Alpha Con Plastics was founded in 1969. Our current management has been in place since 1985, when Dave Spence acquired the company. The 25-year-old entrepreneur, thanks to an SBA loan, was ready to start a new era in the company, and changed the name to Alpha Plastics.

Producing blow molded wheels for barbecue pits, gym rings for outdoor swing sets, and about 35,000 bottles per day, Dave opened shop in February 1985. Soon, Dave recruited Dan Creston to join his team. Dave's ideas and Dan's handle on details and implementation were a perfect match. The two soon started replacing worn out machines and hit the road in search of new business.

In need of sales help, Alpha hired Carol McLerran to handle sales in Kansas City. Her impact was immense and she quickly brought in several larger customers - many of whom remain core customers today.

The gym ring and BBQ wheels eventually disappeared as Alpha became solely in the bottle business; selling bottles and jars to Northwestern Bottle (now TricorBraun), Riekes Container (now Berlin), Package Supply and Equipment, Smith Container (now TricorBraun), Consolidated Glass, Calpac Container and Empire Bottle.

In 1989, we bought our first injection blow molding machine. Alpha also bought Techniprint, a St. Louis bottle decorating company. We felt as if we were sitting on top of the world - injection blow molding, extrusion blow molding and decoration capabilities. However, despite raising exposure, the acquisitions were not as ideal as imagined. Alpha dropped the decoration business in 1991 and refocused on our bottle making strengths.

In 1992, Alpha moved to a more modern building that facilitated our growth in the pharmaceutical and vitamin business. By encouraging plant tours, Alpha gained a needed boost in credibility. Around the same time, Silgan Plastics Corporation shut down a St. Louis blow molding operation, enabling Alpha to hire many people with industry experience. Among these hires was Roy Allen, our current Director of Operations. Roy was a major boost to technical capabilities.

Mike DeFazio joined Alpha in 1994, at a time that we were struggling with growing pains and getting dragged down by the commodity side of our business. Mike had come from the aircraft industry, and was able to look at our situation objectively to see there were large parts of our business we could get rid of. While we had been emotionally attached to some of our business, Mike's objectivity led us to part with about 30% of our business. While the short-term effects were tough, our decision to focus on markets that required higher quality and faster production rates helped shape the direction for our future.

In 1997, Alpha bought two Aoki stretch blow molding machines and ten molds to get into the PET packer market. These acquisitions helped gain serious looks from larger companies on new pieces of business.

Seeking a way to give back to the community and employees, the Alpha Charitable Foundation was launched in 1999. This was an outlet for Alpha to give back in several areas, such as scholarships to employees' children, to help with tuition funding at trade schools, junior colleges and universities. We also make charitable contributions to organizations and causes of significance to our employees. This is a continuing source of pride.

After deciding that our facility was too small, Alpha relocated to our current headquarters, a factory that we renovated and expanded to a 211,000 square-foot factory and warehouse. It is considered by many to be the best in the industry.

At the same time as the move, we learned that Gutmann Plastics in Brooklyn, New York was for sale. Alpha purchased Gutmann in December 2001 to help us better serve a growing customer base in the Northeast.

Sales skyrocketed during this time period, jumping from $18 million in 2000 to $37 million in 2003. The New York plant further legitimized Alpha in the industry as more than just a Midwest supplier. In just six months, Alpha took the New York plant (which resembled a young Alpha) from losing money to making a profit by adding higher speed machinery and changing the product mix.

In August of 2004, Alpha opened a factory in Salt Lake City, putting us in every region of the country, and giving us better access to the significant nutritional market on the West Coast.

Today, Alpha produces over 1.6 million bottles per day and employs over 400 people. We ship to over 30 countries and to every state. Alpha expects to reach $100 million in sales in 2007. The 36th largest blow molder in bottles, Alpha has come further than ever imagined, and won numerous awards for service and design capabilities.

Alpha is more than bottles. Alpha is determination, following dreams, keeping your humility and sense of humor. Alpha is a tribute to hard work, friendship, sacrifice and fear of failure. Without loyal customers and suppliers, and support from family and friends, our story would not have happened.

The future is bright for Alpha. We have grown greatly and look forward to reaching greater heights in the future.