Alpha Plastics Solutions Inc. wants to be more than just an injection molder, so the company is adding two sheet extruders and two thermoforming machines.
``Our goal is to provide all plastics for all customers,'' said Tim Hogan, president of the Muskego, Wis.-based company, in a Sept. 8 telephone interview.
The company installed its first American Kuhne extrusion line in July and is expecting delivery of its second line by late September, Hogan said.
He said the firm was formed in 2007 by four partners. Hogan has worked 31 years in injection molding, while partner Tammy Risseeuw, who is vice president of technical sales, has 17 years in extrusion. Scott Gillette is marketing vice president and Butch Meinen is vice president of facilities and logistics.
``We all complement one another and we have an ability to work for our customers. Our goal is to be more than a custom injection molder and allow our customers to narrow their vendor base,'' Hogan said.
The company added its first thermoforming machine in August and it is awaiting the fabrication of a second custom unit. The first has a 24-inch square forming area, while the second will be 48-inch square. It can pull sheet with thicknesses up to a quarter inch.
Alpha employs 13 at its 25,000-square-foot plant, and plans to add 11 more people during the next six months, according to Hogan. He said the company is spending money on training, which it sees as a way to retain workers.
Alpha operates seven injection molding machines, ranging from 20-500 tons of clamping force. The firm also has purchased two late-model Milacron presses that will be installed within a month.
Hogan said that many times injection molding and extrusion are used in the making of the same product. By having both processes done in the same place, customers ``are able to go to one vendor and know that the color will match.''
He said the company's sales have doubled since the first year, and Alpha now has 84 customers.
Alpha also started 2008 by forming Omega Products Solutions, which is headed by Scott Gillette. The Omega unit works with customers and inventors with a focus on building a product and getting it to market.
``We have 20 products that we own or are licensed to sell. They range from sporting good to food products to fishing,'' Hogan said.
Hogan said Alpha has ambitious growth plans. It hopes to boost its size either through merger or acquisition and is hoping to add another facility on the West Coast by 2011.