Alpha’s Got a Greener Point of View

Turn off the lights when you’re not in a room. Take a quick shower, not a bath. Recycle your junk mail. We all know we can make a difference and save resources by making little changes day to day.

There aren’t really quick tips to running 125,000 sq. feet of facilities greener. But, Alpha is not about quick fixes, we have a serious commitment to our environment and planet.

One thing we’ve done is change the lightning systems in our manufacturing facility, switching from 400W High-Intensity Discharge bulbs to T5 High-Output bulbs. If you’re wondering what that means, it translates into an energy savings of 50% while giving off twice the light. But that’s just the beginning of our story.

That’s why we’ve rolled out our new environmental page, so you can learn about how we innovate and update our business to do our part in saving the planet. From recycling materials to changing our processes and work habits, Alpha has been working hard for the little blue ball in our solar system we call home.

Happy Earth Day.

Tags: earth day, environmental responsibility, green, lightbulbs, little blue ball, saving resources, sustainability, updates, website

Alpha: Made in Michigan

At the IDEA: Detroit conference, near the doors, was a table stacked with literature boasting “MAKE it HERE,” filled with reasons for setting up shop in the mitten. They are the same reasons our city can’t stop discussing Chrysler’s “Imported from Detroit” Commercial. The welcoming address of the conference referenced the commercial, spoken hand-in-hand with the expressions of awe over “inspiring, electrifying, nourishing” ideas from the region.

Dale Dougherty, of Make Magazine fame, noted that he was not a Michigan native, but he chooses to host a Maker Faire here because of the area’s compelling nature, naming Henry Ford the original tinkerer. “You have manufacturing in your blood,” he explained. It was tough to argue with him, especially after an elaborate technological explanation of the 2011 North American Car of the Year, the Chevy Volt. Throughout the different presentations, it was clear southeastern Michigan offers opportunities and a mindset like no place else. Regional residents carry strong local pride, including a couple of innovators featured at the conference. Travis Wright and Philip Lauri are planning a college tour to tell students about the value of this great city, explaining why they should “Do it in Detroit .”

At Alpha, we love hearing echoes of the reasons to be here in Metro Detroit, but we don’t need to be convinced by pamphlets or fancy presentations. These reasons are what have kept Alpha here for over 50 years. Innovations come from Michigan, and we are proud to offer products that do too.

Tags: "This is What We Do.", 2011 North American Car of the Year, Chevy Volt, Chrysler, Crain's Detroit, Dale Dougherty, detroit, Do it in Detroit, Henry Ford, IDEA:Detroit, Imported From Detroit, Local, Make it Here, Make Magazine, manufacturing, Metro Detroit, MI, Michigan, Philip Lauri, the mitten, tinkering, Travis Wright

:Detroit Gets the IDEA

Advocates of innovation, Alpha excitedly attended IDEA: Detroit a few weeks ago. The day was a mashing together of striking thinkers and ideas from southeastern Michigan, as well as from around the country.

“Tinkerers” at heart, we were intrigued by the inventions of Dale Dougherty and Make Magazine, and excited that Maker Faire will be coming to our own backyard (The Henry Ford) this summer. Wello grabbed our attention with more than just its name, offering the WaterWheel as an inspiring solution to water transportation challenges throughout the world. Chevrolet wowed us with the inner workings of the new Chevy Volt, while Ford impressed us with its simple yet inspired “ask the audience” customer involvement. IDEA left us with no shortage of inspiration.

Check the links to these ingenious presenters for now, and shortly we’ll let you in on a few of Alpha’s own ideas that arose from the conference.

Tags: Chevrolet, Chevy Volt, College for Creative Studies, Crain's Detroit, Dale Doughtery, Ford, IDEA:Detroit, ideas, Make Magazine, The Henry Ford, Wello

Return to Service

In December, you read about Jack Barghusen, the injured Marine from Wisconsin.

On January 7^th, Jack received the Heart of the Hero Award at his home. The package included three pages full of signatures, included were those of Rotarians, Alpha employees and other Livonia residents all signing to show their appreciation.

Other efforts were made to show appreciation for Jack and our troops. Friends and family put together the “We Got Your Back Jack” Fundraiser to raise money to help with his recovery and rehabilitation.

Jack has since returned to his unit for limited service.

 

Tags: "We got your back Jack", Heart of the Hero, Jack Barguhusen, Livonia AM Rotary, Marine, service

ster•e•o•li•thog•ra•phy

If you are an engineer, you likely know what stereolithography (SLA), rapid prototyping and 3D printing are. If you are a recently graduated psychology major working in the PR department, chances are you do not.

A few days ago, I saw a part sitting on the desk of Alpha Engineering Director and Resident Genius (RG) Stew, and it caught my eye. Plastic rapid prototypes of parts are often created before making the real deal out of steel. Like a printer, SLA works layer by layer, but instead of using ink, it’s done using liquid UV-curable photopolymer, which is basically liquid plastic. Using a computer program you give the machine a blueprint (the “math data” in Stew speak) of what to make. A laser plots the dimensions layer by layer, heating up the plastic (aka curing the photopolymer) and creating a solid version of the 3D form designed in the computer.

Interestingly, on a side note, there is a whole community of DIY-ers who make 3D printers at home. These self-proclaimed makers are creating everything from door knobs to baby shoes. Currently this involves a little more know-how than Microsoft Word, but in theory someday, anyone may be able to print physical objects from their own computer. It seems like the stuff of the Jetsons, in the future you may be downloading everyday items, like dishes or even washing machine parts, the way you download iTunes. Need a toaster? There’s an app for that.

 

 

Tags: 3D printing, DIY, Jetsons, photopolymer, rapid prototyping, Resident Genius (RG), SLA, stereolithography, Stew, There's an app for that.

A Little Help Goes a Long Way

As mentioned in November, Alpha worked together with the Livonia AM Rotary Club, the Churchill Rotary Interact Club, and St. Mary Mercy Hospital to contribute supplies in an effort to help Bawock, Cameroon. Dr. Stanley Ngeyi, a Rotarian and Madonna University Professor, regularly visits his home village,  and recently returned to Livonia bringing back with him pictures and stories of success.

Last fall, a container full of medical supplies was shipped from Livonia; it arrived while Dr. Ngeyi was visiting the village over the holidays. The people of Bawock were excited to receive the much needed medicines as well as the gifts of rice and wine from Dr. Stanley.

With Bawock’s medical clinic rebuilt, and their maternity clinic almost completed, it’s amazing to see that a little help can stretch over 6,000 miles from Livonia to Cameroon.

Members of the village receiving medical supplies in front of the new clinic.

Over $137,000 in support

We continue to follow the story of Larry Nehasil, the fallen police officer who served Livonia for over 20 years.

Larry’s death has been met with an outcry of support for the family and many efforts to show appreciation for Larry as well as our Police force and Firemen. Even weeks after the tragedy, support for the family is still going strong:

• Last week, a Livonia resident and former classmate of the officer, presented the idea that a park be named after Officer Nehasil.
• Last Friday, February 4^th, the Livonia Jaycees hosted an event at One Under Bar and Grill, with all proceeds benefitting the Nehasil Family. It was easy to see the community support from the many attendees to the multitudes of donated silent auction prizes.
• Last Saturday, February 12^th, more than 500 people attended the In Memory of a Hero benefit for Larry’s family.
• This coming Friday, February 18^th, at the Livonia, Brighton, and Canton Buffalo Wild Wings 20% of sales from all three stores will be donated to the memorial fund (promotion must be mentioned for donation to be counted).

The Larry Nehasil Memorial Fund has over $137,000 in it already, with many more fundraising efforts ongoing.  To get involved, click here.

Tags: Chamber of Commerce, Fire, Jaycee's, Larry Nehasil, Livonia, Police