Agreement by and between the Registrant,
        Kuhlman Acquisition Corp. and James R. Fore (incorporated
        by reference to Exhibit (c) (1) to Schedule 14D-1 filed by
        the Registrant on November 29, 1995).
  3.1  Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated
        by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for
        the quarter ended June 30, 1993).
  3.2  Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of
        the Registrant dated May 31, 1995 (incorporated by
        reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registration Statement No.
        33-58133).
  3.3  Certificate of the Voting Powers, Designations, Preferences,
        and Relative, Participating, Optional, or Other Special
        Rights, and the Qualifications, Limitations, or Other
        Restrictions thereof of the Junior Participating Preferred
        Stock, Series A of Kuhlman Corporation dated May 31, 1995.
  3.4  By-laws of Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
        3b to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended
        December 31, 1993).
 10.1  1983 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Registrant
        (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10b to the
        Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
        1983).
 10.2  Amended 1986 Stock Option Plan of the Registrant
        (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the
        Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
        1994).
 10.3  Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated
        by reference to Exhibit 10e to the Registrant's Form 10-K
        for the year ended December 31, 1988).
 10.4  Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (incorporated by reference
        to Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter
        ended June 30, 1993).
 10.5  Credit Agreement dated December 15, 1993 by and among the
        Registrant, NationsBank of Georgia, N.A. and The Chase
        Manhattan Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
        10b to the Registrant's Form 8-K dated December 15, 1993).
 10.6  First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated March 29, 1994
        among the Registrant, NationsBank of Georgia, N.A. and The
        Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference to
        Exhibit 10.2 to Registration Statement No. 33-58133).
 10.7  Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated March 30, 1994
        among the Registrant, NationsBank of Georgia, N.A. and The
        Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. as Managing Agents (incorporated
        by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Registration Statement No.
        33-58133).
 10.8  Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated December 31, 1994
        among the Registrant, NationsBank of Georgia, N.A. and The
        Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. as Managing Agents (incorporated
        by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Registration Statement No.
        33-58133).
</TABLE>
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<C>    <S>
 10.9  1994 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (incorporated by
        reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for
        the year ended December 31, 1994).
 10.10 Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated June 29, 1995
        among the Registrant, NationsBank of Georgia, N.A. and the
        Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. as Managing Agents (incorporated
        by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q
        for the quarter ended June 30, 1995).
 10.11 1994 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
        10.11 to Registration Statement No. 33-58133).
 10.12 Schwitzer, Inc. Long-Term Executive Incentive Compensation
        Plan, as amended (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3
        to Registration Statement No. 33-61255).
 13.0  Portions of Annual Report to Shareholders of the Registrant
        for the year ended December 31, 1995 appearing under the
        captions "Five-Year Selected Financial Data," "Management's
        Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations," "Consolidated Statements of Income,"
        "Consolidated Balance Sheets," "Consolidated Statements of
        Cash Flows," "Consolidated Statements of Shareholders'
        Equity," "Report of Independent Public Accountants," "Notes
        to Consolidated Financial Statements" and "Common Stock
        Price Ranges."
 22.0  Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 23.0  Consent of Independent Public Accountants.
 24.0  Power of Attorney.
 27.0  Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
------------------------
(b) No  current  reports  on  Form  8-K were  filed  during  the  quarter  ended
    December 31, 1995.
 
(c) See Item 14(a)(3) above.
 
(d) See Item 14(a)(2) above.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
    We  have audited, in accordance  with generally accepted auditing standards,
the consolidated financial statements included  in the Kuhlman Corporation  1995
Annual  Report to Shareholders incorporated by  reference in this Form 10-K, and
have issued our report  thereon dated February 6,  1996 (except with respect  to
the  matter discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements, as to
which the date  is February 21,  1996). Our audit  was made for  the purpose  of
forming  an  opinion on  those  statements taken  as  a whole.  The supplemental
schedule to consolidated financial statements  listed in the preceding index  is
the  responsibility of the Company's management and is presented for purposes of
complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not part of
the basic financial statements. This schedule has been subjected to the auditing
procedures applied in the  audit of the basic  financial statements and, in  our
opinion,  fairly states in all material  respects the financial data required to
be set forth therein in  relation to the basic  financial statements taken as  a
whole.
 
                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Louisville, Kentucky
February 6, 1996 (Except with respect to the matter discussed in Note 17 to the
consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is February 21, 1996.)
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
                      KUHLMAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                                 (In Thousands)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       COLUMN A                          COLUMN B     COLUMN C       COLUMN D       COLUMN E
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ---------------  -----------
 
                                                        BALANCE AT                                 BALANCE AT
                                                         BEGINNING                                   END OF
                     DESCRIPTION                         OF PERIOD    ADDITIONS   WRITE-OFFS, NET    PERIOD
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  ---------------  -----------
<S>                                                     <C>          <C>          <C>              <C>
        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS FROM
       ASSETS IN CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS --
                 DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS --
 
             Year Ended December 31, 1995                $     990        1,211           (759)     $   1,442
             Year Ended December 31, 1994                $     900          250           (160)     $     990
             Year Ended December 31, 1993                $     933          201           (234)     $     900
</TABLE>
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant  to  the requirements  of  Section 13  or  15(d) of  the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
                                          KUHLMAN CORPORATION
 
Date: March 27, 1996
                                          By:      /s/ ROBERT S. JEPSON, JR.
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                    Robert S. Jepson, Jr.
                                                  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND
                                                   CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
    Pursuant to the requirements  of the Securities Exchange  Act of 1934,  this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       NAME                                   TITLE                  DATE
--------------------------------------------------  -------------------------  ----------------
 
<C>                                                 <S>                        <C>
              ROBERT S. JEPSON, JR.*                Chairman of the Board and   March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------        Chief Executive Officer
                                                     (Principal Executive
                                                     Officer)
                                                     and Director
 
                 VERNON J. NAGEL*                   Executive Vice President    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------        of Finance, Chief
                                                     Financial
                                                     Officer and Treasurer
                                                     (Principal Financial and
                                                     Accounting Officer)
 
               CURTIS G. ANDERSON*                  President, Chief            March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------        Operating
                                                     Officer and Director
 
                WILLIAM E. BURCH*                   Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
                   STEVE CENKO*                     Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
                 GARY G. DILLON*                    Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
           ALEXANDER W. DREYFOOS, JR.*              Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
             WILLIAM M. KEARNS, JR.*                Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
              ROBERT D. KILPATRICK*                 Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
             JOHN L. MARCELLUS, JR.*                Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
              GEORGE J. MICHEL, JR.*                Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
          GENERAL H. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF*            Director                    March 27, 1996
     ----------------------------------------
 
       *By       /s/ ROBERT S. JEPSON, JR.          Individually and as         March 27, 1996
      -------------------------------------          Attorney-in-Fact
              Robert S. Jepson, Jr.
</TABLE>
 
                                       13